The 1934 Burning of the Church

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https://william-branham.org/social/topics/the_1934_burning_of_the_church

The 1934 burning of Roy E. Davis' Pentecostal church is critical to understanding the difference between recorded history and William Branham's claim to have been an Old-Testament-style prophet who had a series of prophecies in 1933. It is the time marker recorded by history to document Branham's transition from an assistant pastor of Roy E. Davis' Pentecostal church to the head pastor of the Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle, at which time these alleged 1933 Prophecies came according to some versions of his stage persona. William Branham read the year 1932 from his alleged list of prophecies and claimed that he had transitioned to become the pastor when the "divine commission" came, which cannot coexist with recorded history.

According to William Branham, he remained with Davis as an assistant pastor until Davis' church burned and Davis left Jeffersonville. Branham described the transition of the church after Davis' leaving, which included preaching from tents in Jeffersonville first, before moving Davis' congregation into his own Pentecostal assembly.

Then, about seventeen years after that, I was, had become a minister, a Baptist preacher, of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Roy E. Davis ordained me as one of the local pastors, give me rights then, by the state, to marry, bury, baptize, so forth. And the Missionary Baptist Church burned down, which I was assistant pastor, at the time. And Mr. Davis come back to Texas, which he was of Davis mountains, and—and down near Van Horn, Texas. That’s where they come from. And so, while he was gone, I started to take over the congregation. Got a tent, and I begin to preach in the city, and just a boy preacher.

Roy Davis' Pentecostal church was advertised in the Jeffersonville Evening News until at least February 1934.[1] Several people were apparently angered after Roy Davis filed a lawsuit against multiple people, businesses, and churches to claim ownership of the estate of the wealthy Laura Belle Eaken in March of 1934,[2] and Davis' church was burned. Shortly after, on April 3, 1934, the newspaper described the burning of the church. A request was made to the city council to ask Jeffersonville authorities to refuse the rebuilding of Davis' First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near Maple. Seventeen property owners fought to keep the church from reopening.[3]

William Branham claimed to have had seven prophecies of 1931, 1932, or 1933, and also claimed that he had two copies: one in the flyleaf of his bible, and one buried in the cornerstone of his Branham Tabernacle.[4] According to the timeline given in newer versions of his stage persona, Branham claimed that he was the pastor at the time,[5] and was Baptist instead of Pentecostal. Branham claimed that the alleged 1933 prophecies were fundamental to his founding of the church and that the church was part of the 1933 "commission."[6]. When reading from the alleged copy kept in his Bible, Branham claimed the prophecies were written in 1932.[7] The deed to Branham's Pentecostal church is dated November 9, 1936,[8] and the first mention of Branham's Pentecostal assembly (which he said was held in tents) was on August 17, 1935.[9]

References

[1] First Pentecostal Baptist - Dr. Roy E. Davis Pastor. 1934, Feb, 3. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1934/03/02 First Pentecostal Baptist - Dr. Roy E. Davis Pastor Jeffersonville Evening News Jeffersonville Evening News."

[2] Rev. Roy Davis Sues to Claim Eaken Estate. 1934, Mar, 30. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1934/30/03 Rev. Roy Davis Sues to Claim Eaken Estate Jeffersonville Evening News Jeffersonville Evening News."

[3] Misc. News. 1934, Apr, 3. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1934/03/04 Misc. News the city referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refuse to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near Maple street. The church recently was burned down. Seventeen property owners of the vicinity of the church site, who signed the petition, aver that rebuilding the church as it was before would create a dangerous fire hazard by reason of the proximity of the frame structure to other buildings the city referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refuse to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near Maple street. The church recently was burned down. Seventeen property owners of the vicinity of the church site, who signed the petition, aver that rebuilding the church as it was before would create a dangerous fire hazard by reason of the proximity of the frame structure to other buildings."

[4] Branham, William. Israel And The Church #5. 1953, Mar, 29. Israel And The Church #5 (53-0329). "1953/29/03 Israel And The Church #5 I've got it wrote out here in the Bible. Just like laying yonder in the cornerstone, and what would take place in the last days; and everyone knows what that was, it's been just exactly the Word. It will be just this way William Branham I've got it wrote out here in the Bible. Just like laying yonder in the cornerstone, and what would take place in the last days; and everyone knows what that was, it's been just exactly the Word. It will be just this way."

[5] Branham, William. The Voice Of The Sign. 1964, Mar, 21. The Voice Of The Sign (64-0321E). "1964/21/03 The Voice Of The Sign In my book in there, that I keep wrote down. In 1933, one morning, fixing to go to Sunday school, a Baptist Sunday school where I was pastor, the Holy Spirit come and showed me down to the end time, and showed me seven things that would happen. I marked them down. It's on old yellow paper William Branham In my book in there, that I keep wrote down. In 1933, one morning, fixing to go to Sunday school, a Baptist Sunday school where I was pastor, the Holy Spirit come and showed me down to the end time, and showed me seven things that would happen. I marked them down. It's on old yellow paper."

[6] Branham, William. Spiritual Food In Due Season. 1965, Jul, 18. Spiritual Food In Due Season (65-0718E). "1965/18/07 Spiritual Food In Due Season How many remembers my commission when we built the tabernacle here? Said, "Do the work of an evangelist." Didn't say I was an evangelist. Said, "Do the work of an evangelist," see, "for the hour will come when that's to be changed." That hour is arriving. All right. Now, in this, He… You can't mix two or three different ministries together, pastor and evangelize, the same time. You can't be a—a prophet and maybe a pastor, at the same time, see, 'cause you have different works, different ministry. But the Lord gave me what I should do in my Message. But then He said, "Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry, for the hour will arrive when they will not endure sound Doctrine." If that hasn't come now! Every church denomination has turned me down. They wouldn't endure sound Doctrine. "But after their own lusts they'll bring their own teachers in, and they'll be turned into fables. And they will do great things of exploit like Jambres and Jannes that withstood Moses, but their folly will be made manifest." See? See? All right, impersonations! You see how Jambres… And, God in Heaven knows, that lays right there in the corner-…(of that tabernacle)…-stone since 1933, wrote on a page of a Bible, laying right there. Look how they've done it William Branham How many remembers my commission when we built the tabernacle here? Said, "Do the work of an evangelist." Didn't say I was an evangelist. Said, "Do the work of an evangelist," see, "for the hour will come when that's to be changed." That hour is arriving. All right. Now, in this, He… You can't mix two or three different ministries together, pastor and evangelize, the same time. You can't be a—a prophet and maybe a pastor, at the same time, see, 'cause you have different works, different ministry. But the Lord gave me what I should do in my Message. But then He said, "Do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry, for the hour will arrive when they will not endure sound Doctrine." If that hasn't come now! Every church denomination has turned me down. They wouldn't endure sound Doctrine. "But after their own lusts they'll bring their own teachers in, and they'll be turned into fables. And they will do great things of exploit like Jambres and Jannes that withstood Moses, but their folly will be made manifest." See? See? All right, impersonations! You see how Jambres… And, God in Heaven knows, that lays right there in the corner-…(of that tabernacle)…-stone since 1933, wrote on a page of a Bible, laying right there. Look how they've done it."

[7] Branham, William. Condemnation By Representation. 1960, Nov, 13. Condemnation By Representation (60-1113). "1960/13/11 Condemnation By Representation I'd like to read you a prophecy that was given. I got on…And may…By the way, Mr. Mercier and many of them are going to take some of these old prophecies, and dig them out, and revise them a little, or bring them up to date, and put them in papers. I'd like to read some things that I'd like for you to—to…This one, first. I'd like to read something to you. 33 "1932." Listen to this. "As I was on my way, or as I was getting ready to go on my way to church this morning, it came to pass that I fell into a vision. Our services is being held on Meigs Avenue, at the old orphan's home where Charlie Kern lives in part of the building." He lives just across the street now, you know. "And it came to pass, that, while I was in this vision, I seen some dreadful things take place. I speak this in the Name of the Lord William Branham I'd like to read you a prophecy that was given. I got on…And may…By the way, Mr. Mercier and many of them are going to take some of these old prophecies, and dig them out, and revise them a little, or bring them up to date, and put them in papers. I'd like to read some things that I'd like for you to—to…This one, first. I'd like to read something to you. 33 "1932." Listen to this. "As I was on my way, or as I was getting ready to go on my way to church this morning, it came to pass that I fell into a vision. Our services is being held on Meigs Avenue, at the old orphan's home where Charlie Kern lives in part of the building." He lives just across the street now, you know. "And it came to pass, that, while I was in this vision, I seen some dreadful things take place. I speak this in the Name of the Lord."

[8] Warranty Deed. 1936, Nov, 9. Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle. "1936/09/11 Warranty Deed Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle."

[9] Pentecostal Tabernacle. 1935, Aug, 17. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1935/17/08 Pentecostal Tabernacle Jeffersonville Evening News Jeffersonville Evening News."