The Vision of the Meetings in South Africa: Difference between revisions

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<div style="border-bottom:2px #B87333 solid; text-align:left; padding:1px; margin:1px;"><font color='#800000' size='+1'>'''The Vision of the African Meeting - Another Failed Prophecy?'''.</font>  </div>
<div style="border-bottom:2px #B87333 solid; text-align:left; padding:1px; margin:1px;"><font color='#800000' size='+1'>'''The Vision of the African Meeting - Another Failed Prophecy?'''.</font>  </div>


<mediaplayer width='800' height='600'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbAwGJFSAg</mediaplayer>
<mediaplayer width='1100' height='600'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEbAwGJFSAg</mediaplayer>


=The Facts Relating to the Vision=
==The Facts Relating to the Vision==


In 1952, William Branham had 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''."
In 1952, William Branham had 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''."
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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. He died just prior to the end of 1965 with the vision remaining unfulfilled.
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. He died just prior to the end of 1965 with the vision remaining unfulfilled.


=Explanations for the Failed Vision=
==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 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==
===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==
===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==
===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==
===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?


=Quotes=
==Quotes==


==1952==
===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==
===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==
===1954===


DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE  PHOENIX.AZ  54-0307E
DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE  PHOENIX.AZ  54-0307E
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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==
===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==
===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==
===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==
===1965===


DOES.GOD.CHANGE.HIS.MIND  LA.CA  65-0427
DOES.GOD.CHANGE.HIS.MIND  LA.CA  65-0427
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:''I had an experience with that just recently on the road to Africa. If I ever had any time that the Devil ever did press at me, was to go to Africa this last time. It become one of the--the finest meetings and times that I ever went overseas. I
:''I had an experience with that just recently on the road to Africa. If I ever had any time that the Devil ever did press at me, was to go to Africa this last time. It become one of the--the finest meetings and times that I ever went overseas. I


=Video Transcript=
==Video Transcript==
   
   
In 1952, William Branham related a vision that he had:
In 1952, William Branham related a vision that he had: