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William Branham speaks in tongues: Difference between revisions
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Text replacement - "Discernment errors" to "Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine?"
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{{Template:Was William Branham's discernment ministry genuine?}} | |||
This article deals with one specific '''discernment from the audience in 1959'''. | |||
=Calling a person out of the audience - April 11, 1959= | =Calling a person out of the audience - April 11, 1959= | ||
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But is that what happened? | But is that what happened? | ||
[[Image:1 Timothy 4 1.jpg|thumb|right|250px]] | |||
=What actually happened= | =What actually happened= | ||
While William Branham described this event as an astonishing display of God's power to speak through his prophet in the Finnish language, any who examine the "supernatural" event are a bit shocked at how little "God" actually spoke. | While William Branham described this event as an astonishing display of God's power to speak through his prophet in the Finnish language, any who examine the "supernatural" event are a bit shocked at how little "God" actually spoke. | ||
But when you review the details of this event on the night prior to Branham's claim, '''we only find two phrases Branham spoke in | But when you review the details of this event on the night prior to Branham's claim, '''we only find two phrases Branham spoke in Finnish, "Jumalan rauhaa," and "Kiitos"'''. And during the course of these words coming out in the sermon, Branham claims not to have known what he was saying. | ||
There is just one problem with William Branham's claim - He had been to Finland. And these words, which he claimed not to have known, were repeatedly used throughout his ministry when speaking to those who knew the Finnish language. Eight years earlier, in 1951, William Branham referred to his trip to Finland. Interestingly, he mentioned learning the exact words that he claimed to have came to him in an "unknown language" in 1959: | There is just one problem with William Branham's claim - He had been to Finland. And these words, which he claimed not to have known, were repeatedly used throughout his ministry when speaking to those who knew the Finnish language. Eight years earlier, in 1951, William Branham referred to his trip to Finland. Interestingly, he mentioned learning the exact words that he claimed to have came to him in an "unknown language" in 1959: | ||
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When William Branham stated that he spoke to a Finnish woman in a language that he didn't understand. He was telling the truth. But the truth was also that he did know three Finnish words and those were the only words he spoke. | When William Branham stated that he spoke to a Finnish woman in a language that he didn't understand. He was telling the truth. But the truth was also that he did know three Finnish words and those were the only words he spoke. | ||
The question has to be asked - Why was William Branham intentionally deceptive? | |||
#Although William Branham did not know the Finnish language, he did know 3 words. | #Although William Branham did not know the Finnish language, he did know 3 words. | ||
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#When William Branhan asked the deceptive question - ''What was I saying?'' - he knew the answer. | #When William Branhan asked the deceptive question - ''What was I saying?'' - he knew the answer. | ||
Was Paul referring to men like William Branham when he stated | Paul rejected this kind of deception: | ||
:''But '''we have rejected shameful hidden deeds''', '''not behaving with deceptiveness''' or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.<ref>Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), 2 Co 4:2.</ref> | |||
Was Paul referring to men like William Branham when he stated this? | |||
:'''''I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.''' For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery '''they deceive the hearts of the naive'''.<ref>Romans 16:17-18, ESV</ref> | :'''''I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.''' For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery '''they deceive the hearts of the naive'''.<ref>Romans 16:17-18, ESV</ref> | ||
The more difficult issue is the doubt that this incident casts over William Branham's entire discernment ministry. It is obvious that he lied about his "speaking in tongues". But how did he know that the woman was Finnish? Did he make that up too? Or, as some have supposed, did Billy Paul work the crowd as they entered prior to the service and simply supply his dad with the information. Did this information come from the prayer cards or from talking to people in the audience prior to them taking their seats? We will never know for sure but this kind of evidence throws significant doubt on an important aspect of William Branham's "supernatural" ministry. | |||
=Thanks to the former message minister who discovered this= | =Thanks to the former message minister who discovered this= | ||