William Branham: Difference between revisions

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=Commission and Evangelism=
=Commission and Evangelism=
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|'''The Commission''' <br> An Angel, or no Angel? Cabin or cave?
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In March 1945 William Branham saw a vision of birds who would not eat from a small pile of white bread. A voice told him ''“That is your Tabernacle and they won't eat the bread of life anymore. I am sending you…westward.”''  William Branham was then shown a large tent with a platform at the front. Behind the tent was a great pile of the same white bread, and he was told to feed a white-robed audience that had gathered from everywhere. The following day, William Branham explained the vision to his church.  
In March 1945 William Branham received a commission for his healing ministry when he wrote that he saw a vision of birds that would not eat from a small pile of white bread. A voice told him “That is your Tabernacle and they won't eat the bread of life anymore. I am sending you…westward.” William Branham was then shown a large tent with a platform at the front. Behind the tent was a great pile of the same white bread, and he was told to feed a white-robed audience that had gathered from everywhere. The following day, William Branham explained the vision to his church.  


William Branham left Jeffersonville on June 14, 1945 and headed directly west with his wife, son, and Rev. Daugherty to St. Louis, Missouri. The testimonies from the tent meetings in St. Louis were compiled in a tract called [[Heavenly Vision|I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision]] and distributed at subsequent revival meetings.
William Branham left Jeffersonville on June 14, 1945 and headed directly west with his wife, son, and Rev. Daugherty to St. Louis, Missouri. The testimonies from the tent meetings in St. Louis were compiled in a tract called “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” and distributed at subsequent revival meetings.  The tract describes that the group that left from Jeffersonville carpooled, as gas rationing was in effect.  Gas rationing in the United States ended August 15, 1945.


In 1946, Meda Branham gave birth to a girl, Rebekah.   
Meda Branham gave birth to a girl, Rebekah, on March 21, 1946.
 
The Associated Press published an interview with William Branahm on June 30, 1947 when he said, “ 11 months ago, I got a call so insistent that I went out and started healing people”. This puts the date of his commission at September 1946. 
 
In June 1947, the Evening Sun newspaper of Jonesboro, Arkansas also reported that "Residents of at least 25 States and Mexico have visited Jonesboro since Rev. Branham opened the camp meeting, June 1st. The total attendance for the services is likely to surpass the 20,000 mark." William Branham also met Gordon Lindsay in 1947, who became his primary manager and promoter. Shortly after, several other prominent Pentecostals joined his ministry team, including Ern Baxter and F.F. Bosworth. Gordon Lindsay proved to be an able publicist for Branham, founding The Voice of Healing magazine in 1948 which was originally aimed at reporting on Branham's healing campaigns.
 
Both F.F. Bosworth and Gordon Lindsay had connections to Alexander Dowie, who claimed he was Elijah.  Bosworth was the band director in Zion, Illinois in 1905 and 1906 as Dowie’s utopian empire crumbled.  Charles Parham, one of the founders of the Azuza Street Revival and a member of the KKK, established Tent meetings in Zion in 1907.  Bosworth attended these meetings along with John G. Lake until the Zion Pentecostal revival fell apart after Parham was jailed. 
 
Gordon Lindsay was born in Zion, IllinoisLindsay eventually worked with John G. Lake in establishing a the Divine Healing Mission in Portland, Oregon.
 
It is likely through connections with F.F. Bosworth and Gordon Lindsay that William Branham learned the doctrine that Elijah would come before the second coming.  It didn’t take long before William Branham became convinced that he was that Elijah. 
William Branham claimed that he received the gift of healing that commissioned his healing ministry from the Angel of the Lord on the day Israel became a nation on May 7, 1946 at Green’s Mill in an old cabin, and then again on May 6, 1947 at Green’s Mill in a hidden cave.  Israel then declared its independence on May 14, 1948. 
 
William Branham also met with Avak Hagopian in Florida in 1948, a renown “faith healer” from Armenia who was featured in the May 19, 1947 edition of LIFE magazine.  Avak was tall, of olive complexion, had long shoulder-length hair and wore flowing robes – eerily similar to the description of William Branham’s angel.   


[[Image:Image-rs-155 - Br Br - seated with Bible.jpg|220px|right]]
[[Image:Image-rs-155 - Br Br - seated with Bible.jpg|220px|right]]


In June 1947, the ''Evening Sun'' newspaper of Jonesboro, Arkansas reported that "Residents of at least 25 States and Mexico have visited Jonesboro since Rev. Branham opened the camp meeting, June 1st. The total attendance for the services is likely to surpass the 20,000 mark."
William Branham’s early work in faith healing attracted attention, and as stories began to spread of his healing gift, local pastors came to ask Branham to minister to their congregations and pray for the sick. When local churches could not accommodate the crowds, Branham's meetings were moved to larger auditoriums or stadiums for united campaigns in major cities in North America. His success soon took him to minister in countries around the world. According to a Pentecostal historian, "Branham filled the largest stadiums and meeting halls in the world."
William Branham also met [[Gordon Lindsay]] in 1947, who became his primary manager and promoter. Shortly after, several other prominent Pentecostals joined his ministry team, including [[Ern Baxter]] and [[F.F. Bosworth]]. Gordon Lindsay proved to be an able publicist for Branham, founding The Voice of Healing magazine in 1948 which was originally aimed at reporting on Branham's healing campaigns.
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|'''The Houston Photo''' <br> Angelic being, or indoor lighting?
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His early work in faith healing attracted attention, and as stories began to spread of his healing gift, local pastors came to ask Branham to minister to their congregations and pray for the sick. When local churches could not accommodate the crowds, Branham's meetings were moved to larger auditoriums or stadiums for united campaigns in major cities in North AmericaHis success soon took him to minister in countries around the world. According to a Pentecostal historian, "Branham filled the largest stadiums and meeting halls in the world."
On the night of January 24, 1950, an unusual photograph was taken during a speaking engagement in the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas. The photograph was of William Branham standing at the podium, with a halo of light behind his head. William Branham claimed that this was a supernatural light, and paid to have the photograph examined by a professional, George J. Lacy, to confirm that the negative had not been tampered withThe photographer then refused to let William Branham use the photograph as the cover for his life story.  


On the night of January 24, 1950, an unusual photograph was taken during a speaking engagement in the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas.  The photograph was of William Branham standing at the podium, with a halo of light behind his head. William Branham claimed that this was a supernatural light, and paid to have the photograph examined by a professional, George J. Lacy, to confirm that the negative had not been tampered with. 
William Branham continued his worldwide ministry, and the “Voice of Healing” magazine published in article in June 1950 about a boy who was raised to life in Finland during the William Branham campaigns, after being hit by a car.  
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|'''Finland Miracle''' <br> Do the stories match?
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William Branham continued his worldwide ministry, and the “Voice of Healing” magazine published in article in June 1950 about a boy who was raised to life in Finland during the William Branham campaigns, after being hit by a car. 
By this time, William Branham was praying for the sick using two methods. The first was a physical reaction in his hand indicating the presence of germ diseases. The second was that he knew could talk to people directly about their lives without the need to ask questions.
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|'''Donny Morton''' <br> Healed, but dead?
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By this time, William Branham was praying for the sick using two methods. The first was a physical reaction in his hand indicating the presence of germ diseases.  The second was that he knew could talk to people directly about their lives without the need to ask questions.  In 1951, William Branham prayed for a boy named [[Donny Morton]], which was reported in both Chatelaine and Reader’s Digest. This article describes how William Branham described the boy’s situation to his father, without asking questions. However, after a long and difficult battle with meningitis, Donny Morton died of pneumonia while recovering from surgery.
In 1951, William Branham prayed for a boy named Donny Morton, which was reported in Chatelaine Magazine and re-printed in a condensed version in the Reader’s Digest. This article describes how William Branham described the boy’s situation to his father, without asking questions. While William Branham said the boy was healed, the article tells that Donny Morton died of pneumonia while recovering from surgery.  


In Durban, South Africa in 1951 William Branham addressed meetings sponsored by the Apostolic Faith Mission, the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and the Full Gospel Church of God. Meetings were conducted in eleven cities, with a combined attendance of a half million people. On the final day of the Durban meetings, held at the Greyville Racecourse, an estimated 45,000 people attended and thousands more were turned away at the gates. As he travelled around the world he met many individuals of public influence.  
In Durban, South Africa in 1951 William Branham spoke at meetings sponsored by the Apostolic Faith Mission, the Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal Holiness Church, and the Full Gospel Church of God. Meetings were conducted in eleven cities, with a combined attendance of a half million people. On the final day of the Durban meetings, held at the Greyville Racecourse, an estimated 45,000 people attended and thousands more were turned away at the gates. As he travelled around the world he met many individuals of public influence.  


During this time, over 1100 of William Branham’s sermons were recorded and transcribed.
A daughter Sarah was born to Meda and William Branham on March 19, 1951 followed by a son Joseph who was born on May 19, 1955


[[Image:Durban1.jpg|thumb|800px|The non-European section of the Durban congregation.]]
[[Image:Durban1.jpg|thumb|800px|The non-European section of the Durban congregation.]]