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Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine?: Difference between revisions

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Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine? (view source)

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Above you will see a copy of one of the prayer cards that William Branham used in the meetings.  Why did he make people fill out prayer cards when other faith healers, such as Oral Roberts, did not use them?  More specifically, why did he insist that people people had to line up in numerical order?
Above you will see a copy of one of the prayer cards that William Branham used in the meetings.  Why did he make people fill out prayer cards when other faith healers, such as Oral Roberts, did not use them?  More specifically, why did he insist that people people had to line up in numerical order?
Jesus never did this...


:''Now, 53? 54? 55? 56, 57, 58, 59, 60? You line right up along here, right in—in '''numerical order''' just the way you are. All right. All right, 60? Is that about…<ref>William Branham, 51-0505 - My Commission, para. 52</ref>
:''Now, 53? 54? 55? 56, 57, 58, 59, 60? You line right up along here, right in—in '''numerical order''' just the way you are. All right. All right, 60? Is that about…<ref>William Branham, 51-0505 - My Commission, para. 52</ref>
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''Now, when He come to Simon, He told him who he was. You believe God can tell me what your name is? Would it make you believe more? It would? '''Mrs. Strong... [The sister says, "Stout."--Ed.] Stout''', would you believe? Go and believe, and you... It's all over. Amen.<ref>A.TESTIMONY.ON.THE.SEA DALLAS.TX 64-0307</ref>
''Now, when He come to Simon, He told him who he was. You believe God can tell me what your name is? Would it make you believe more? It would? '''Mrs. Strong... [The sister says, "Stout."--Ed.] Stout''', would you believe? Go and believe, and you... It's all over. Amen.<ref>A.TESTIMONY.ON.THE.SEA DALLAS.TX 64-0307</ref>


==Why prayer cards?==
==If his discernment was supernatural, why were so few people healed?==
 
Why did William Branham require people to fill out prayer cards before he prayed for them? And why were people required to line up in numerical order in the prayer line?
 
Jesus never did this...
 
:''Now, 53? 54? 55? 56, 57, 58, 59, 60? You line right up along here, '''right in--in numerical order''' just the way you are. All right. All right, 60? Is that about...'' <ref>MY.COMMISSION_  LA.CA  SATURDAY_  51-0505</ref>
 
:''You believe the Lord? You people with your prayer cards now, Z 1 to 50, '''line up here, numerical order''', 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and on like that. When you're praying for the sick and talking to them, more you pray, more you talk to the person, the more you know of them.
 
:''I'm going to have my minister brothers, if they will, to stand right back here behind me just a moment.  The reason that I said someone without a prayer card, some of them think, you know, that looking at the prayer card that the person thinking about what, it'll be mental telepathy. But it is not.
 
:''It is--I take those who don't have prayer cards. That doesn't matter. Anybody in the audience, wouldn't make a bit of difference; you know that. The people come here and told of things they done when they were little children, and so forth. Isn't that right? And that's not mental telepathy, anyone. It's the power of Almighty God.
 
:''Now, if you don't believe it, it'll never do you any good. But if you do believe it, it's healing for you. Everybody be reverent.
 
:'''''Now, bring those with prayer cards Z-1 to Z-50. And let them line up in numerical order''', right along here: Z-1, Z-50. And then immediately after that, when those go through, we're going to line up all that wants to be prayed for in that aisle, then all that wants to be prayed for in this aisle, then all that want to be prayed for in this aisle, and all that wants to be prayed for over there. And bring them right around, and pray for everybody tonight. You believe we can do it? Are you going to accept it as your healing? Now--now, just let those stand up first who have prayer cards.<ref>FAITH.IS.THE.SUBSTANCE_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  51-0508</ref>
 
 
 
:''Let the first fifteen, from D-1 to D-15... You people setting near them that's got cards, they may be deaf. You look at their cards and examine it, 'cause they wouldn't be able to hear me. And '''line up here according to your number in numerical order.''' 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 up in... D-10, or D-15 rather. D-1 to D-15. We'll begin with them to start and just pray for as many as we possibly can.<ref>THE.MANIFESTATION.OF.THE.SPIRIT_  TOLEDO.OH  TUESDAY_  51-0717</ref>
 
 
:''How many cards did you give? All right. Start right from this, just line up the line. '''He give F from 51. Get start it right here, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55''', just as many as you can crowd in there, I guess. Let it get up to about... Well, you can get... Can you get more than ten in there? All right, try the first ten, and then maybe we can get some more after that. 51 to 60, that's six... 51 to 60. And then as soon as that crowd gets down, as soon as they level down, if there's more room, step right up. Just start 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, up to 70. That crowd gets down, start right on to 80, like that. And then when that gets... By that time, '''every one of you ought to be in the right position''', the Holy Ghost falling over this building for every one of you to be healed.<ref>LIFE.OF.DEMONS.AND.VISIONS_  TOLEDO.OH  SATURDAY_  51-0721</ref>


'''Walter Hollenweger''', a noted Pentecostal historian who worked as translator for Branham in one of his campaigns in Switzerland, wrote of Branham:


:''What was that 50 to 60, I... 60, 60? 60 to 70, D-60 to 70. Come down in this way if you will as you're come out. The line's forming this a way and so it's... 60 to 70. The ushers will place you just in your position. We never know... The reason we do that, we never know where, what's going to happen.  
:''He possessed an extraordinary diagnostic gift and could identify the illnesses (sometimes even the names) of persons he had never seen. Unfortunately '''his healing prognosis was accurate only in rare cases'''. The excuse of healing evangelists in such cases has always been: The patient did not really believe; for they were convinced that faith leads automatically to health.<ref>Hollenweger, Walter J. (1997). Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0801046605.</ref>


:''You see? The Holy Spirit might do something (You see?), and He might stop the line at a second. He might... We've had much experience in eight years.  70 to 80, D-70 to 80. That's good. Come this way, everybody. Line up this way with your--your cards in this way. 70 to 80, 80 to 90, 80 to 90. Uh-huh.<ref>FAITH.WITHOUT.WORKS.IS.DEAD_  CHICAGO.IL  SATURDAY_  53-0905</ref>
Hollenwegger also stated that however generously Branham is judged:


:''...by contrast to what he claimed, '''only a small percentage of those that sought healing were actually healed'''."<ref>Hollenweger, Walter J. (1997). Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide. Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0801046605.</ref>


:''All right. Now, '''from 50 to 100 in B's''', let them go right back in the back, and start going back that way, and taking your place.
The question must be asked - '''If William Branham's discernment ministry was supernatural, why were actually healings "rare"? Was the discernment genuine?  Was Billy Paul feeding information to William Branham?  Is that why William Branham prayed for very few people while Oral Roberts and others prayed for hundreds of people in each service?
 
:''Now, if anyone here's got one of those prayer cards that's crippled and can't walk, well let them just be brought right up here and I'll--I'll come down and pray for them.
 
:''Now, let's us who are waiting now, let's just bow our heads. And the organist, if you will give us a little chord of that "Only Believe," will you?
 
:''Every one real reverent now as we're making the lines ready, and making everything just in order as we possibly can to make it easy for each person to get into the line. '''Each person will have their place and position.'''<ref>LED.BY.THE.SPIRIT_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  59-0407</ref>
 
 
:'''''everyone keep your position''' and just reverently pray.  What say? Huh? I've ten back there now? 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15... Would '''prayer cards 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25...''' That ought to make a pretty good line, if we... I hope we don't have to keep you here very long, but now... Be with ten then... That's all right; just let...<ref>THE.RESTORATION.OF.THE.BRIDE.TREE_  JEFF.IN V-3 N-15  SUNDAY_  62-0422</ref>
 
 
:''What was that 22? 23, 23, prayer card 23, 24, 25, 26? Good. 27, 28, 28, 29, 29, 29, 30? Thank you. 31, 32, 33, 33? I didn't see it. 34, 34, 35, 36, 36, 37, 37? I didn't get it. 37, 37? Look around at your neighbor. He might have a prayer card. 37? He might be deaf, might be able... can't get up. See? He's paralyzed, and can't move. 37?
 
:'''''Somebody must've got it and went out. If they come in, put them in the line, position them in their place now.''' The ushers will be there to help. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 47? That's good. 48, 49, 50, 50, the man back there.
 
:''Now, is all the people that has prayer cards up? Has anybody else got a prayer card? All prayer cards standing in the row? I want to be sure of this now. We called one, 37. I seen a couple of brethren come in since then. I just wonder. I've called prayer card 37, and it didn't answer. That's the only one that I seen myself that didn't answer. Prayer card number 5? Did it answer? Brother Vayle said he didn't notice prayer card number 5. '''Number 5, is it there, and 37?'''
 
:''Now, if you will just give us a moment or two, friends. Now, we'll... Someone coming in again with a baby. Maybe it might be some of the women and brothers has to step out with their little ones. '''And--and if they're out now and that number comes in, put them right in line, right in their place, put them where 37 and 5 belongs'''. And that makes everything just right then. 37 and 5. Everybody now be alert, be ready, be willing.<ref>PERSEVERANCE_  S.PINES.NC  FRIDAY_  62-0608</ref>
 
 
:''The prayer cards in this section, come over here and stand now. The prayer cards over in that booth, come over and stand. And as soon as that line goes down, let this side come, and that. Then let the balcony come down next. And now, everybody now, '''while they get in their position and place''', let's... And then, if we have time left, the rest of them come.<ref>BEHOLD.A.GREATER.THAN.ALL.OF.THEM.IS.HERE_  SPOKANE.WA  SUNDAY_  62-0715</ref>


==If there are no errors, why are there so many '''blank spots on the tapes?'''==
==If there are no errors, why are there so many '''blank spots on the tapes?'''==
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:''I never seen you in my life. That's right. If it is, raise up your hand, that I'm a stranger to you. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]<ref>58-0500 THE EAGLE STIRRING HER NEST NEW ENGLAND</ref>
:''I never seen you in my life. That's right. If it is, raise up your hand, that I'm a stranger to you. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]<ref>58-0500 THE EAGLE STIRRING HER NEST NEW ENGLAND</ref>


===But then things change a bit after 1958===
=Additional prayer line quotes=


:''Now, there's a change in my ministry coming. And how many... Would there be one here that remembers when I first started on the field? Let's see your hand. Oh, my, there's several. You remember how it was given to me by the Angel of the Lord, that I would take my left hand and lay it onto the--the person was standing sick, and not use my own voice, and It would speak out and tell them what was wrong with them? You remember that? And you remember, I told you that the Holy Spirit told me that night when I talked to Him, what it would be. And said, "Then if you'll be sincere, it'll come to a place that you'll know the very secret of their heart." How many of you that was in my first meetings heard me tell that before that ever come to pass, raise up your hands high. That's good. Now, has it come to pass?
:''You believe the Lord? You people with your prayer cards now, Z 1 to 50, '''line up here, numerical order''', 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and on like that. When you're praying for the sick and talking to them, more you pray, more you talk to the person, the more you know of them.


:''Then He said, "If you'll continue to be sincere and humble, it'll grow greater and greater." And now, this ministry is going to step higher now, into another realm, where it'll be far beyond what it is now. I don't know just what it is, but I'm warned of the Holy Spirit to quickly now, close my meetings off (My last one will be in Philadelphia), and go into the hills and wait on the Lord to see which a way to conduct this ministry. When I come out again, it'll be in a new ministry. This ministry will never cease; this ministry will continue on. This first will continue on; it's still just the same.<ref>58-0620 THE.QUEEN.OF.THE.SOUTH</ref>
:''I'm going to have my minister brothers, if they will, to stand right back here behind me just a moment.  The reason that I said someone without a prayer card, some of them think, you know, that looking at the prayer card that the person thinking about what, it'll be mental telepathy. But it is not.
 
:''It is--I take those who don't have prayer cards. That doesn't matter. Anybody in the audience, wouldn't make a bit of difference; you know that. The people come here and told of things they done when they were little children, and so forth. Isn't that right? And that's not mental telepathy, anyone. It's the power of Almighty God.
 
:''Now, if you don't believe it, it'll never do you any good. But if you do believe it, it's healing for you. Everybody be reverent.
 
:'''''Now, bring those with prayer cards Z-1 to Z-50. And let them line up in numerical order''', right along here: Z-1, Z-50. And then immediately after that, when those go through, we're going to line up all that wants to be prayed for in that aisle, then all that wants to be prayed for in this aisle, then all that want to be prayed for in this aisle, and all that wants to be prayed for over there. And bring them right around, and pray for everybody tonight. You believe we can do it? Are you going to accept it as your healing? Now--now, just let those stand up first who have prayer cards.<ref>FAITH.IS.THE.SUBSTANCE_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  51-0508</ref>
 
:''Let the first fifteen, from D-1 to D-15... You people setting near them that's got cards, they may be deaf. You look at their cards and examine it, 'cause they wouldn't be able to hear me. And '''line up here according to your number in numerical order.''' 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 up in... D-10, or D-15 rather. D-1 to D-15. We'll begin with them to start and just pray for as many as we possibly can.<ref>THE.MANIFESTATION.OF.THE.SPIRIT_  TOLEDO.OH  TUESDAY_  51-0717</ref>
 
:''How many cards did you give? All right. Start right from this, just line up the line. '''He give F from 51. Get start it right here, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55''', just as many as you can crowd in there, I guess. Let it get up to about... Well, you can get... Can you get more than ten in there? All right, try the first ten, and then maybe we can get some more after that. 51 to 60, that's six... 51 to 60. And then as soon as that crowd gets down, as soon as they level down, if there's more room, step right up. Just start 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, up to 70. That crowd gets down, start right on to 80, like that. And then when that gets... By that time, '''every one of you ought to be in the right position''', the Holy Ghost falling over this building for every one of you to be healed.<ref>LIFE.OF.DEMONS.AND.VISIONS_  TOLEDO.OH  SATURDAY_  51-0721</ref>
 
:''What was that 50 to 60, I... 60, 60? 60 to 70, D-60 to 70. Come down in this way if you will as you're come out. The line's forming this a way and so it's... 60 to 70. The ushers will place you just in your position. We never know... The reason we do that, we never know where, what's going to happen.
 
:''You see? The Holy Spirit might do something (You see?), and He might stop the line at a second. He might... We've had much experience in eight years.  70 to 80, D-70 to 80. That's good. Come this way, everybody. Line up this way with your--your cards in this way. 70 to 80, 80 to 90, 80 to 90. Uh-huh.<ref>FAITH.WITHOUT.WORKS.IS.DEAD_  CHICAGO.IL  SATURDAY_  53-0905</ref>
 
:''All right. Now, '''from 50 to 100 in B's''', let them go right back in the back, and start going back that way, and taking your place.
 
:''Now, if anyone here's got one of those prayer cards that's crippled and can't walk, well let them just be brought right up here and I'll--I'll come down and pray for them.
 
:''Now, let's us who are waiting now, let's just bow our heads. And the organist, if you will give us a little chord of that "Only Believe," will you?
 
:''Every one real reverent now as we're making the lines ready, and making everything just in order as we possibly can to make it easy for each person to get into the line. '''Each person will have their place and position.'''<ref>LED.BY.THE.SPIRIT_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  59-0407</ref>
 
:'''''everyone keep your position''' and just reverently pray.  What say? Huh? I've ten back there now? 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15... Would '''prayer cards 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25...''' That ought to make a pretty good line, if we... I hope we don't have to keep you here very long, but now... Be with ten then... That's all right; just let...<ref>THE.RESTORATION.OF.THE.BRIDE.TREE_  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-15  SUNDAY_  62-0422</ref>
 
:''What was that 22? 23, 23, prayer card 23, 24, 25, 26? Good. 27, 28, 28, 29, 29, 29, 30? Thank you. 31, 32, 33, 33? I didn't see it. 34, 34, 35, 36, 36, 37, 37? I didn't get it. 37, 37? Look around at your neighbor. He might have a prayer card. 37? He might be deaf, might be able... can't get up. See? He's paralyzed, and can't move. 37?
 
:'''''Somebody must've got it and went out. If they come in, put them in the line, position them in their place now.''' The ushers will be there to help. 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 47? That's good. 48, 49, 50, 50, the man back there.
 
:''Now, is all the people that has prayer cards up? Has anybody else got a prayer card? All prayer cards standing in the row? I want to be sure of this now. We called one, 37. I seen a couple of brethren come in since then. I just wonder. I've called prayer card 37, and it didn't answer. That's the only one that I seen myself that didn't answer. Prayer card number 5? Did it answer? Brother Vayle said he didn't notice prayer card number 5.  '''Number 5, is it there, and 37?'''
 
:''Now, if you will just give us a moment or two, friends. Now, we'll... Someone coming in again with a baby. Maybe it might be some of the women and brothers has to step out with their little ones. '''And--and if they're out now and that number comes in, put them right in line, right in their place, put them where 37 and 5 belongs'''. And that makes everything just right then. 37 and 5. Everybody now be alert, be ready, be willing.<ref>PERSEVERANCE_  S.PINES.NC  FRIDAY_  62-0608</ref>
 
:''The prayer cards in this section, come over here and stand now. The prayer cards over in that booth, come over and stand. And as soon as that line goes down, let this side come, and that. Then let the balcony come down next. And now, everybody now, '''while they get in their position and place''', let's... And then, if we have time left, the rest of them come.<ref>BEHOLD.A.GREATER.THAN.ALL.OF.THEM.IS.HERE_  SPOKANE.WA  SUNDAY_  62-0715</ref>


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[[Category:Prophecies and Visions of William Branham‏‎]]
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[[Category:Honesty and Credibility]]
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