W. A. Draves
William August Draves (* May 12, 1912, † 28 June 1994) was the founder, Global Head and apostles ( comparable to a bishop ) of the Church of Christ with the Elijah message.
From 1937 - 1993 WA Draves received by his own admission and the faith of the Church 87 divine messages that have been delivered by the angel appeared as a resurrected John the Baptist. These messages are recognized by the Church of Christ with the Elijah message next to the Bible and the record of the Nephites as equal Scriptures.
Childhood
WA Draves was born on May 12, 1912, grew up as the third child of a family of eight children on the western part of the U.S. state of Nebraska. As a 10 -year-old, he visited with his father and his older brother for several days worship a congregation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Finally, he settled with his brother Pastor Sivvitts in North Platte, Nebraska, baptized in the Platte River. The subsequent confirmation undertook Evangelist Ralph Burton. During the confirmation a prophecy he was given by his own admission with the content that he " had to do ..., angels would see and would be regarded as a prophet in God's work" once " special work" among his brothers and sisters. During the next days the worship he received on 3 August 1922 by a prophetess, the additional confirmation that the previous prophecy was true and indeed from God. In addition, he was told that by the death of his mother would still take 40 years and he is this time with her. According to a later biography of WA Draves this prophecy is to be arrived to the day when his mother on August 3, 1962 at the age of 84 in a nursing home run by Draves in Kingston, Missouri, USA, died.
As WA Draves was 13 years old, his family moved to the U.S. state of Colorado. There they joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints. Draves was then baptized in this church. However, he did not participate in the Lord's Supper celebrations because he disliked the practice to use water at the Last Supper.
Youth
In 1929, when Draves nearly 17 years was old, his family learned of the alleged apparitions of the risen John the Baptist and the messages that he is said to have Otto Fetting, then still apostles of the Church of Christ, Temple Lot delivered. The family was also initiates of the supposedly divine plans in the messages informed on Temple Square in Independence, Missouri, USA, now at exactly the location to build the Temple, Joseph Smith (1805 - 1844), founder of the Mormons should have seen in 1831 in a vision. This temple place was now the Church of Christ, Temple Lot. The foundation was excavated in 1929 27.5 m in extent of approximately 55 x. All these messages gave WA Draves courage and confidence.
In April 1929 Father came Draves ' in the collision of a train with a truck killed. At this time, the family lived on a farm east of Platteville, Greeley County, Colorado. Due to the request of the mother for visits by elders ( presbyters ) of the Church of Christ, Temple Lot, came apostle Thomas Barton. The mother and several children including WA Draves were baptized. Thomas Barton prophesied in the subsequent confirmation Draves, that he " had to do a special work in the church among the brethren, ... would see angels and a conductor would be in God's work." Barton knew by Draves ' later admission, none of the prophecies that Draves had already received a 10 -year-old. The complete agreement of these two independent prophecies impressed him and gave him again the certainty of their divine origin.
During the summer of 1929 Draves was packed from working on the temple and was planning to go to Independence, Missouri, to help in the construction. Finally Draves heard of the 12 message (quote and explanation of Otto Fetting, work in the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) "), which is said to have delivered on July 18, 1929 John the Baptist an angel Otto Fetting. For Draves it was now completely incomprehensible that former members of other Mormon churches were the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), connect, without having been baptized by this again with a kind of cleaning baptism according to this 12 message. Later Draves learned that even Apostle Thomas Barton, who worked within the Church of Christ, Temple Lot, at the forefront, but was previously changed by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints, was also not baptized again.
Work in the Church of Christ ( Fetting ) as well as in the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message
Draves eventually joined, founded by Otto Fetting " Church of Christ ( Fetting ) ", Eng. " Church of Christ ( Fetting ) " on ( the text in parentheses was used to distinguish it from other " Churches of Christ " ) and was baptized again within that church in 1931 by Apostle WP Buckley. Later Draves of Apostle George Backus was ordained elders ( presbyters ). The ordination to the apostleship of the " Church of Christ ( Fetting ) " was 1940. According to the 26th message from Draves ( in the total count, including embassies Fetting's the 56th message ) doubted the church in 1943, the divine authorship of Draves ' messages to and finally realized only Fetting's messages to 30. Draves and his followers had left the church. Then Draves founded his own " Church of Christ " with the name " The Church of Christ with the Elijah Message." Until his death June 28, 1994, he was the global head of this Church.
Main work, "The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel "
October 4, 1937 to September 12 WA Draves received 87 messages. After the respective receiving Draves handed the messages directly to the church to check the punctuation and grammar, and to be carried Verszählung. He distributed copies worldwide to libraries because it John the Baptist had allegedly encouraged. These messages are to this day next to the Bible, the record of the Nephites ( a now own edition of the Book of Mormon ) and together with the 30 messages of Otto Fetting equivalent to the Holy Scriptures of the Church of Christ with the Elijah message. This total of 117 messages are published as a collection in book form with the original title "The Word of the Lord Brought to Mankind by an Angel ". They found in the English language and in different translations, including in German, French, Polish and Russian languages, outside the United States in Central America, Europe, Africa and Asia distribution.
Written testimony of visits from the angels messengers throughout WA Draves
In order to testify to the truth of his alleged experiences on oath personally, Draves wrote on June 17, 1940 in Independence, Missouri, after the night of that day his 18 message ( in the total count, including embassies Fetting's the 48th message ) receive had the following personal testimony:
"To all whom it may concern: In all honesty I do before my Lord on this day this venerable testimony. He is my witness and my judge. I expect to stand in front of the large and pleasing bar of God bound to the accountable, what I like herein say. The phenomena, experiences and words of visits of the messenger are true. I have seen him from time to time. I heard his voice. I have seen his face. I have seen the light that accompanied him, which preceded his appearance and long or longer remains one hours after his departure. I felt his touch on my shoulder and also the fact by holding my hand. I have been wrapped in that wonderful heavenly and divine power of God.
I want to make this statement so that everyone may know that this is true. I do not fear the future and I can not nor will I the things that I have seen and heard from the heavenly source, the messenger deny, as long as I have my right mind, and God gives me His grace to endure here on earth. I may have been from those who should be my companion, misunderstood and I may have failed in some things in the past, also like others still make statements about me; but I want this understood that this testimony is true, and I stay true to the advice and instructions that were given by the messenger regardless of what may a person or people say. The messenger wearing a white robe. His hair is a tiny bit of gold next to his skin and walk into a white like wool, as white as snow, over. His eyes are like a flame, and his feet are like the shine of fine brass, as if they were on fire. His voice has got the sound of one of authority. His face is like the brightness of the sun with their whole extent of light, brighter than the light that seems down to earth. He is enveloped in light and immediately around it is very bright I wish that all could see the sweet and powerful influence that goes along with this heavenly and then all doubt from the mind of the natural man would disappear. Peace to all and may the Lord's will be done. These are my words to you on this day and may the Spirit of God bear witness. - W. A. Draves "