Word: gills
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Second Witness. It was difficult to be a prophet as well as pastor, husband and father of five. Gill announced that God had therefore provided a second "witness," as described in Revelation 11, in the person of Mrs. Mescal Mclntosh, then 45, one of his parishioners. Gill began putting questions to God via Mclntosh and invited church members to do the same. Instead of "feeling" the words as Gill did, Mclntosh actually heard the voice of God, who, she said, "would just instantly dictate an answer as though he were on the telephone." About 40 of the faithful had left...
Meanwhile Gill was busy directing the lives of his flock: women's skirts must be below the knee and men must grow beards. Gill also came to see Henry Kissinger as the Antichrist because he was a powerful man whose actions affected the fate of Israel, and he sent such fiery spiritual threats in telegrams to President Nixon that the Secret Service paid him a visit. Local clergy inquired quietly about Gill's sanity...
...last year Gill realized that a miracle was needed to make the masses recognize that he was a true prophet. For months he led the church to expect that this proof would be nothing less than the resurrection of someone from the dead. Last July 3 he announced in the church newspaper that the next issue would describe an event that would "publicly vindicate" him as a prophet. On the very day the paper was to appear, Gill, 49, suddenly died of pancreatitis after two days in the hospital...
Mclntosh admits that Gill had come to her asking whether to see a doctor about his stomachaches. God told her to say no, and the prophecy proved fatal. But Mclntosh now saw God's plan: that Gill would soon become his own "vindication" by rising from the grave...
This promise of resurrection inspired new devotion in the church's sober flock of about 70 auto workers, teachers, small businessmen and housewives. They recruited ten new believers and expanded the church parking lot to handle the overflow crowds they expect when Gill returns. Since last August, especially devout members have been honored by appointment to a corps that keeps a prayer vigil in the church 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to await Gill's resurrection...