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    [[ William Branham]] believed that the world would end in 1977.
    [[ William Branham]] believed that the world would end in 1977.


    =1) Prediction vs. Prophecy==
    =Prediction vs. Prophecy==


    William Branham said "I predict (I do not prophesy)".   
    William Branham said "I predict (I do not prophesy)".   


    On one hand William Branham said ‘Thus saith the Lord” many times during his ministry, and each time he was 100% correct.  Why then is there a big deal about the one time when he said “this is not Thus saith the Lord, but just me”?  For someone to deny his ministry based on this one prediction is irresponsible, as William Branham himself said:
    William Branham said ‘[[Thus saith the Lord]]” many times during his ministry.  It is interesting that he actually realized he could completely destroy his legacy with a prophecy that was incorrect as to exact timing.  As a result, he waffled on the date.
     
    :''Now, I could miss that a year; I can miss it twenty years, I could miss it a hundred years. I don't know where…And I could be wrong; I'm predicting. Everybody understand say, "amen" if you do. [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] See?.'' (LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE_  JEFF.IN  ROJC 493-550  SUNDAY_  60-1211E)
     
    :''And at 1906 the Laodicean church age set in, and I don't know when it'll end, but I predict it'll be done by 1977. I predict, not the Lord told me, but I predict it…''(EPHESIAN.CHURCH.AGE_  JEFF.IN  ROJC 131-183  MONDAY_  60-1205)
     
    :''and then I predicted... I never said the Lord told me that…''(SEVENTY.WEEKS.OF.DANIEL_  JEFF.IN  DA 89-141  SUNDAY_  61-0806)
     
    :''I don't want anyone to misunderstand it. Don't misunderstand now, and say, "Brother Branham said Jesus will come in 1977." I never said no such a thing. Jesus may come today…''(SEVENTY.WEEKS.OF.DANIEL_  JEFF.IN  DA 89-141  SUNDAY_  61-0806)
     
    :''I PREDICT (I do not prophesy) that these visions will have all come to pass by 1977…''(LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE -  CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9)
     
    Based on the above quotes, it appears William Branham made it very clear that his comments on 1977 were just that - comments - and not prophetic revelation.  Contrast the above quotes with the following prophetic revelation:
     
    :''Jezebel is the type of the modern church today, 'cause Catholic and Protestants are joined together now. Right. There is no getting around it. They're both denominations, so it's--so it's just mother and sister. That's all. They fuss and argue with one another, but it's the same thing, both harlots. Now, I'm not saying that myself. I'm quoting from THUS SAITH THE LORD.'' (FOURTH SEAL_JEFF IN_63-0321)
     
    If someone wanted to disprove William Branham as a prophet, they should focus on the doctrines he established as coming from the Lord, rather than his own commentary.  This is similar to court cases where a judge makes a decision and provides reasoning to the decision ('Rationes decidendi') that is binding, but also adds commentary (called 'obiter dicta') which does not have the force of law to become a precident, but may be considered or ignored by later court cases on the merit of its own persuasion. (this comment relates to the Canadian Judicial system)


    ==2) "These visions" are true prophecy==
    ==2) "These visions" are true prophecy==
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    ==6)What is the 'Ushering in the the Millenium'?==
    =What is the 'Ushering in the the Millenium'?==
    William Branham is referring to the ushering in of the millennium, not the date of the millennium itself. 
     
    The definition of ‘usher’ is as follows:
    Verb:  to conduct to a place,
    Noun: one that goes before, guide, shepherd
     
    Based on this definition, the ‘ushering in’ is a process - an activity that is extended over a period of time.  One of the common duties of ushers is to seat people and ensure order prior to a wedding.  Before leading a person to their seat, an usher will come down the isle ahead of a person to secure their spot; however, that person may still remain at the door or even out of sight.  Once the duty of the usher in seating the people has been finished, the wedding has not yet begun.  While the usher is working to make everything ready, the bride may be in a car in the parking lot, or still in another room. 
     
    The ‘ushering in’ is inseparably tied to the wedding as it relates to those things that immediately precede or herald the coming of the bride.  1977 is therefore irrelevant as a year to look for the skies to open (the dreadful day of the Lord), as it relates to the ushering in (preparing), not the wedding march, the wedding itself, nor the final departure of the bridegroom and bride. 
     
    For example, while the majority of the people on the earth were oblivious to Christ’s coming, a few were aware of it, including the shepherds, the wise men, Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist, and Simeon.  Simeon, who was told he would see the Lord’s Christ, did not see Jesus die for his sins, but he did see the Messiah.  Others who knew Simeon but did not believe Jesus was the Christ or did not live to see Jesus’ ministry probably dismissed Simeon’s testimony as false because Christ’s coming did not fit into their traditions or observations.  They did not realize that the ushering in of the Kingdom of Christ (the star, the heralding angels, the arrival and ministry of John, the promise to Simeon, the jubilant entrance into Jerusalem) was a process rather than instant experience.  The importance of each event was historic and essential, yet it took the sum of all of these to fulfill the prophecies in the Word of God.
     
    ==7) What is 'Termination of the World Systems'?==
    The termination of world systems is a similar prophecy given to the gentiles as the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of Israel was given to the Jews.  In analyzing how the Jewish prophecy was made and how it came to pass, it should be easier to understand how the Gentile prophecy will come to pass:
     
    First of all, Moses spoke to the Children of Israel proclaiming that a curse would be set on the people if they did not follow the law.  Once the curse was set upon them, other nations would say:
     
    :''For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and [whom] he had not given unto them: And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book: And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.''  (DEUTERONOMY 29:26-28)
     
    In order for this curse to take effect, the iniquity of the Jews would have to be fulfilled as the Lord would not condemn without cause.  Just as the iniquity of the Amorites had to be full (Genesis 15:16) before the Israelites could conquer and dwell in their land (Numbers 21:31) so the iniquity of the Jews had to be full (Matthew 23:28) before the Gentiles could claim the Messiah as their own. 
     
    The termination of Jerusalem and the Jewish system was prophesied from Moses (Deut 29) to Jesus (Luke 21:24).  At the same time judgement was pronounced on the Jews, grace was given to the rest of the world.  The change was not instantaneous, but began in Jerusalem and moved (was ushered into) the rest of the world (Luke 24:46).  Just as the termination of the Jewish system was a process, so the termination of the Gentile world systems will be a process. 
     
    As the iniquity of the Amorites had to be fulfilled before Moses could lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and conquer the Amorites, so the iniquity of the present Gentile world order has to be fulfilled before the 'Great and dreadfull day of the Lord'.  Just as there was a space of time between the fullness of the Amorites' iniquity and the day of their judgement, so there is a space of time between the fullness of the Gentiles' iniquity and the day of their Judgement. 
     
    It is possible that the iniquity of the Gentiles was full, for the first time, in 1977.
     
    ====Example of 'Timing' Prophecies that could have been misinterpreted====
    The following list of scriptures supports the position that judgment and redemption are processes:
     
    *Compare the following scriptures to determine the exact moment the Son of Man was glorified:
     
    ::''Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.'' (JOHN 13:31)
     
    ::''Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God.'' (JOHN 20:17)


    ::''Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.'' (JOHN 20:27)
    William Branham plagiarized a lot of his doctrine from Clarence Larkin and this is another clear case of stealing wording directly from Larkin:


    *Also compare the following scripture to determine when the Holy Ghost fell on the disciples:
    :''We must not forget that the “SEVENTH SEAL” includes all that happens during the sounding of the “Trumpets,” and the pouring out of the “Vials,” and so extends down to the '''ushering in of the Millennium'''. To illustrate, a rocket fired into the air may burst into “seven stars,” and one of these stars into “seven other stars,” and one of the second group of stars into a third group of “seven stars.” So the “Seventh” Seal includes the “Seven Trumpets,” and the “Seventh” Trumpet includes the “Seven Vials.”<ref>Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, 68 (Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919).</ref>
    ::''And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:'' (JOHN 20:22)


    ::''And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.'' (LUKE 24:49)


    *The Destruction of Jerusalem: Jesus said unto Jerusalem "Behold, your house is left to you desolate"; however, Jerusalem was not destroyed for another 40 years. 


    *Let there be light: Pretend you were standing on the earth when God said “Let there be light”.  (Genesis 1:3) When God said those words, light was created (there are an estimated 70 million million million stars that can be seen from the earth - which is more than the grains of sand on the earth).  Five minutes after God said this, you may not have seen any light – because it takes light 8 minutes to travel from the sun to the earth.  It would have taken a lot longer to see that the Lord didn’t do a half-job, as it takes years and years for the light from other stars to reach our planet. 


    ==8) Intentional stumbling block==
    ==Intentional stumbling block==
    Jesus said ''Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.'' (John 6:53)  The Bible then records that ''From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.'' (John 6:66) probably on the basis that they could not accept cannibalism as a doctrine.  
    Jesus said ''Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.'' (John 6:53)  The Bible then records that ''From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.'' (John 6:66) probably on the basis that they could not accept cannibalism as a doctrine.  


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    <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
    In the last church age, Laodicea, the light from the sun was totally eclipsed, and the age ended in utter darkness.  This is described by William Branham as follows:}
    SHALOM_  PHOENIX.AZ  V-22 N-1  SUNDAY_  64-0119
    :''The moon now, we are in the Laodicea church age. In the Laodicea church age, of all of the other churches, the Laodicea, last lukewarm church age, Christ was on the outside of the church. Any Bible reader knows that. Revelations 3, He was on the outside of the church, trying to get His way back in again, and it never did say He got in. "But as many as He loved, He rebuked and chastened." The message would rebuke and chasten those who He loved. Now, was knocking, trying to get in; darkness shut it off, exactly what's come to pass. The Light that has been shining, soon will absolutely be shut completely out. It'll all go in to form an image unto the beast. And we know what that means here; that's the end time.''
    SPOKEN.WORD.ORIGINAL.SEED_  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-2  SUNDAY_  62-0318E
    :''Christ's bride did the same: mixed her denominational seed and put Christ, her espoused Husband, away. And you dry-washed bunch of Pentecostals; what's the matter with you? Revelations the 3rd chapter and the 20th verse, we find in prophecy, Jesus Christ outside of His own church in this Laodicean Age, knocking on the door [Brother Branham knocks on the pulpit--Ed.] trying to get back, the most pathetic picture in the Bible. What'd she do? She took on whoredom. When Jesus comes, what's He knocking for? Jesus come back to receive His Bride; and when He come to knock [Brother Branham knocks on pulpit--Ed.] at the door, He was fastened out.''
    Again, the end time is a process, not a single event.  1977 therefore could be the date when the gospel light is gone out from the Church.  If you think this is impossible, as the Lord has moved on his people since then, consider the following quote:
    SHALOM_  SIERRA.VISTA.AZ  V-13 N-5  SUNDAY_  64-0112
    :''Good people caught in this thing, good people, sincere people. Like Mary and Joseph, they were very sincere (See?), thinking He was with them, when He wasn't. Mary and Joseph, you know, when they was up to the feast, Jesus, the age of twelve, they thought, presuming, He was with them, but He wasn't. Good people today think the same thing, they--these people that's organized in this council of churches, these people in these organizations, they--they think they're doing a good thing. They're presuming He's with them, when they're not. See, many people think that He was with them when they shook hands with the preacher and put their name on the book, but He wasn't. Many people thought, when they were sprinkled, confirmed, baptized in name of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost," thinking He was with them. They're good people. Mary and Joseph was good people. But the facts was, He wasn't there. Don't presume anything.''
    William Branham talked of a “Bride Age” – a short period of time in which the Bride of Christ would make herself ready, and become 100% complete.  He talks of this separately from the Laodicean Church age as the Bride will not have any mark against its character as the Laodiceans had.  In the last message William Branham spoke, he said:
    LEADERSHIP_  COVINA.CA  V-7 N-7  TUESDAY_  65-1207
    :''Now, you see, it's wheat time now. It's getting harvest time. This is not Luther's age; this is not Pentecost age; this is the Bride age.  As Moses called a nation out of a nation, Christ today is calling a church out of a church (You see?), the same thing in type, taking them to the glorious eternal promised land.''
    This is mirrored by the Romans 9:6-7:
    :''Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.''
    It could also be said that 'they are not all Church (or Bride), which are of the Church.'  Now is the separating time before harvest, when the shuck pulls away from the wheat.  Not only will the wheat be separated from the tares, but the wheat will also be separated from shuck, just as the wise virgin was separated from the foolish virgin.  The whole purpose of the harvest is to get the seed; therefore, while Christ represented the wave-sheaf offering of the perfect sacrifice before the harvest, there will come a time when 100% of the harvest will be ready, and be identical to the first seed.
    This is not to say that the rest of the Church (the shuck) will be left without power or gifts.  For example: when Abraham sent his servant to find Isaac a wife, that servant gave gifts not only to Rebekah, but also to Laban and his mother.  Neither had to return the gifts, but kept them after Rebekah had departed.  If the camel train (signifying power) is a type of the Holy Spirit, we can draw two conclusions: 1) Rebekah played an active part in preparing the way back to Isaac by following the Lord’s leading and watering the camels, and 2) Rebekah’s family (the church) was given gifts of the Holy Spirit that remained even after the Holy Spirit had departed. 


    The Bride age, therefore, would be after 1977.  This is a time when the Church is active, but without the Holy Spirit, and it is a time when the world is in total darkness, is deceived and blind, and knows it not.  The Bride of Christ, however, through the leading of the Holy Spirit is perfecting herself during this time.


    ==10)Conclusion==
    ==10)Conclusion==

    Revision as of 23:36, 1 January 2014

    William Branham believed that the world would end in 1977.

    Prediction vs. Prophecy=

    William Branham said "I predict (I do not prophesy)".

    William Branham said ‘Thus saith the Lord” many times during his ministry. It is interesting that he actually realized he could completely destroy his legacy with a prophecy that was incorrect as to exact timing. As a result, he waffled on the date.

    2) "These visions" are true prophecy

    William Branham's prediction was about the timing of the series of seven visions given to him in 1933. While the timing of the fulfillment was a prediction, the underlying visions were prophecy which have been and are being fulfilled.

    William Branham knew that destruction would come to the United States as fortold in the 7th vision. However, like the Prophet David fortelling the death of Saul, he could only guess as to when this would happen, but knew for sure that it would happen.

    David said furthermore, [As] the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. (I SAMUEL 26:10)

    3) The Sign of Jonas

    Jesus said A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. (Matthew 16:4) The question stands - what is the sign of the prophet Jonas (hereafter referred to as Jonah)?

    For those who don't know who Jonah was, Jonah was a prophet who received a message from God to deliver to a non-Jewish city called Nineveh. Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. (Jonah 1:2). Instead of running to Ninevah, Jonah took a boat in the opposite direction. A great storm came and Jonah was thrown into the sea at his request. A great fish swallowed Jonah, and Jonah lived in the fish for three days after which the fish spit Jonah out on dry land. Jonah then went to Ninevah at God's second request and preached to the city, which was saved.

    The 'Sign of Jonah' given to the people of Nineveh was preaching, and a prophecy that was delayed in its coming. And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, 'Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.' So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. (Jonah 3:1-3a) However, when Jonah went into Nineveh he cried Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. (Jonah 3:4). When the people of Nineveh repented, the prophecy of destruction was delayed. Nineveh was finally totally and utterly destroyed in 612 B.C., which was a number of years after Jonah prophecied, rather than the 40 days he predicted. God's mercy to Nineveh displeased Jonah, and his story ends up with God teaching Jonah a lesson on the value of human life.

    Perhaps the destruction of America was delayed as the destruction of Nineveh was delayed. Perhaps there were 10 righteous people in America in 1977, and God had regard to those people as he promised to Abraham that he would not destroy Sodom if he found 10 righteous people abiding there (Genesis 18:32). Whatever the reason, America has been given the sign of the Prophet Jonas, destruction has been delayed, but destruction has been prophecied and will come quickly based on the fulfillment of the 7 visions given to William Branham.

    4) Delay of Judgement

    Apart from Jonah, there are other Biblical examples of prophetic judgment being delayed. For example, King Hezekiah pleaded for and was granted more years from the Lord when a prophet told him he was going to die. Still another example would be King Ahab, who when told of his fate, clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes. The word of the Lord then changed from judgement on Ahab, to a judgement on his children after his passing.

    5) William Branham spoke as a man

    William Branham made this statement as "a private student of the Word" and not as a prophet. This is scriptural as the Bible records other times when prophets spoke as men, rather then as prophets. When they did speak, their words were fallable, rather than when the Lord spoke through them making their words infallible.


    What is the 'Ushering in the the Millenium'?=

    William Branham plagiarized a lot of his doctrine from Clarence Larkin and this is another clear case of stealing wording directly from Larkin:

    We must not forget that the “SEVENTH SEAL” includes all that happens during the sounding of the “Trumpets,” and the pouring out of the “Vials,” and so extends down to the ushering in of the Millennium. To illustrate, a rocket fired into the air may burst into “seven stars,” and one of these stars into “seven other stars,” and one of the second group of stars into a third group of “seven stars.” So the “Seventh” Seal includes the “Seven Trumpets,” and the “Seventh” Trumpet includes the “Seven Vials.”[1]



    Intentional stumbling block

    Jesus said Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (John 6:53) The Bible then records that From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66) probably on the basis that they could not accept cannibalism as a doctrine.

    Jesus was not wrong in his teaching, but intentionally said hard words so that the people could not receive or understand. Jesus specifically said that his teaching was such that some would turn away: And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Luke 8:10)

    Even after saying these hard teachings, Jesus still required the people to believe and obey. However, he never asked that they understand, but just believe. Say ye...Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father [is] in me, and I in him. (John 10:36 - 38)

    Regarding 1977, this may have been an intentional stumblingblock that William Branham was allowed to speak to let the people fall away. God has never asked for understanding, only faith: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (I Cor 1:22, 23)

    Secondly, if William Branham was so wrong in stating the importance of 1977, the angel would have informed him of his error, and caused him to reorder his words, just as he did numerous other times. One such example is when he was answering questions on the Seven Seals, and accidentally interpreted one of the questions wrong; however, before anyone could tell him of his error, he felt moved by the Holy Spirit of the error he had made. His words are as follows:

    QA.ON.THE.SEALS_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 63-0324M

    There's something wrong. There's something wrong. Now, that's just all there is to it. There's--there's something's happened. See? There's something that went wrong somewhere. Everybody feeling all right? There's no--there's no sickness or nothing? [A man in the congregation requests that Brother Branham read Revelation 5:9 again--Ed.] Let's see, Revelations, where was it, brother? 5... The... Oh, the question. Oh, the question I was answering. Now, let's see... Oh,... See, I only read the first part of that verse...and I was trying to get through, looking at that clock. But you see Him stop me on that? Glory. I never read the other part of that.

    Another example is when he was studying for his message on the seven seals.

    SEVENTH.SEAL.THE_ JEFF.IN SUNDAY_ 63-0324E

    Now, I say this...Looking over old notes that I preached on many years ago, I was just coming in and saying what I thought was right and going on. It was away off of the line. And now, all four of them Seals, I had it in about twenty minute sermon...But my, when the Word really was opened up, it was a hundred miles away from it. So it behooves us to watch and wait...There may be many things that's been said that might be disagreeable with other people, but I believe when the great windup time comes and we meet our Lord, you'll find out that it was right. It really is.

    9)1977 as the start of the 'Bride Age'

    Another alternative is that there is more truth to what William Branham said than has been revealed, and time will prove him correct. One interpretation of what this means is as follows:

    During his teaching on the seven church ages, William Branham drew a picture of the moon to illustrate the church’s battle between light and darkness in each of the seven church ages. This picture is as follows, with each circle representing a different church age:


    Seven Churches Ages
    Seven Churches Age Moons




















    10)Conclusion

    From this discussion, we can see that 1977 is irrelevant from the standpoint of a catastrophic or noticeable event. However, 1977 could possibly be a) The date when the iniquity of the United States was full, b) The date when the iniquity of the World was full, c) The date after which the bride of Christ realizes who she is.

    Point c) can be linked to Joshua leading the people of Israel into the promised land (the fullness of their inheritance) a few years after Moses had died. Again, claiming the promised land (making herself ready) is a process, not an instant event.

    William Branham is not the only prophet to have controversy surrounding dates. Examples of similar controversies include both Samuel and Jesus.

    I SAMUEL 13:8

    And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

    JOHN 21:22 – 23

    Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?

    The ministry of William Branham was much like the ministry of Moses in that the people, upon listening to his ministry, inquired “hath he not spoken also by us?”

    NUMBERS 12:1-2. 6-9

    And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard [it]. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses [is] not so, who [is] faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

    Moses was not allowed to lead the people into the promised land, but died in the wilderness. Joshua, who was a type of the Holy Spirit, led the people into the Promised Land. In much the same way John the Baptist and William Branham were taken off the scene once they had fulfilled their ministry, as the Lord once again would come and lead the people Himself.

    William Branham taught that the second part of Malachi 4:6 “And he shall turn…the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” relates to the Lord’s promise to restore the Christian faith at the end of days to what it was when the Holy Spirit first fell at Pentecost (children to fathers).

    ACTS 2:1

    And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

    All William Branham’s ministry was trying to accomplish was to bring the Christian church back to the place were it was in one accord and in one place, so that the Holy Spirit would feel welcome once again to have compete control in the church.

    When William Branham prophesied in the name of the Lord, that prophecy was 100% correct. A "seer" in the Old Testament means, "one that the Word is revealed to." Based on this interpretation, William Branham’s ministry as a seer (a prophet) was more than to heal the sick – it was to teach the Word of God. Therefore, for the things he said which you do not understand, consider the possibility that the error lies in your understanding rather than in his words. Your duty therefore is to pray for revelation, and hope to be present when the truth of those prophecies is finally revealed. Do not call Elijah “old baldhead”, or even disregard one aspect of his ministry. Judgement is reserved for the Lord, not man. The scripture says that:

    MATTHEW 10:41

    He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

    Therefore, please receive William Branham in the name of a prophet, have respect for the message he spoke, and when rewards are given in heaven you will not be disappointed.

    Quotes

    Then I seen the United States as one smoldering, burnt-over place. It will be near the end. (Then I've got in parenthesis: "I predict that this will take place." Now, remember, the Lord ne... That's what the Lord showed, but "I predict this will take place before 1977.") Upon this prediction, I base, because of the onrushing slaught that's coming now, how fast that it was moving, how long it'll take till this nation meets its place.[2]


    Then I turned to look and I seen the United States was a smoldering something had burned it up. And down beneath there I said, not in the trance, but, "I predict..." (remember this, I guess this is taped too), "I predict that these things will take place between now, 1933 and 1977." Which will give us sixteen more years if my prediction strikes right.

    Now, there was seven things spoke of that would happen. Five of them has already happened. There's two left to take place. It'll be that way. That's in the Name of the Lord it shall be that way. See? Oh, He's great. [Someone speaks in tongues--Ed.] [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] Father, for Your Spirit for the... [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.]

    Upon the people, the gifts that's in the Church. We thank Thee, Lord, for they speak in unity. They speak in unity of Thy coming. The prophets, the speakers with tongues, the interpreters, all are warning us. The hour is at hand, and truly we believe that it's later than we think. May we prepare our hearts and souls for the coming of the Lord.[3]


    And at 1906 the Laodicean church age set in, and I don't know when it'll end, but I predict it'll be done by 1977. I predict, not the Lord told me, but I predict it according to a vision that was showed me some years ago, that five of those things has (out of the seven)--has already taken place about...[4]


    We believe that the Laodicean church started in A.D. 1906. I predict... Now, remember, "predict," especially you listening at the tape. I don't say it will be, but predict that it will end by 1977, that the church will go completely into apostasy, and she'll be ousted out of the mouth of God. And the second coming, or the rapture of Christ, might come any time. Now, I could miss that a year; I can miss it twenty years, I could miss it a hundred years. I don't know where. But I just predict that according to a vision He showed me, and taking the time, the way it's progressing, I say it'll be sometime between '33 and '77. At--at least, this great nation is going to strike a war that's going to blow it to bits. See? Now, that's pretty close; it's awful close. And I could be wrong; I'm predicting. Everybody understand say, "amen" if you do.[5]


    Now, counting the time, we find that we have exactly (Listen.) seventeen years left, and we will have the same span of time given to us as God dealing with us in the power of the Holy Spirit since A.D. 33 until 1977, the same span of time of 1954 years. God deals with us the same as He did with the Jews. See? How about that?

    Now, mark down in your book a little Scripture here I want to give you. Leviticus 25, begin with the 8th verse. God calls a jubilee every forty-ninth year; the fiftieth year was the jubilee. We know that. We understand that. From the first jubilee of Leviticus 25:8, in 1977 will be the seventieth jubilee, making exactly 3,430 years. Jubilee means the going up, the release.[6]


    And I predicted that there would be some great tragedy happen to this United States before or by the year of 1977. How many remembers me saying that? Look at the hands. Sure...

    And here comes around and shows, and then I predicted... I never said the Lord told me that, but standing that morning in the church, I said, "The way progress..." I got back to one end of the wall and run to the other end of the wall, and I said, "The way progress is going on, I'll predict that the time (I don't know why I'm saying it.)--but I predict that that'll all happen between right now, 1933, and 1977. And not knowing it, God knows my heart, I never knowed it until yesterday, that 1977 is the jubilee, and exactly the same amount of time run out that He give with Israel and everything at the end. So we're at... And here we are at the end of the age, at the coming in of the seventieth week. We don't know what time that the church will be gone. Oh, my. What can we do, friends? Where are we at?

    Now, what's the next thing? The Seven Seals now. We drop right in on them when the Lord will permit. When that'll be, I don't know. Just whenever He delivers it, then we'll go right into it. Then we're going to have a long, long meeting, 'cause we're going to take from the 6th chapter through the 19th to get through it. And as slow as I am with it...

    Now, I do not want anyone to go away misunderstanding this. Tape's still playing? I don't want anyone to misunderstand it. Don't misunderstand now, and say, "Brother Branham said Jesus will come in 1977." I never said no such a thing. Jesus may come today. But I have predicted that between '33 and '77 something would take place, that these things that I seen come to pass in the vision would take place. And five of them has already took place.[7]


    The Laodicean Age began around the turn of the Twentieth Century, perhaps 1906. How long will it last? As a servant of God who has had multitudes of visions, of which NONE has ever failed, let me predict (I did not say prophesy, but predict) that this age will end around 1977. If you will pardon a personal note here, I base this prediction on seven major continuous visions that came to me one Sunday morning in June, 1933. The Lord Jesus spoke to me and said that the coming of the Lord was drawing nigh, but that before He came, seven major events would transpire. I wrote them all down and that morning I gave forth the revelation of the Lord. The first vision was that Mussolini would invade Ethiopia and that nation would "fall at his steps". That vision surely did cause some repercussions, and some were very angry when I said it and would not believe it. But it happened that way. He just walked in there with his modern arms and took over. The natives didn't have a chance. But the vision also said that Mussolini would come to a horrible end with his own people turning on him. That came to pass just exactly as it was said.

    Based on these seven visions, along with the rapid changes which have swept the world in the last fifty years, I PREDICT (I do not prophesy) that these visions will have all come to pass by 1977. And though many may feel that this is an irresponsible statement in view of the fact that Jesus said that 'no man knoweth the day nor the hour.' I still maintain this prediction after thirty years because, Jesus did NOT say no man could know the year, month or week in which His coming was to be completed. So I repeat, I sincerely believe and maintain as a private student of the Word, along with Divine inspiration that 1977 ought to terminate the world systems and usher in the millennium.[8]

    References

    1. ↑ Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, 68 (Philadelphia, PA: Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1919).
    2. ↑ CONDEMNATION.BY.REPRESENTATION_ JEFF.IN V-2 N-13 SUNDAY_ 60-1113
    3. ↑ CONFERENCE_ SHREVEPORT.LA FRIDAY_ 60-1125
    4. ↑ THE.EPHESIAN.CHURCH.AGE_ JEFF.IN ROJC 131-183 MONDAY_ 60-1205
    5. ↑ THE.LAODICEAN.CHURCH.AGE_ JEFF.IN 60-1211E
    6. ↑ THE.SEVENTIETH.WEEK.OF.DANIEL_ JEFF.IN 61-0806
    7. ↑ THE.SEVENTIETH.WEEK.OF.DANIEL_ JEFF.IN 61-0806
    8. ↑ 321-3 LAODICEAN CHURCH AGE - CHURCH.AGE.BOOK CPT.9

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