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The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa: Difference between revisions
The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa (view source)
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[[Image:WPCbranhamdurban.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The 1951 Durban meetings]] | |||
{{Failed Visions}} | |||
=The Vision of the African Meeting= | |||
< | <youtube>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbAwGJFSAg</youtube> | ||
=The Facts Relating to the Vision= | |||
In 1952, William Branham | In '''1951''' William Branham held a series of successful meetings in Durban, South Africa. | ||
In '''1952''', William Branham related a vision of a meeting in Durban, South Africa and stated publicly that "''I'm going to have a meeting that's going to consist of three hundred thousand people''." He also said that the vision was "'''''THUS SAITH THE LORD mark it in your book.'''''" | |||
As with most of his visions, it rapidly became confused and soon began to include India as well as Africa. | As with most of his visions, it rapidly became confused and soon began to include India as well as Africa. | ||
William Branham clearly thought that the vision would be fulfilled | William Branham '''visited India in September, 1954'''. He clearly thought that the vision would be fulfilled during that trip, but later admitted, in his own words, that it wasn't fulfilled: | ||
:''as many of you might know, the Indian trip wasn't the success that it should've been, because I failed to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and never recognized it after He give me a vision to go to Africa first and then to India. | :''...as many of you might know, the Indian trip wasn't the success that it should've been, because I failed to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and never recognized it after He give me a vision to go to Africa first and then to India. | ||
In January 1958, he reinterpreted the vision to having him going to India first and then to Africa. In March 1958, he started preparing to go to Africa again and thought that the vision would be fulfilled there: | In January '''1958''', he reinterpreted the vision to having him going to India first and then to Africa. In March 1958, he started preparing to go to Africa again and thought that the vision would be fulfilled there: | ||
:''I just got my telegram back this morning from Durban, South Africa. The vision where three hundred thousand people will be gathered pretty soon for a meeting which is coming up right away... | :''I just got my telegram back this morning from Durban, South Africa. The vision where three hundred thousand people will be gathered pretty soon for a meeting which is coming up right away... | ||
However, the plans for this trip fell through and the vision remained unfulfilled. In 1965, plans were again made to go to Africa and again the fulfillment of the vision was clearly anticipated: | However, the plans for this trip fell through and the vision remained unfulfilled. In '''1965''', plans were again made to go to Africa and again the fulfillment of the vision was clearly anticipated: | ||
:''And I--I'm going to South Africa after this. For, oh, my, you know how it is down there where you can't even talk to the people. And there'd be... We're at least expecting three hundred thousand, one single meeting. | :''And I--I'm going to South Africa after this. For, oh, my, you know how it is down there where you can't even talk to the people. And there'd be... We're at least expecting three hundred thousand, one single meeting. | ||
But on this final trip the vision again failed to materialized. William Branham's visa was restricted in a way that prohibited him from holding any meetings. | But on this final trip the vision again failed to materialized. William Branham's visa was restricted in a way that prohibited him from holding any meetings. | ||
'''William Branham died just prior to the end of 1965 with the vision remaining unfulfilled.''' | |||
=Explanations for the Failed Vision= | |||
People who believe that William Branham is a true prophet explain away this vision in the following ways. | People who believe that William Branham is a true prophet explain away this vision in the following ways. | ||
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There are a few problems with these explanations: | There are a few problems with these explanations: | ||
==William Branham will return to fulfill this vision== | |||
William Branham died in 1965, and a large stone pyramid now sits on top of his grave in Indiana. However, followers of the [[The Returned Ministry Sect|the Returned Ministry sect]] believe that William Branham will raise from the dead to travel to South Africa to hold meetings and accomplish the other unfulfilled visions (such as ''[[The Brown Bear Vision]]''). | William Branham died in 1965, and a large stone pyramid now sits on top of his grave in Indiana. However, followers of the [[The Returned Ministry Sect|the Returned Ministry sect]] believe that William Branham will raise from the dead to travel to South Africa to hold meetings and accomplish the other unfulfilled visions (such as ''[[The Brown Bear Vision]]''). | ||
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This is not only a foolish concept but also completely unscriptural. | This is not only a foolish concept but also completely unscriptural. | ||
==William Branham's failed vision was no different from Jonah's failed prophecy== | |||
''“God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon”'' the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10) because they repented. Applying this scripture to William Branham’s life might make sense in the context of the vision of the destruction of Los Angeles (although there was no mass-repentance in L.A. as there was in Nineveh). However, this scripture does not work in the context of a vision of holding meetings in South Africa, as the meetings were to be held to allow people to repent. | ''“God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon”'' the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3:10) because they repented. Applying this scripture to William Branham’s life might make sense in the context of the vision of the destruction of Los Angeles (although there was no mass-repentance in L.A. as there was in Nineveh). However, this scripture does not work in the context of a vision of holding meetings in South Africa, as the meetings were to be held to allow people to repent. | ||
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Years before the Jonah went to Nineveh, the prophet Jeremiah said that God would withhold his judgement to a Nation that would repent. ''"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."'' (Jeremiah 18:7-8) There is no scriptural precident that says God will relent of a vision that involves the holding of meetings to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. | Years before the Jonah went to Nineveh, the prophet Jeremiah said that God would withhold his judgement to a Nation that would repent. ''"The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it."'' (Jeremiah 18:7-8) There is no scriptural precident that says God will relent of a vision that involves the holding of meetings to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. | ||
==William Branham was disobedient== | |||
'''''“Thus Saith The Lord”''''' should be stronger than an individual’s lack of obedience. | '''''“Thus Saith The Lord”''''' should be stronger than an individual’s lack of obedience. | ||
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There is only one exception for a prophesy not to be fulfilled – and this involves repentance by the person (or nation) being judged. If it was acceptable for one prophet to say "Oops! I made a personal mistake, and that’s why the vision was not fulfilled," then every false prophet would claim this easy-out excuse. For this reason, the Word of God only permits one explanation for a failed vision, because repentance satisfies the wrath of God. That is why Ezekiel says, ''“Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.”'' (Ezekiel 18:30) | There is only one exception for a prophesy not to be fulfilled – and this involves repentance by the person (or nation) being judged. If it was acceptable for one prophet to say "Oops! I made a personal mistake, and that’s why the vision was not fulfilled," then every false prophet would claim this easy-out excuse. For this reason, the Word of God only permits one explanation for a failed vision, because repentance satisfies the wrath of God. That is why Ezekiel says, ''“Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.”'' (Ezekiel 18:30) | ||
==The vision was fulfilled== | |||
Owen Jorgensen in Book Four of his series, ''[[Supernatural: The Life of William Branham]]'' effectively states that the vision was fulfilled in William Branham's trip to India in September 1954. | Owen Jorgensen in Book Four of his series, ''[[Supernatural: The Life of William Branham]]'' effectively states that the vision was fulfilled in William Branham's trip to India in September 1954. | ||
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#William Branham was known to wildly exaggerate the number of people attending his meetings. | #William Branham was known to wildly exaggerate the number of people attending his meetings. | ||
=Conclusion= | |||
So what will you do with this failed vision? Will you succumb to [[Cognitive Dissonance|cognitive dissonance]] and trivialize a vision that even William Branham thought was unfulfilled? | So what will you do with this failed vision? Will you succumb to [[Cognitive Dissonance|cognitive dissonance]] and trivialize a vision that even William Branham thought was unfulfilled? Look at the facts and make up your own mind. | ||
=Quotes= | |||
==1952== | |||
EARLY.SPIRITUAL.EXPERIENCES_ HAMMOND.IN SUNDAY_ 52-0713A | EARLY.SPIRITUAL.EXPERIENCES_ HAMMOND.IN SUNDAY_ 52-0713A | ||
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:''Recently when we was talking to a missionary from India, '''where God has told me to go to, where I will have a crowd of three hundred thousand people in one meeting...''' Notice, in that same man, he said, "There's only one thing Brother Branham, that'll ever stir the people of India from those Mohammedans, and idolaters and so forth, it'll take the real power of God. Where demons when they rise up, the power of God there is to let them down. Be sure you know what you're talking of. | :''Recently when we was talking to a missionary from India, '''where God has told me to go to, where I will have a crowd of three hundred thousand people in one meeting...''' Notice, in that same man, he said, "There's only one thing Brother Branham, that'll ever stir the people of India from those Mohammedans, and idolaters and so forth, it'll take the real power of God. Where demons when they rise up, the power of God there is to let them down. Be sure you know what you're talking of. | ||
==1953== | |||
ISRAEL.AND.THE.CHURCH.1 JEFF.IN IC 1-34 53-0325 | ISRAEL.AND.THE.CHURCH.1 JEFF.IN IC 1-34 53-0325 | ||
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:''Like Doctor Palai is going over to India. He said, "Well, Brother Branham, shall I--shall..." And these converts, they claim to be a million in the congregation. '''God has promised three hundred and fifty thou--three hundred thousand in the converts.''' And he said, "What shall we do with them? Shall we all take them into the Anglican church?" | :''Like Doctor Palai is going over to India. He said, "Well, Brother Branham, shall I--shall..." And these converts, they claim to be a million in the congregation. '''God has promised three hundred and fifty thou--three hundred thousand in the converts.''' And he said, "What shall we do with them? Shall we all take them into the Anglican church?" | ||
==1954== | |||
DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE PHOENIX.AZ 54-0307E | DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE PHOENIX.AZ 54-0307E | ||
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:''I saw great throngs of people, but the meeting raised into the air, and faded away as a shadow. I looked back and saw again; there was many people setting, even greater than the first meeting. Then the Angel which was speaking to me, turned me to the east, which would be that way. And there was so many people, that I couldn't even numerate. They went over hills, and an Angel, smaller than the One which was standing by me, came from the--above with a light, a oscillating light, and it showed over the hills at the people. And they looked like Indians, half dressed. They were rejoicing and praising God as I spoke to them. And I heard the Angel, which was above me, say to the Angel standing by my side, '''"There are three hundred thousand of those in that Branham meeting."''' And see if that's right or not. | :''I saw great throngs of people, but the meeting raised into the air, and faded away as a shadow. I looked back and saw again; there was many people setting, even greater than the first meeting. Then the Angel which was speaking to me, turned me to the east, which would be that way. And there was so many people, that I couldn't even numerate. They went over hills, and an Angel, smaller than the One which was standing by me, came from the--above with a light, a oscillating light, and it showed over the hills at the people. And they looked like Indians, half dressed. They were rejoicing and praising God as I spoke to them. And I heard the Angel, which was above me, say to the Angel standing by my side, '''"There are three hundred thousand of those in that Branham meeting."''' And see if that's right or not. | ||
:''..."Why," I said, "Why?" And the man was gone. And I went into the other room, and asked if they had seen anything like it; wife hadn't let him into the house; he... No one knowed nothing about him. And then that night, after the house was empty, I went in and was laying down along about one o'clock in the morning, and I dreamed that I shouldn't go over to Africa till--or India until September. I come in, woke up my wife, and told her. We set there a little while, I went back in again and dreamed the same dream again. And we said, "Maybe it's the Lord, don't want me to go over." And I went in, I said, "Lord, then I accept the vision as being You warning me, and the two dreams also not to go till September." I went to sleep and slept like a baby. So we go in September in the Name of Jesus Christ. Watch what happens. I know our Lord will be good to us. He promised it. | :''..."Why," I said, "Why?" And the man was gone. And I went into the other room, and asked if they had seen anything like it; wife hadn't let him into the house; he... No one knowed nothing about him. And then that night, after the house was empty, I went in and was laying down along about one o'clock in the morning, and I dreamed that I shouldn't go over to Africa till--or India until September. I come in, woke up my wife, and told her. We set there a little while, I went back in again and dreamed the same dream again. And we said, "Maybe it's the Lord, don't want me to go over." And I went in, I said, "Lord, then I accept the vision as being You warning me, and the two dreams also not to go till September." I went to sleep and slept like a baby. So we go in September in the Name of Jesus Christ. Watch what happens. I know our Lord will be good to us. He promised it. | ||
To See Jesus - 54-0718E | |||
:''And I’m trusting, and know that in India this time, will be the greatest meeting that the Lord has ever let me minister in all my life, for this time. And I have the vision wrote out here; I believe, which most of the people has it wrote in your own Bibles. And you can see whether it will be that way or not after it’s over. '''And if it’s not that way, then you can say I didn’t speak to the Lord, or He didn’t speak to me''', rather. But if it does, then you remember that—that He talked with me.<ref>William Branham, 54-0718E - To See Jesus, para. 4</ref> | |||
SOUTH.AFRICA.TESTIMONY NEW.YORK.NY 54-0902 | SOUTH.AFRICA.TESTIMONY NEW.YORK.NY 54-0902 | ||
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:''There's a woman, went over there, Mrs. Dowd. I don't know whether you ever heard of her or not. Oh, such a disgrace that was in India. '''That's the reason we couldn't even have our meetings in the open air.''' | :''There's a woman, went over there, Mrs. Dowd. I don't know whether you ever heard of her or not. Oh, such a disgrace that was in India. '''That's the reason we couldn't even have our meetings in the open air.''' | ||
==1957== | |||
INDIA.TRIP.REPORT LIMA.OH 57-0126B | INDIA.TRIP.REPORT LIMA.OH 57-0126B | ||
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:''"God, open my eyes that I might see. Let me look past curtains of time, Lord. Let me just see, Lord, what's around me. Let me see what's fixing to happen." | :''"God, open my eyes that I might see. Let me look past curtains of time, Lord. Let me just see, Lord, what's around me. Let me see what's fixing to happen." | ||
==1958== | |||
THE.QUEEN.OF.SHEBA CHICAGO.IL 58-0107 | THE.QUEEN.OF.SHEBA CHICAGO.IL 58-0107 | ||
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:''And I just want say this, the many who knows me, and my friends are in here tonight, '''I just got my telegram back this morning from Durban, South Africa. The vision where three hundred thousand people will be gathered pretty soon for a meeting which is coming up right away...''' Oh, I'm so thankful for that. Dr. Vayle, I don't know whether you... Yeah, I believe I did tell you in the lobby awhile ago that we had gotten back now. I guess we will... The letter of details will coming soon. | :''And I just want say this, the many who knows me, and my friends are in here tonight, '''I just got my telegram back this morning from Durban, South Africa. The vision where three hundred thousand people will be gathered pretty soon for a meeting which is coming up right away...''' Oh, I'm so thankful for that. Dr. Vayle, I don't know whether you... Yeah, I believe I did tell you in the lobby awhile ago that we had gotten back now. I guess we will... The letter of details will coming soon. | ||
==1964== | |||
RECOGNIZING.YOUR.DAY.AND.ITS.MESSAGE JEFF.IN 64-0726M | RECOGNIZING.YOUR.DAY.AND.ITS.MESSAGE JEFF.IN 64-0726M | ||
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:''Something said, "Stop right here! Don't you go that way. Turn on in into India. Don't go that. Go over to India, but don't you go here." | :''Something said, "Stop right here! Don't you go that way. Turn on in into India. Don't go that. Go over to India, but don't you go here." | ||
==1965== | |||
DOES.GOD.CHANGE.HIS.MIND LA.CA 65-0427 | DOES.GOD.CHANGE.HIS.MIND LA.CA 65-0427 | ||
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:''I found out what the trouble was. Now I think, about October, the Lord willing, I can go back and have a meeting and everything, full cooperation, everything else, see, in Africa now. I got to the bottom of it and found out where it was at, what caused it. Up here, writing, this one has got this to say, and something's got something to say, and this one there. The best thing to do, is go find out, yourself. And I know where the trouble was, and what the reason of it was; it was because of so many people gathering together, the government wouldn't let me have it. | :''I found out what the trouble was. Now I think, about October, the Lord willing, I can go back and have a meeting and everything, full cooperation, everything else, see, in Africa now. I got to the bottom of it and found out where it was at, what caused it. Up here, writing, this one has got this to say, and something's got something to say, and this one there. The best thing to do, is go find out, yourself. And I know where the trouble was, and what the reason of it was; it was because of so many people gathering together, the government wouldn't let me have it. | ||
=Video Transcript= | |||
In 1952, William Branham related a vision that he had: | In 1952, William Branham related a vision that he had: | ||
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[[Category:Prophecies and Visions]] | |||
[[Category:Prophecies]] | |||
[[Category: Visions]] | |||