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Congressman Upshaw: Difference between revisions
→Discrepancies between Upshaw and Branham
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='''Discrepancies''' between Upshaw and Branham= | ='''Discrepancies''' between Upshaw and Branham= | ||
There is a significant concern with the huge changes in the story over time as it was told by William Branham. When do you move from exaggeration to an outright lie? | |||
In Congressman Upshaw's testimony, William Branham never speaks to him or even acknowledges him. The message that he is healed is delivered by Brother Leroy Kopp. | |||
William Branham's initial testimony (1951 - see below) is initially in basic agreement with that of the Congressman. However, by 1954 it had changed to the point that there is a vision of a brown suit and a wired microphone is run back to the Congressman to allow him to have a conversation with William Branham from the pulpit. Leroy Kopp's part in the miracle is completely eliminated as William Branham himself told the Congressman over the pulpit - "''THUS SAITH THE LORD, you're healed.''" | |||
Why did a real miracle from God require embellishment? If it really was a miracle, why did William Branham have to lie about it? | |||
The picture of William Upshaw that has been painted into the minds of William Branham's followers is that of a frail, old man who was destined to a crippled life in a wheelchair. William Branham often mentions how the Congressman was so bad off that he had to be wheeled around, carried on beds, and practically unable to function. | |||
But in the newspapers, we find Upshaw travelling around in convoys of automobiles, '''walking around freely using his crutches''', and speaking to multiple audiences per day -- both for policical speeches and evangelistic sermons. | |||
So it appears that Congressman Upshaw's healing may not have been quite as miraculous as it was described by William Branham. | |||
=The tract written by Congressman Upshaw= | =The tract written by Congressman Upshaw= | ||
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William Branham retold the story of Congressman Upshaw's healing many times. However, over time the story changed considerably so that by 1954 it included a vision of a brown suit, and a "Thus Saith The Lord" statement spoken by Brother Branham to William Upshaw directly over the pulpit, and not as communicated by Brother LeRoy Kopp. | William Branham retold the story of Congressman Upshaw's healing many times. However, over time the story changed considerably so that by 1954 it included a vision of a brown suit, and a "Thus Saith The Lord" statement spoken by Brother Branham to William Upshaw directly over the pulpit, and not as communicated by Brother LeRoy Kopp. | ||
==The First Version== | |||
'''Initially the story that William Branham tells is very close to the testimony of Congressman Upshaw.''' | '''Initially the story that William Branham tells is very close to the testimony of Congressman Upshaw.''' | ||
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:''And as I started, Mr. Kopp here, the... Brother Kopp, the pastor run up there. And I said, "Go tell the congressman that God has healed him. I seen him, going walking away."''<ref>MY.COMMISSION_ LA.CA SATURDAY_ 51-0505</ref> | :''And as I started, Mr. Kopp here, the... Brother Kopp, the pastor run up there. And I said, "Go tell the congressman that God has healed him. I seen him, going walking away."''<ref>MY.COMMISSION_ LA.CA SATURDAY_ 51-0505</ref> | ||
==Is This Lying? - The Story Three Years Later== | |||
'''But three years later, it had | '''But three years later, it had changed to something that could only be called a lie.''' | ||
:''And I looked. And coming in, they just got off of an airplane. And here come a wheelchair. They'd just got inside the building and it begin come... It was moving on down to get it with the rest of wheelchairs. I said, "That's the old gentleman now." It was about twice the distance of this building. I said, "That's the old man now."'' | :''And I looked. And coming in, they just got off of an airplane. And here come a wheelchair. They'd just got inside the building and it begin come... It was moving on down to get it with the rest of wheelchairs. I said, "That's the old gentleman now." It was about twice the distance of this building. I said, "That's the old man now."'' | ||
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:''And I said, "Right now, Congressman." And up he jumped from that chair, threw aside... He had big crutches that went up over his shoulders, when they'd stand him up; it was like Mister Roosevelt, I... like that, in his back.<ref>JESUS ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD WOOD RIVER, IL 54-0217</ref> | :''And I said, "Right now, Congressman." And up he jumped from that chair, threw aside... He had big crutches that went up over his shoulders, when they'd stand him up; it was like Mister Roosevelt, I... like that, in his back.<ref>JESUS ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD WOOD RIVER, IL 54-0217</ref> | ||
'''Here again is the wildly embellished story in 1958:''' | '''Here again is the wildly embellished story in 1958:''' | ||