The Returned Ministry Sect

Some message believers recognize that the are visions and prophecies relating to William Branham that were not fulfilled in his lifetime.

The Problem

Deuteronomy 18:21–22

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

The Signs of His Coming, April 7 1962

He said here was the test of a prophet: if a prophet prophesied, and that what he said come to pass, then hear him. But if it don't come to pass, then God hasn't spoke. That's all. So don't--don't fear him. That's right. "If there be one among you who's spiritual or a prophet, I, the Lord God, will make myself known unto him in visions, speak to him in dreams. And if it comes to pass, then I--that's Me speaking." Sure, God ain't going to lie. You know He can't lie there's nothing in Him to lie. He's the Fountain of all purity, all truth, is God. So it can't be a lie come from God. He's perfect, pure.

There were a number of prophecies or visions which William Branham told that did not come to pass. How many false visions or prophecies is a prophet allowed? The answer according to scripture is "none". But how do followers of William Branham's message deal with the unfulfilled prophecies?

The Solution (for members of the Returned Ministry Sect

Cognitive dissonance will not allow a message believer to contemplate the possibility of unfulfilled visions, so most message followers use the technique of lowering the importance of the discordant facts by rationalizing the unfulfilled prophecies in such a way as to make them unimportant.

But some followers of William Branham's message admit that there are visions that were left unfulfilled at the time of his death. However, they are not prepared to admit that William Branham was not a true prophet. Their method of dealing with the unfulfilled visions is to hold to a doctrine that William Branham will return from the dead prior to the rapture to fulfill all of the visions that remain unfulfilled.

Is this Biblical?

Hebrews 9:27

...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (KJV)

...it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. (ESV)

Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. (GNT)

There is no scriptural basis for William Branham or anyone else to return from the dead years after they have died. What this explanation does demonstrate is the reality of cognitive dissonance in message believers.

Deuteronomy 22:18 provides clear instructions which message believers are prepared to ignore because of their firm belief that William Branham was a true prophet.