False Anointed Ones at the End Time: Difference between revisions

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    William Branham taught that in the last days there would be people who were anointed by the true Holy Spirit but were not Christians.  Is this teaching biblical?
    William Branham taught that in the last days there would be people who were anointed by the true Holy Spirit but were not Christians.  Is this teaching biblical?


    =The reasoning of William Branham=
    =What William Branham taught=
    In his sermon, The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M), William Branham quoted Matthew 24:24:


    William Branham, in his sermon, develops an argument through reasoning with the scripture, that his doctrine of "false anointed ones at the end time" is correctThe following is a summary of William Branham’s teaching on the subject taken from his sermon of July 25, 1965 entitled “The Anointed Ones at the End Time”:
    :''For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.<ref>New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 24:24.</ref>''
     
    He then stated:
     
    “Do you believe that that anointing on those people means that it’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit?” Yes, sir, the genuine Holy Spirit of God upon a person, and yet they are false. Now listen close and see what He said. “And they shall show signs and wonders, insomuch that it would deceive the very Elected if it were possible.” And they are anointed with the genuine Holy Spirit. I know this sounds very foolish, but we’re going to take time and explain it by the Word, that that’s absolutely THUS SAITH THE LORD, the Truth.<ref>William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 28</ref>
     
    William Branham provided examples of people in scripture who he believed had the spirit of God but who were false:
     
    *Balaam
    *Jannes and Jambres
    *Zedekiah
    *Hananiah
    *Caiaphas
     
    Surprisingly, his examples are all Old TestamentHe based his interpretation on the following New Testament scriptures:
     
    *Matthew 24:24, 28
    *Matthew 5:24, 45
    *Matthew 7:21
    *Luke 18:1-8
    *John 14:12
    *Ephesians 1:5
    *2 Timothy 3:8
    *Hebrews 6:1-8
    *2 Peter 2:15
    *Jude 9
    *Revelation 16:13-14
     
    He also mentioned a couple of passages for the sole purpose of pointing to himself:
    *Luke 17:30
    *Revelation 10:1 to 7
     
    The reasoning behind is doctrine is:


    #Matthew 24:24 states that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
    #Matthew 24:24 states that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
    Line 10: Line 43:
    #Matthew 5:45 states that  God “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  
    #Matthew 5:45 states that  God “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”  
    #The “great signs and wonders” spoken of in Matt 24:24 are performed by people anointed with the true Holy Spirit but they are false.
    #The “great signs and wonders” spoken of in Matt 24:24 are performed by people anointed with the true Holy Spirit but they are false.
    #Hebrews 6:4-6 states that “ it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.    “Shared in the Holy Spirit” is an example of the rain falling on the unjust.
    #Hebrews 6:4-6 states that “ it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.    “Shared in the Holy Spirit” is an example of the rain falling on the unjust.
    #The reason that the false christs could almost deceive the elect is that the false christs and false prophets are anointed by the true Holy Spirit.  This can be proved because Jesus stated in Matt 5:45 that the rain falls on the true and the false.
    #The reason that the false christs could almost deceive the elect is that the false christs and false prophets are anointed by the true Holy Spirit.  This can be proved because Jesus stated in Matt 5:45 that the rain falls on the true and the false.
    #The wheat and the tares live and flourish by the same rain, the spirit of God, which falls on both of them.
    #The wheat and the tares live and flourish by the same rain, the spirit of God, which falls on both of them.
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    =The biblical problems with this teaching=
    =The biblical problems with this teaching=


    There are some significant problems with this teaching when one looks at what scripture says.  It should be noted that all false doctrine is based on scripture.  And all false doctrine is plausible.  BUT when one studies false doctrine in light of ALL scripture, the errors in the teaching are evident.
    There are some significant problems with this teaching when one looks at what scripture says.  It should be noted that all false doctrine is based on scripture.  And all false doctrine is plausible.  BUT when false doctrine is examined in light of ALL scripture, the errors in the teaching are evident.


    ==The rains falls on the just and the unjust==
    ==Matthew 5:45==


    Scripture must be taken in context.  There is a well known saying in biblical interpretation that "A text without a context becomes a pretext for a proof-text.”<ref>D. A. Carson, “Editorial: Take up Your Cross and Follow Me,” Themelios 37, no. 1 (2012): 2. </ref>
    Scripture must be taken in context.  There is a well known saying in biblical interpretation that "A text without a context becomes a pretext for a proof-text.”<ref>D. A. Carson, “Editorial: Take up Your Cross and Follow Me,” Themelios 37, no. 1 (2012): 2. </ref>
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    :''“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 5:43–48.</ref>
    :''“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 5:43–48.</ref>


    Is this passage speaking about how God sends his Holy Spirit on people?  No!
    '''Is this passage speaking about how God sends his Holy Spirit on people?  <u>No!</u>'''


    It is talking about God's goodness to all as we read in Psalms 145:9:
    It is talking about God's goodness to all as we read in Psalms 145:9:


    :''The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 145:9.</ref>
    :''The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 145:9.</ref>''


    We also see this reflected in the counterpart to Matthew 5:45 in Luke 6:
    We also see this reflected in the counterpart to Matthew 5:45 in Luke 6:


    :''But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, '''because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked'''.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 6:35–36.</ref>
    :''But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, '''because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked'''.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 6:35–36.</ref>''


    Matthew 5:43-48 is teaching us that we should love our enemies just as God does.  William Branham has taken Matthew 5:45 out of context as a proof text.  But when you read it in context, it does not mean what he wants it to mean.
    Matthew 5:43-48 is teaching us that we should love our enemies just as God does.  William Branham has taken Matthew 5:45 out of context as a proof text.  But when you read it in context, it does not mean what he wants it to mean.
    It is also not possible to twist the words of Hebrews 6:4-8 to somehow refer to false anointed teachers (although William Branham does try).
    ==Does Matthew 24:24 apply at the end-time? ==
    It is important to read the words in Matthew 24:24 with those that follow shortly after in Matt 24:34:
    :''Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 24:34</ref>''
    A similar passage appears in Mark 13:30, shortly after the corresponding words of Mark 13:22:
    :''For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.''<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mk 13:22.</ref> ''...Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.''<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mk 13:30.</ref>
    “This generation” is used frequently in Matthew’s gospel for Jesus’ contemporaries, especially in a context of God’s impending judgment: see Matt. 11:16; Matt. 12:39, 41–42, 45; Matt. 16:4; Matt. 17:17 and especially Matt. 23:36 where God’s judgment on “this generation” leads up to Jesus’ first prediction of the devastation of the temple in Matt. 23:38.
    It may safely be concluded that if it had not been for the embarrassment caused by supposing that Jesus was here talking about his future return, no one would have thought of suggesting any other meaning for “this generation,” such as “the Jewish race” or “human beings in general” or “all the generations of Judaism that reject him” or even “this kind” (meaning scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees).  Such broad senses, even if they were textually possible, would offer no help in response to the disciples’ question “When?”
    This reference is clearly to the destruction of the temple, which did, as a matter of fact, take place some 40 years later while many of Jesus’ contemporaries must have been still alive.  Therefore, all interpretations that this is talking about the end-time must be laid to rest. Matthew 24:34 refers to the same time-scale as Matt. 16:28 (which was also concerned with the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13–14): “some of those standing here will certainly not taste death before …” (see also Matt. 10:23, with the same Daniel reference: “you will not go through all the towns of Israel before …”).  We can therefore also conclude that all of the portion of Matthew 24 preceding verse 34 also relates to Jesus contemporaries.<ref>R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 930.</ref>
    Turning to Mark, the most natural interpretation of “this generation” is the present generation, that is, the generation of Jesus and his contemporaries. This is the meaning of the phrase elsewhere in Mark (see Mark 8:12, 38 and Mark 9:19). This interpretation makes good sense if “all these things” corresponds to “these things” of Mark 13:29 (also in Mark 13:4), and both have as their reference point the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem (see Mark 13:2, 4, 14–23) rather than the return of the Son of Man.<ref>Mark L. Strauss, Mark, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 594.</ref> 
    A biblical generation was about forty years, which was not coincidentally the length of time between Jesus’ prediction and the destruction of Jerusalem.  Those who claim that “these things” refers to the whole discourse (13:5–27), including the coming of the Son of Man and the end of the age (13:24–27), must conclude:
    #that Jesus was mistaken,
    #that the Son of Man’s return coincided with the destruction of Jerusalem, or
    #that “generation” here carries a different meaning.
    Various proposals have been made, including the church, the Jewish race, humanity as a whole, or the last generation before the end. None of these is convincing.
    '''Jesus is not speaking of his ultimate return.  He is referring to the time between his resurrection and the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.'''
    ==Does "False Christs" mean "False Anointed Teachers"?==
    We need to look closely at William Branham's interpretation:
    :''I want you to notice here in Matthew 24, Jesus used the term of “Christs,” C-h-r-i-s-t-s, “Christs.” Not Christ, but “Christs,” plural, not singular. “Christs.” '''Therefore, the word Christ means “the anointed One.”''' And then if it’s “anointed,” there will be not only one, but many anointed, “the anointed ones.” See?
    :''Otherwise, if He wanted to break it down so we would more or less understand it better, He would say, “In the last days there shall rise false, anointed ones.” Now, that seems almost impossible, see, the terms of “anointed.” But notice the very next words, “and false prophets,” p-r-o-p-h-e-t-s, plural.
    :''Now, '''anointed one, is, “one with a message.”''' And the only way the message can be brought out is by one that’s anointed, and that would be a prophet, anointed, '''“there shall rise false, anointed teachers.”''' A prophet teaches what his message is. Anointed teachers, but '''anointed people with false teaching.''' Anointed ones, “Christs,” plural; “prophets,” plural. And if there is such a thing as a—a Christ, singular, then these would have to be “anointed ones,” that their prophecy of what they were teaching would be the difference, because they are anointed ones, anointed.<ref>William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 23-25</ref>
    William Branham takes the Greek word ψευδόχριστος which means “false messiah” and twists its meaning to "false anointed teacher."  But that is not what the text says.  Jesus could have said "false anointed teacher" but he didn't.  The Greek word "χριστός" or "Christ" is how the New Testament referred to the "Messiah".  This is evident from the following passages:
    :''The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found '''the Messiah” (that is, the Christ)'''.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 1:41.</ref>
    :''The woman said, “I know that '''Messiah” (called Christ''') “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” <ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 4:25.</ref>''
    A much better translation than "false anointed teachers" is "false messiahs" and this is used in some newer translations like the New English Translation (NET):
    :''For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.<ref>Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), Mt 24:24.</ref>
    False messiahs made regular appearances in Israel. The book of Acts lists a number of them. Gamaliel mentions “Theudas” who claimed “to be somebody” (Acts 5:36). He describes another false messiah, Judas of Galilee, who “rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people after him” (5:37). Simon is probably the best known: “Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God. And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts’ ” (Acts 8:9–11).
    Secular historians record these and other examples of false messiahs and prophets who rose up soon after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. “''Jerome quotes Simon Magus as saying, ‘I am the Word of God, I am the Comforter, I am Almighty, I am all there is of God.’ ...And Irenaeus tells us how Simon claimed to be the Son of God and the creator of angels.''” Eusebius records the words of one Justin and his description of Simon in a communique to Antonine in one of the earliest defenses of Christianity:
    :''And after the ascension of our Lord into heaven, certain men were suborned by demons as their agents, who said they were gods. These were not only suffered [permitted] to pass without persecution, but were even deemed worthy of honours by you. Simon, a certain Samaritan of the village called Githon, was one of the number, who, in the reign of Claudius Caesar, performed many magic rites by the operation of demons, was considered a god, in your imperial city of Rome, and was honoured by you with a statue as a god, in the river Tiber—(on an island)—between the two bridges, having the superscription in Latin, Simoni Deo Sancto, which is, To Simon the Holy God; and nearly all the Samaritans, a few also of other nations, worship him, confessing him as the Supreme God.
    Josephus tells of “a certain impostor named Theudas [who] persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan which he claimed would divide for their passage.” Cuspius Fadus, procurator of Judea, “sent a troop of horse[s] against them, who falling unexpectedly upon them, killed many, and made many prisoners; and having taken Theudas himself alive, they cut off his head, and brought it to Jerusalem.”  Dositheus, a Samaritan, “pretended that he was the lawgiver prophesied of by Moses.” There were so many of these impostors preying on the gullibility of the people that under the procuratorship of Felix, “many of them were apprehended and killed every day. They seduced great numbers of the people still expecting the Messiah; and well therefore might our Saviour caution his disciples against them.”.<ref>Gary DeMar, Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church, Fourth revised edition (Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, 1999), 73–74.</ref>
    ==Are false prophets and false messiahs anointed by the genuine Holy Spirit?==
    The concept of a false prophet being able to do signs and wonders existed in the Old Testament.  Deuteronomy 13:1-5 states:
    :''If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Dt 13:1–5.</ref>
    History records that miraculous proofs were, according to Josephus, offered by several of the nationalist leaders prior to A.D. 70: he mentions specifically the parting the Jordan (Ant. 20.97), the collapse of the city walls (Ant. 20.170), the uncovering of Moses’ sacred vessels (Ant. 18.85), as well as more generally “conspicuous wonders and signs” (Ant. 20.168) and “signs of freedom” (War 2.259). These “sign prophets” drew on the biblical tradition of authenticating signs, and NT writers do in fact expect such “signs and wonders” to accompany the true work of God (Acts 2:43; 4:16, 30; 5:12; etc.), even though it is also recognized that divine miracles can be counterfeited (Acts 8:9–11; 2 Thes 2:9; Rev 13:13–14; 16:14).<ref>R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 916–917.</ref>
    William Branham taught that this false anointing was actually the Holy Spirit:
    :''Now, someone might say to me, “Do you believe that that anointing on those people means that it’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit?” Yes, sir, the genuine Holy Spirit of God upon a person, and yet they are false.<ref>William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 28</ref>
    But this is not what scripture says.  Paul talks about false signs and wonders:
    :''The coming of the lawless one is '''by the activity of Satan''' with all power and '''false signs and wonders''', and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Th 2:9–10.</ref>
    Pharaoh’s magicians were able to work some false miracles (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7), though they soon had to admit that God’s power was greater (Ex. 8:19). Simon the sorcerer in the city of Samaria amazed people with his magic (Acts 8:9–11), but the miracles done through Philip were much greater (Acts 8:13). In Philippi Paul encountered a slave girl “who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16), but Paul rebuked the spirit and it came out of her (Acts 16:18).  Revelation 13 indicates that a second beast will rise “out of the earth,” one that has “all the authority of the first beast” and “performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth” (Rev. 13:11–14). But once again a false gospel accompanies these miracles: this power is exercised in connection with the first beast who utters “haughty and blasphemous words.… It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling” (Rev. 13:5–6).
    Two conclusions become clear when we look at false miracles in Scripture:
    #The power of God is greater than the power of Satan to work miraculous signs, and God’s people triumph in confrontations of power with those who work evil. In connection with this, John assures believers that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
    #The identity of these workers of false miracles is always known through their denial of the gospel. There is no indication anywhere in Scripture that genuine Christians with the Holy Spirit in them will work false miracles. In fact, in a city filled with idolatry and demon worship (see 1 Cor. 10:20), Paul could say to the Corinthian believers, many of whom had come out of that kind of pagan background, that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). Here he gives them reassurance that those who make a genuine profession of faith in Jesus as Lord do in fact have the Holy Spirit in them. It is significant that he immediately goes on to a discussion of spiritual gifts possessed by “each” true believer (1 Cor. 12:7).
    This should reassure us that if we see miracles being worked by those who make a genuine profession of faith (1 Cor. 12:3), who believe in the incarnation and deity of Christ (1 John 4:2), and who show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives and bear fruit in their ministry (Matt. 7:20; cf. John 15:5; Gal. 5:22–23), we should not be suspicious that they are false miracles but should be thankful to God that the Holy Spirit is working, even in those who may not hold exactly the same convictions that we do on every point of doctrine. Indeed, if God waited to work miracles only through those who were perfect in both doctrine and conduct of life, no miracles would be worked until Christ returns.<ref>Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 485–486.</ref>
    '''Scripture does not teach that false prophets and/or false messiahs are anointed with the genuine Holy Spirit.'''
    ==Matthew 13:24-30==
    William Branham mentions Matthew 13:24-30 in passing:
    :''But here is the Word, Christ Himself, that’s the anointed Word which shall come for the rest of His Body, the Bride. The anointed, of the '''same water that watered the wheat''', as we talked about, also waters the tares, anointed ones. Only the Elected, or predestinated, will be able to detect the difference between them.<Ref>William Marrion Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 160</ref>
    The problem with William Branham's interpretation is that the passage says nothing about rain.  This is a clear example of William Branham reading meaning into the text.  This is particularly the case because Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:36-43 and mentions nothing of William Branham's interpretation.
    ==Will Jannes and Jambres return?==
    Paul tells us in 2 Tim 3:8-9:
    :''Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Ti 3:8–9.</ref>
    “Jannes” and “Jambres” were the names assigned in Jewish tradition to the court magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh (Exod 7:11–12); their names do not appear in the OT.<ref>Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 414.</ref>
    God through Moses stopped them dead in their tracks. Paul assures Timothy that the same fate awaits the errant leaders.  First, “they will not get very far.” Paul is confident that the false leaders’ influence is limited, second, “because their folly will be clear to everyone.” “Folly” (anoia) can also be translated “stupidity” or “madness.”<ref>Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 415–416.</ref>
    It is interesting to note that Paul does not say "just as Jannes and Jambres used magic to oppose Moses".  This is a simile.  Paul is saying that the opposition of false teachers to the truth will be brazen.  But William Branham misses the mark about the effectiveness of this opposition.  Paul clearly says that their folly will be obvious to everyone.


    =Quotes of William Branham=
    =Quotes of William Branham=


    '''''What is the fruit of the Spirit?''' Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. That right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Fruit of the Spirit, many people rely upon that. '''Sometime that’s the devil. He can impersonate that, to the letter'''; he cer-…he can impersonate speaking in tongues, to the letter; interpretation of it, to the letter. Any of those gifts, he can impersonate it.
    :''If you’d come seeking the Holy Spirit, and let Him, the faith that you’ve got in Him, add to that virtue, and to that brotherly kindness (Second Peter 1:7), until you’re built in the full stature of Christ, then the '''last thing is love''', which God, the Holy Spirit, seals you to your destination. '''You can’t impersonate.'''<ref>William Branham, 62-1124E - All Things. para. 92-93</ref>''


    ''...'''What is the fruit of the Spirit? The manifestation of the promised Word.''' If they’d just a stopped to look, He did not have these things that they had, fruit of the Spirit, or anything. But the Word that was promised that day was manifesting Himself, that was exactly the Light of the hour. That was It, see.  No matter how much education, and how kind, how much you speak with tongues, how much kind, gentle, and everything you are; unless you accept that Word of the hour, when It’s manifested before you, you’re in the same predicament. That might sound crude, I don’t mean it that way, but it’s Truth. Just, just believe It, see. All right. Now God forgive me. You see what I mean?<ref>Willilam Branham, 64-0206B - Paradox?, para. 219-220, 230-233</ref>
    '''''What is the fruit of the Spirit?''' Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. That right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Fruit of the Spirit, many people rely upon that. Sometime that’s the devil. '''He can impersonate that, to the letter'''; he cer-…he can impersonate speaking in tongues, to the letter; interpretation of it, to the letter. Any of those gifts, he can impersonate it.''


    ''...'''What is the fruit of the Spirit? The manifestation of the promised Word.''' If they’d just a stopped to look, He did not have these things that they had, fruit of the Spirit, or anything. But the Word that was promised that day was manifesting Himself, that was exactly the Light of the hour. That was It, see.  No matter how much education, and how kind, how much you speak with tongues, how much kind, gentle, and everything you are; unless you accept that Word of the hour, when It’s manifested before you, you’re in the same predicament.  That might sound crude, I don’t mean it that way, but it’s Truth. Just, just believe It, see. All right. Now God forgive me. You see what I mean?<ref>Willilam Branham, 64-0206B - Paradox?, para. 219-220, 230-233</ref>''


    ''But what is it? It’s the Word that gives the test. Them Pharisees was twice as humble as Jesus. He went around tearing up their churches, and throwing them out, and beating them out, and everything like that.  And this godly old priest, you know, why, who was…If I was having a meeting against Him, this morning; I’d say, who come to you when you were sick, pray for you? “That godly old priest.” Who loaned papa that money when his crops failed? “That godly old priest.” Who dedicated you to God, for a life of service? “That godly old priest.” Who was it, when you was in jail, come and visits you? “That godly old priest.” And this young renegade called Jesus, what does He do? Called your pastor a “snake”! See? See, '''it’s not by the fruits.'''  It’s by the Word.''' “Man shall not live by fruit alone''', but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”<ref>Willilam Branham, 64-1212 - The Harvest Time, para. 190-192</ref>
    ''But what is it? It’s the Word that gives the test. Them '''Pharisees was twice as humble as Jesus'''. He went around tearing up their churches, and throwing them out, and beating them out, and everything like that.  And this godly old priest, you know, why, who was…If I was having a meeting against Him, this morning; I’d say, who come to you when you were sick, pray for you? “That godly old priest.” Who loaned papa that money when his crops failed? “That godly old priest.” Who dedicated you to God, for a life of service? “That godly old priest.” Who was it, when you was in jail, come and visits you? “That godly old priest.” And this young renegade called Jesus, what does He do? Called your pastor a “snake”! See? See, '''it’s not by the fruits.'''  It’s by the Word.''' “Man shall not live by fruit alone''', but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”<ref>Willilam Branham, 64-1212 - The Harvest Time, para. 190-192</ref>''
        
        
    ''"Many will come to Me in that day, and say, 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? Have not, in Your Name, I've cast out devils and done mighty works?' And I will say unto them, 'Depart from, you… Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never even knew you.'" Yet, they come with a confession that they have did it, but Jesus said, "They were workers of iniquity." '''What is iniquity? Is something that you know you should do, that's right to do, and yet you don't do it.''' See what it's going to be in the last days?<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-0418E - Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?, para. 111</ref>''


    ''"Many will come to Me in that day, and say, 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? Have not, in Your Name, I've cast out devils and done mighty works?' And I will say unto them, 'Depart from, you… Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never even knew you.'" Yet, they come with a confession that they have did it, but Jesus said, "They were workers of iniquity." What is iniquity? Is something that you know you should do, that's right to do, and yet you don't do it. See what it's going to be in the last days?<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-0418E - Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?, para. 111</ref>
    ''Otherwise, if He wanted to break it down so we would more or less understand it better, He would say, "In the last days there shall rise false, anointed ones." Now, that seems almost impossible, see, the terms of "anointed." But notice the very next words, "and false prophets," p-r-o-p-h-e-t-s, plural.   Now, anointed one, is, "one with a message." And the only way the message can be brought out is by one that's anointed, and that would be a prophet, anointed. "'''There shall rise false, anointed teachers.'''" A prophet teaches what his message is. '''Anointed teachers, but anointed people with false teaching. Anointed ones, "Christs," plural; "prophets," plural.''' And if there is such a thing as a—a Christ, singular, then these would have to be "anointed ones," that their prophecy of what they were teaching would be the difference, because they are anointed ones, anointed. ''


    ''...Notice, but it’s what they produce that tells you the difference. '''“By their fruit,” Jesus said, “you shall know them.”''' “Man does not gather grapes off of a thistle,” even though the thistle be right in the grapevine. That could be possible, but the fruit will tell it. '''What is the fruit? The Word, for the fruit for the season.''' That’s what it is, their teaching. The teaching of what? The teaching of the season, what time it is. Man’s doctrine, denominational doctrine, but, or God’s Word for the season?''


    ''Otherwise, if He wanted to break it down so we would more or less understand it better, He would say, "In the last days there shall rise false, anointed ones." Now, that seems almost impossible, see, the terms of "anointed." But notice the very next words, "and false prophets," p-r-o-p-h-e-t-s, plural.  Now, anointed one, is, "one with a message." And the only way the message can be brought out is by one that's anointed, and that would be a prophet, anointed. "'''There shall rise false, anointed teachers.'''" A prophet teaches what his message is. '''Anointed teachers, but anointed people with false teaching. Anointed ones, "Christs," plural; "prophets," plural.''' And if there is such a thing as a—a Christ, singular, then these would have to be "anointed ones," that their prophecy of what they were teaching would be the difference, because they are anointed ones, anointed.  
    ''And remember, '''THUS SAITH THE LORD''', according to Second Timothy 3:18, that, “'''In the last days, that this Jambres and Jannes would be on the earth.'''” Now, I want you to notice there is two of them, see, impersonators.


    ''...Notice, but it’s what they produce that tells you the difference. '''“By their fruit,Jesus said, “you shall know them.”''' “Man does not gather grapes off of a thistle,” even though the thistle be right in the grapevine. That could be possible, but the fruit will tell it. '''What is the fruit? The Word, for the fruit for the season.''' That’s what it is, their teaching. The teaching of what? The teaching of the season, what time it is. Man’s doctrine, denominational doctrine, but, or God’s Word for the season?
    :''...“false Christs,” false, anointed ones, almost with every sign and every letter of the Word. “They believe baptism of the Holy Ghost?” Absolutely. “Believe in all this?” Yep. “Believe in speaking in tongues?Yep. “Believe signs and wonders follow, signs will follow them?” Yep. That’s not Methodists, that’s not Baptists. No, no. '''That’s Pentecostals.''' See, this is the last day.''


    ''...Prophets, anointed ones! That right? "Wasn't we a prophet? Wasn't we anointed, anointed one? '''Have not I prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have not I cast out devils?"''' How can you do that, and refuse to be baptized in Jesus' Name? See? Oh, my! See how deceiving? Right up to that very point, then drop back. They go right up to the Word, then drop back. Now watch this. We get this out, just a minute.<ref>Willilam Branham,  65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 24-25, 59, 192</ref>
    ''...Prophets, anointed ones! That right? "Wasn't we a prophet? Wasn't we anointed, anointed one? '''Have not I prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have not I cast out devils?"''' How can you do that, and refuse to be baptized in Jesus' Name? See? Oh, my! See how deceiving? Right up to that very point, then drop back. They go right up to the Word, then drop back. Now watch this. We get this out, just a minute.<ref>Willilam Branham,  65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 24-25, 59, 145, 171, 192</ref>''


    ''The Spirit can come out here and anoint you to do certain thing, and you do it, but that don't mean you're saved. Think of it. Caiaphas prophesied. Judas cast out devils. See, the Spirit anointed him. This rain falls on the just and the unjust, the weeds can rejoice with the wheat. But it's what it is at the core. There's where you can, intellectuals, can accept and say, "Oh, sure, that looks good. I believe that." That still don't do it. No, sir. And the spirit can actually make witness of it, and still it isn't so. Because if that soul hasn't come from God, it can make all the impersonations out here, but it cannot be real. You can act healing, you can act like you have. You can act like you receive it. Christians can act like they're Christians, and act and be ever so good at it, but that don't mean they're saved. That's exactly right, see. '''The Spirit can be there, the real, genuine Spirit. The Holy Spirit can anoint you, that still don't mean you're saved.''' It's that inside soul that never dies, it's got Eternal Life. It always was Eternal Life. See? It come from God, it goes to God, it's the soul.<ref>Willilam Branham,  65-1126 - Works Is Faith Expressed, para. 206</ref>
    ''The Spirit can come out here and anoint you to do certain thing, and you do it, but that don't mean you're saved. Think of it. '''Caiaphas prophesied. Judas cast out devils.''' See, the Spirit anointed him. This rain falls on the just and the unjust, the weeds can rejoice with the wheat. But it's what it is at the core. There's where you can, intellectuals, can accept and say, "Oh, sure, that looks good. I believe that." That still don't do it. No, sir. And the spirit can actually make witness of it, and still it isn't so. Because if that soul hasn't come from God, it can make all the impersonations out here, but it cannot be real. You can act healing, you can act like you have. You can act like you receive it. Christians can act like they're Christians, and act and be ever so good at it, but that don't mean they're saved. That's exactly right, see. '''The Spirit can be there, the real, genuine Spirit. The Holy Spirit can anoint you, that still don't mean you're saved.''' It's that inside soul that never dies, it's got Eternal Life. It always was Eternal Life. See? It come from God, it goes to God, it's the soul.<ref>Willilam Branham,  65-1126 - Works Is Faith Expressed, para. 206</ref>''


    ''And now there'll be false anointed-ones in the last days, not false Jesus. They wouldn't stand for that. But, "false," anointed. They are anointed, yes, sir, but they're anti-Christ. They're anointed with the Spirit, to do the signs and wonders that Christ did, but won't line up with His Word. See? "Many will come to Me, that Day, and say, 'Lord, have not I prophesied, and cast out devils, in Your Name?'" He say, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never even knew you." "I was Pentecostal, Lord. Glory to God! I shouted. I spoke with tongues. And I laid hands on the sick, and healed them, cast out devils." "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never knew you."<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-1205 - Things That Are To Be, para. 114</ref>
    ''And now there'll be '''false anointed-ones in the last days, not false Jesus'''. They wouldn't stand for that. But, "false," anointed. They are anointed, yes, sir, but they're anti-Christ. They're anointed with the Spirit, to do the signs and wonders that Christ did, but won't line up with His Word. See? "Many will come to Me, that Day, and say, 'Lord, have not I prophesied, and cast out devils, in Your Name?'" He say, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never even knew you." "I was Pentecostal, Lord. Glory to God! I shouted. I spoke with tongues. And I laid hands on the sick, and healed them, cast out devils." "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never knew you."<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-1205 - Things That Are To Be, para. 114</ref>''


    ''But, you see, '''you put a cocklebur seed and a wheat seed in the same bed and pour the water down upon them and anoint them, they'll both rejoice. They'll both grow by it, the same water.''' "The sun shines on the just and the unjust, and the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but by their fruits you shall know them." How can you keep from lining up with the Word? Amen. See what I mean? "The water falls on the just and the unjust," anoint it.  Jesus said, "They will come to Me in that day, say, 'Lord! Lord! Have not I cast out devils? Have not I done prophesied? Have not I done great things in Your Name?'" He'll say, "You workers of iniquity, depart from Me, I don't even know you. Go into eternal hell that's been prepared for the devil and his angels."<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-1207 - Leadership, para. 263-264</ref>
    ''But, you see, '''you put a cocklebur seed and a wheat seed in the same bed and pour the water down upon them and anoint them, they'll both rejoice. They'll both grow by it, the same water.''' "The sun shines on the just and the unjust, and the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but by their fruits you shall know them." How can you keep from lining up with the Word? Amen. See what I mean? "The water falls on the just and the unjust," anoint it.  Jesus said, "They will come to Me in that day, say, 'Lord! Lord! Have not I cast out devils? Have not I done prophesied? Have not I done great things in Your Name?'" He'll say, "You workers of iniquity, depart from Me, I don't even know you. Go into eternal hell that's been prepared for the devil and his angels."<ref>Willilam Branham, 65-1207 - Leadership, para. 263-264</ref>''
        
        


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    [[Category: Unfinished articles]]
    [[Category: Unfinished articles]]

    Latest revision as of 15:32, 11 September 2022

    Click on headings to expand them, or links to go to specific articles.

    William Branham taught that in the last days there would be people who were anointed by the true Holy Spirit but were not Christians. Is this teaching biblical?

    What William Branham taught

    In his sermon, The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M), William Branham quoted Matthew 24:24:

    For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.[1]

    He then stated:

    “Do you believe that that anointing on those people means that it’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit?” Yes, sir, the genuine Holy Spirit of God upon a person, and yet they are false. Now listen close and see what He said. “And they shall show signs and wonders, insomuch that it would deceive the very Elected if it were possible.” And they are anointed with the genuine Holy Spirit. I know this sounds very foolish, but we’re going to take time and explain it by the Word, that that’s absolutely THUS SAITH THE LORD, the Truth.[2]

    William Branham provided examples of people in scripture who he believed had the spirit of God but who were false:

    • Balaam
    • Jannes and Jambres
    • Zedekiah
    • Hananiah
    • Caiaphas

    Surprisingly, his examples are all Old Testament. He based his interpretation on the following New Testament scriptures:

    • Matthew 24:24, 28
    • Matthew 5:24, 45
    • Matthew 7:21
    • Luke 18:1-8
    • John 14:12
    • Ephesians 1:5
    • 2 Timothy 3:8
    • Hebrews 6:1-8
    • 2 Peter 2:15
    • Jude 9
    • Revelation 16:13-14

    He also mentioned a couple of passages for the sole purpose of pointing to himself:

    • Luke 17:30
    • Revelation 10:1 to 7

    The reasoning behind is doctrine is:

    1. Matthew 24:24 states that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
    2. Christ means “anointed one”, so a false Christ is a false anointed one. Also, an anointed one is someone with a message and, therefore, a false christ is someone with a false message.
    3. Matthew 5:45 states that God “sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
    4. The “great signs and wonders” spoken of in Matt 24:24 are performed by people anointed with the true Holy Spirit but they are false.
    5. Hebrews 6:4-6 states that “ it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. “Shared in the Holy Spirit” is an example of the rain falling on the unjust.
    6. The reason that the false christs could almost deceive the elect is that the false christs and false prophets are anointed by the true Holy Spirit. This can be proved because Jesus stated in Matt 5:45 that the rain falls on the true and the false.
    7. The wheat and the tares live and flourish by the same rain, the spirit of God, which falls on both of them.
    8. Examples of false anointed ones vs. true anointed ones – Balaam vs. Moses, Judas vs. Jesus, Zedekiah vs. Micaiah, and Hananiah vs. Jeremiah, Jannes & Jambres vs. Moses
    9. The Bible states that in the last days, Jannes & Jambres would appear on earth (2 Tim 3:8) – TSTL
    10. False anointed ones would arise in the last days and deceive many. False anointed ones believe “almost with every sign and every letter of the Word” (65-0725M)
    11. Matthew 7:21-22 is referring to false anointed ones - "Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’[3]

    The biblical problems with this teaching

    There are some significant problems with this teaching when one looks at what scripture says. It should be noted that all false doctrine is based on scripture. And all false doctrine is plausible. BUT when false doctrine is examined in light of ALL scripture, the errors in the teaching are evident.

    Matthew 5:45

    Scripture must be taken in context. There is a well known saying in biblical interpretation that "A text without a context becomes a pretext for a proof-text.”[4]

    Matthew 5:43-48 states:

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [5]

    Is this passage speaking about how God sends his Holy Spirit on people? No!

    It is talking about God's goodness to all as we read in Psalms 145:9:

    The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.[6]

    We also see this reflected in the counterpart to Matthew 5:45 in Luke 6:

    But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. [7]

    Matthew 5:43-48 is teaching us that we should love our enemies just as God does. William Branham has taken Matthew 5:45 out of context as a proof text. But when you read it in context, it does not mean what he wants it to mean.

    It is also not possible to twist the words of Hebrews 6:4-8 to somehow refer to false anointed teachers (although William Branham does try).

    Does Matthew 24:24 apply at the end-time?

    It is important to read the words in Matthew 24:24 with those that follow shortly after in Matt 24:34:

    Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.[8]

    A similar passage appears in Mark 13:30, shortly after the corresponding words of Mark 13:22:

    For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.[9] ...Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.[10]

    “This generation” is used frequently in Matthew’s gospel for Jesus’ contemporaries, especially in a context of God’s impending judgment: see Matt. 11:16; Matt. 12:39, 41–42, 45; Matt. 16:4; Matt. 17:17 and especially Matt. 23:36 where God’s judgment on “this generation” leads up to Jesus’ first prediction of the devastation of the temple in Matt. 23:38.

    It may safely be concluded that if it had not been for the embarrassment caused by supposing that Jesus was here talking about his future return, no one would have thought of suggesting any other meaning for “this generation,” such as “the Jewish race” or “human beings in general” or “all the generations of Judaism that reject him” or even “this kind” (meaning scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees). Such broad senses, even if they were textually possible, would offer no help in response to the disciples’ question “When?”

    This reference is clearly to the destruction of the temple, which did, as a matter of fact, take place some 40 years later while many of Jesus’ contemporaries must have been still alive. Therefore, all interpretations that this is talking about the end-time must be laid to rest. Matthew 24:34 refers to the same time-scale as Matt. 16:28 (which was also concerned with the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13–14): “some of those standing here will certainly not taste death before …” (see also Matt. 10:23, with the same Daniel reference: “you will not go through all the towns of Israel before …”). We can therefore also conclude that all of the portion of Matthew 24 preceding verse 34 also relates to Jesus contemporaries.[11]

    Turning to Mark, the most natural interpretation of “this generation” is the present generation, that is, the generation of Jesus and his contemporaries. This is the meaning of the phrase elsewhere in Mark (see Mark 8:12, 38 and Mark 9:19). This interpretation makes good sense if “all these things” corresponds to “these things” of Mark 13:29 (also in Mark 13:4), and both have as their reference point the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem (see Mark 13:2, 4, 14–23) rather than the return of the Son of Man.[12]

    A biblical generation was about forty years, which was not coincidentally the length of time between Jesus’ prediction and the destruction of Jerusalem. Those who claim that “these things” refers to the whole discourse (13:5–27), including the coming of the Son of Man and the end of the age (13:24–27), must conclude:

    1. that Jesus was mistaken,
    2. that the Son of Man’s return coincided with the destruction of Jerusalem, or
    3. that “generation” here carries a different meaning.

    Various proposals have been made, including the church, the Jewish race, humanity as a whole, or the last generation before the end. None of these is convincing.

    Jesus is not speaking of his ultimate return. He is referring to the time between his resurrection and the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.

    Does "False Christs" mean "False Anointed Teachers"?

    We need to look closely at William Branham's interpretation:

    I want you to notice here in Matthew 24, Jesus used the term of “Christs,” C-h-r-i-s-t-s, “Christs.” Not Christ, but “Christs,” plural, not singular. “Christs.” Therefore, the word Christ means “the anointed One.” And then if it’s “anointed,” there will be not only one, but many anointed, “the anointed ones.” See?
    Otherwise, if He wanted to break it down so we would more or less understand it better, He would say, “In the last days there shall rise false, anointed ones.” Now, that seems almost impossible, see, the terms of “anointed.” But notice the very next words, “and false prophets,” p-r-o-p-h-e-t-s, plural.
    Now, anointed one, is, “one with a message.” And the only way the message can be brought out is by one that’s anointed, and that would be a prophet, anointed, “there shall rise false, anointed teachers.” A prophet teaches what his message is. Anointed teachers, but anointed people with false teaching. Anointed ones, “Christs,” plural; “prophets,” plural. And if there is such a thing as a—a Christ, singular, then these would have to be “anointed ones,” that their prophecy of what they were teaching would be the difference, because they are anointed ones, anointed.[13]

    William Branham takes the Greek word ψευδόχριστος which means “false messiah” and twists its meaning to "false anointed teacher." But that is not what the text says. Jesus could have said "false anointed teacher" but he didn't. The Greek word "χριστός" or "Christ" is how the New Testament referred to the "Messiah". This is evident from the following passages:

    The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).[14]
    The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [15]

    A much better translation than "false anointed teachers" is "false messiahs" and this is used in some newer translations like the New English Translation (NET):

    For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.[16]

    False messiahs made regular appearances in Israel. The book of Acts lists a number of them. Gamaliel mentions “Theudas” who claimed “to be somebody” (Acts 5:36). He describes another false messiah, Judas of Galilee, who “rose up in the days of the census, and drew away some people after him” (5:37). Simon is probably the best known: “Now there was a certain man named Simon, who formerly was practicing magic in the city, and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving attention to him, saying, ‘This man is what is called the Great Power of God. And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished them with his magic arts’ ” (Acts 8:9–11).

    Secular historians record these and other examples of false messiahs and prophets who rose up soon after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. “Jerome quotes Simon Magus as saying, ‘I am the Word of God, I am the Comforter, I am Almighty, I am all there is of God.’ ...And Irenaeus tells us how Simon claimed to be the Son of God and the creator of angels.” Eusebius records the words of one Justin and his description of Simon in a communique to Antonine in one of the earliest defenses of Christianity:

    And after the ascension of our Lord into heaven, certain men were suborned by demons as their agents, who said they were gods. These were not only suffered [permitted] to pass without persecution, but were even deemed worthy of honours by you. Simon, a certain Samaritan of the village called Githon, was one of the number, who, in the reign of Claudius Caesar, performed many magic rites by the operation of demons, was considered a god, in your imperial city of Rome, and was honoured by you with a statue as a god, in the river Tiber—(on an island)—between the two bridges, having the superscription in Latin, Simoni Deo Sancto, which is, To Simon the Holy God; and nearly all the Samaritans, a few also of other nations, worship him, confessing him as the Supreme God.

    Josephus tells of “a certain impostor named Theudas [who] persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan which he claimed would divide for their passage.” Cuspius Fadus, procurator of Judea, “sent a troop of horse[s] against them, who falling unexpectedly upon them, killed many, and made many prisoners; and having taken Theudas himself alive, they cut off his head, and brought it to Jerusalem.” Dositheus, a Samaritan, “pretended that he was the lawgiver prophesied of by Moses.” There were so many of these impostors preying on the gullibility of the people that under the procuratorship of Felix, “many of them were apprehended and killed every day. They seduced great numbers of the people still expecting the Messiah; and well therefore might our Saviour caution his disciples against them.”.[17]

    Are false prophets and false messiahs anointed by the genuine Holy Spirit?

    The concept of a false prophet being able to do signs and wonders existed in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 states:

    If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. 5 That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you.[18]

    History records that miraculous proofs were, according to Josephus, offered by several of the nationalist leaders prior to A.D. 70: he mentions specifically the parting the Jordan (Ant. 20.97), the collapse of the city walls (Ant. 20.170), the uncovering of Moses’ sacred vessels (Ant. 18.85), as well as more generally “conspicuous wonders and signs” (Ant. 20.168) and “signs of freedom” (War 2.259). These “sign prophets” drew on the biblical tradition of authenticating signs, and NT writers do in fact expect such “signs and wonders” to accompany the true work of God (Acts 2:43; 4:16, 30; 5:12; etc.), even though it is also recognized that divine miracles can be counterfeited (Acts 8:9–11; 2 Thes 2:9; Rev 13:13–14; 16:14).[19]

    William Branham taught that this false anointing was actually the Holy Spirit:

    Now, someone might say to me, “Do you believe that that anointing on those people means that it’s the anointing of the Holy Spirit?” Yes, sir, the genuine Holy Spirit of God upon a person, and yet they are false.[20]

    But this is not what scripture says. Paul talks about false signs and wonders:

    The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.[21]

    Pharaoh’s magicians were able to work some false miracles (Ex. 7:11, 22; 8:7), though they soon had to admit that God’s power was greater (Ex. 8:19). Simon the sorcerer in the city of Samaria amazed people with his magic (Acts 8:9–11), but the miracles done through Philip were much greater (Acts 8:13). In Philippi Paul encountered a slave girl “who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling” (Acts 16:16), but Paul rebuked the spirit and it came out of her (Acts 16:18). Revelation 13 indicates that a second beast will rise “out of the earth,” one that has “all the authority of the first beast” and “performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth” (Rev. 13:11–14). But once again a false gospel accompanies these miracles: this power is exercised in connection with the first beast who utters “haughty and blasphemous words.… It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling” (Rev. 13:5–6).

    Two conclusions become clear when we look at false miracles in Scripture:

    1. The power of God is greater than the power of Satan to work miraculous signs, and God’s people triumph in confrontations of power with those who work evil. In connection with this, John assures believers that “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
    2. The identity of these workers of false miracles is always known through their denial of the gospel. There is no indication anywhere in Scripture that genuine Christians with the Holy Spirit in them will work false miracles. In fact, in a city filled with idolatry and demon worship (see 1 Cor. 10:20), Paul could say to the Corinthian believers, many of whom had come out of that kind of pagan background, that “no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3). Here he gives them reassurance that those who make a genuine profession of faith in Jesus as Lord do in fact have the Holy Spirit in them. It is significant that he immediately goes on to a discussion of spiritual gifts possessed by “each” true believer (1 Cor. 12:7).

    This should reassure us that if we see miracles being worked by those who make a genuine profession of faith (1 Cor. 12:3), who believe in the incarnation and deity of Christ (1 John 4:2), and who show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives and bear fruit in their ministry (Matt. 7:20; cf. John 15:5; Gal. 5:22–23), we should not be suspicious that they are false miracles but should be thankful to God that the Holy Spirit is working, even in those who may not hold exactly the same convictions that we do on every point of doctrine. Indeed, if God waited to work miracles only through those who were perfect in both doctrine and conduct of life, no miracles would be worked until Christ returns.[22]

    Scripture does not teach that false prophets and/or false messiahs are anointed with the genuine Holy Spirit.

    Matthew 13:24-30

    William Branham mentions Matthew 13:24-30 in passing:

    But here is the Word, Christ Himself, that’s the anointed Word which shall come for the rest of His Body, the Bride. The anointed, of the same water that watered the wheat, as we talked about, also waters the tares, anointed ones. Only the Elected, or predestinated, will be able to detect the difference between them.[23]

    The problem with William Branham's interpretation is that the passage says nothing about rain. This is a clear example of William Branham reading meaning into the text. This is particularly the case because Jesus explains the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13:36-43 and mentions nothing of William Branham's interpretation.

    Will Jannes and Jambres return?

    Paul tells us in 2 Tim 3:8-9:

    Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.[24]

    “Jannes” and “Jambres” were the names assigned in Jewish tradition to the court magicians who opposed Moses before Pharaoh (Exod 7:11–12); their names do not appear in the OT.[25]

    God through Moses stopped them dead in their tracks. Paul assures Timothy that the same fate awaits the errant leaders. First, “they will not get very far.” Paul is confident that the false leaders’ influence is limited, second, “because their folly will be clear to everyone.” “Folly” (anoia) can also be translated “stupidity” or “madness.”[26]

    It is interesting to note that Paul does not say "just as Jannes and Jambres used magic to oppose Moses". This is a simile. Paul is saying that the opposition of false teachers to the truth will be brazen. But William Branham misses the mark about the effectiveness of this opposition. Paul clearly says that their folly will be obvious to everyone.

    Quotes of William Branham

    If you’d come seeking the Holy Spirit, and let Him, the faith that you’ve got in Him, add to that virtue, and to that brotherly kindness (Second Peter 1:7), until you’re built in the full stature of Christ, then the last thing is love, which God, the Holy Spirit, seals you to your destination. You can’t impersonate.[27]

    What is the fruit of the Spirit? Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness. That right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] Fruit of the Spirit, many people rely upon that. Sometime that’s the devil. He can impersonate that, to the letter; he cer-…he can impersonate speaking in tongues, to the letter; interpretation of it, to the letter. Any of those gifts, he can impersonate it.

    ...What is the fruit of the Spirit? The manifestation of the promised Word. If they’d just a stopped to look, He did not have these things that they had, fruit of the Spirit, or anything. But the Word that was promised that day was manifesting Himself, that was exactly the Light of the hour. That was It, see. No matter how much education, and how kind, how much you speak with tongues, how much kind, gentle, and everything you are; unless you accept that Word of the hour, when It’s manifested before you, you’re in the same predicament. That might sound crude, I don’t mean it that way, but it’s Truth. Just, just believe It, see. All right. Now God forgive me. You see what I mean?[28]

    But what is it? It’s the Word that gives the test. Them Pharisees was twice as humble as Jesus. He went around tearing up their churches, and throwing them out, and beating them out, and everything like that. And this godly old priest, you know, why, who was…If I was having a meeting against Him, this morning; I’d say, who come to you when you were sick, pray for you? “That godly old priest.” Who loaned papa that money when his crops failed? “That godly old priest.” Who dedicated you to God, for a life of service? “That godly old priest.” Who was it, when you was in jail, come and visits you? “That godly old priest.” And this young renegade called Jesus, what does He do? Called your pastor a “snake”! See? See, it’s not by the fruits. It’s by the Word. “Man shall not live by fruit alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”[29]

    "Many will come to Me in that day, and say, 'Lord, Lord, have not I prophesied in Your Name? Have not, in Your Name, I've cast out devils and done mighty works?' And I will say unto them, 'Depart from, you… Depart from Me, you workers of iniquity. I never even knew you.'" Yet, they come with a confession that they have did it, but Jesus said, "They were workers of iniquity." What is iniquity? Is something that you know you should do, that's right to do, and yet you don't do it. See what it's going to be in the last days?[30]

    Otherwise, if He wanted to break it down so we would more or less understand it better, He would say, "In the last days there shall rise false, anointed ones." Now, that seems almost impossible, see, the terms of "anointed." But notice the very next words, "and false prophets," p-r-o-p-h-e-t-s, plural. Now, anointed one, is, "one with a message." And the only way the message can be brought out is by one that's anointed, and that would be a prophet, anointed. "There shall rise false, anointed teachers." A prophet teaches what his message is. Anointed teachers, but anointed people with false teaching. Anointed ones, "Christs," plural; "prophets," plural. And if there is such a thing as a—a Christ, singular, then these would have to be "anointed ones," that their prophecy of what they were teaching would be the difference, because they are anointed ones, anointed.

    ...Notice, but it’s what they produce that tells you the difference. “By their fruit,” Jesus said, “you shall know them.” “Man does not gather grapes off of a thistle,” even though the thistle be right in the grapevine. That could be possible, but the fruit will tell it. What is the fruit? The Word, for the fruit for the season. That’s what it is, their teaching. The teaching of what? The teaching of the season, what time it is. Man’s doctrine, denominational doctrine, but, or God’s Word for the season?

    And remember, THUS SAITH THE LORD, according to Second Timothy 3:18, that, “In the last days, that this Jambres and Jannes would be on the earth.” Now, I want you to notice there is two of them, see, impersonators.

    ...“false Christs,” false, anointed ones, almost with every sign and every letter of the Word. “They believe baptism of the Holy Ghost?” Absolutely. “Believe in all this?” Yep. “Believe in speaking in tongues?” Yep. “Believe signs and wonders follow, signs will follow them?” Yep. That’s not Methodists, that’s not Baptists. No, no. That’s Pentecostals. See, this is the last day.

    ...Prophets, anointed ones! That right? "Wasn't we a prophet? Wasn't we anointed, anointed one? Have not I prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have not I cast out devils?" How can you do that, and refuse to be baptized in Jesus' Name? See? Oh, my! See how deceiving? Right up to that very point, then drop back. They go right up to the Word, then drop back. Now watch this. We get this out, just a minute.[31]

    The Spirit can come out here and anoint you to do certain thing, and you do it, but that don't mean you're saved. Think of it. Caiaphas prophesied. Judas cast out devils. See, the Spirit anointed him. This rain falls on the just and the unjust, the weeds can rejoice with the wheat. But it's what it is at the core. There's where you can, intellectuals, can accept and say, "Oh, sure, that looks good. I believe that." That still don't do it. No, sir. And the spirit can actually make witness of it, and still it isn't so. Because if that soul hasn't come from God, it can make all the impersonations out here, but it cannot be real. You can act healing, you can act like you have. You can act like you receive it. Christians can act like they're Christians, and act and be ever so good at it, but that don't mean they're saved. That's exactly right, see. The Spirit can be there, the real, genuine Spirit. The Holy Spirit can anoint you, that still don't mean you're saved. It's that inside soul that never dies, it's got Eternal Life. It always was Eternal Life. See? It come from God, it goes to God, it's the soul.[32]

    And now there'll be false anointed-ones in the last days, not false Jesus. They wouldn't stand for that. But, "false," anointed. They are anointed, yes, sir, but they're anti-Christ. They're anointed with the Spirit, to do the signs and wonders that Christ did, but won't line up with His Word. See? "Many will come to Me, that Day, and say, 'Lord, have not I prophesied, and cast out devils, in Your Name?'" He say, "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never even knew you." "I was Pentecostal, Lord. Glory to God! I shouted. I spoke with tongues. And I laid hands on the sick, and healed them, cast out devils." "Depart from Me, you that work iniquity. I never knew you."[33]

    But, you see, you put a cocklebur seed and a wheat seed in the same bed and pour the water down upon them and anoint them, they'll both rejoice. They'll both grow by it, the same water. "The sun shines on the just and the unjust, and the rain falls on the just and the unjust, but by their fruits you shall know them." How can you keep from lining up with the Word? Amen. See what I mean? "The water falls on the just and the unjust," anoint it. Jesus said, "They will come to Me in that day, say, 'Lord! Lord! Have not I cast out devils? Have not I done prophesied? Have not I done great things in Your Name?'" He'll say, "You workers of iniquity, depart from Me, I don't even know you. Go into eternal hell that's been prepared for the devil and his angels."[34]


    Footnotes

    1. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 24:24.
    2. William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 28
    3. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 7:22–23.
    4. D. A. Carson, “Editorial: Take up Your Cross and Follow Me,” Themelios 37, no. 1 (2012): 2.
    5. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 5:43–48.
    6. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Ps 145:9.
    7. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Lk 6:35–36.
    8. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mt 24:34
    9. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mk 13:22.
    10. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Mk 13:30.
    11. R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 930.
    12. Mark L. Strauss, Mark, ed. Clinton E. Arnold, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 594.
    13. William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 23-25
    14. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 1:41.
    15. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Jn 4:25.
    16. Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), Mt 24:24.
    17. Gary DeMar, Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church, Fourth revised edition (Powder Springs, GA: American Vision, 1999), 73–74.
    18. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), Dt 13:1–5.
    19. R. T. France, The Gospel of Matthew, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co., 2007), 916–917.
    20. William Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 28
    21. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Th 2:9–10.
    22. Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Second Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 2020), 485–486.
    23. William Marrion Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 160
    24. The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Ti 3:8–9.
    25. Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 414.
    26. Robert W. Yarbrough, The Letters to Timothy and Titus, ed. D. A. Carson, Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; London: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2018), 415–416.
    27. William Branham, 62-1124E - All Things. para. 92-93
    28. Willilam Branham, 64-0206B - Paradox?, para. 219-220, 230-233
    29. Willilam Branham, 64-1212 - The Harvest Time, para. 190-192
    30. Willilam Branham, 65-0418E - Does God Ever Change His Mind About His Word?, para. 111
    31. Willilam Branham, 65-0725M - The Anointed Ones At The End Time, para. 24-25, 59, 145, 171, 192
    32. Willilam Branham, 65-1126 - Works Is Faith Expressed, para. 206
    33. Willilam Branham, 65-1205 - Things That Are To Be, para. 114
    34. Willilam Branham, 65-1207 - Leadership, para. 263-264


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