Judas the Healer

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William Branham taught that Judas Iscariot was given the gift of healing by Jesus Christ.

What William Branham taught

William Branham taught that Judas Iscariot cast out devils and healed the sick.

Look at Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was justified when he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his personal Saviour, Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was sanctified in John 17:17 and was given power in Matthew 10 to go out and cast out devils. And Judas Iscariot come back, after he healed the sick and cast out devils, and he come back rejoicing and shouting just as much as any good holy-roller you ever seen. Is that right? The Bible says so. But when he come to Pentecost, he showed his colors.

Now, watch that pattern. I’m taking a lot of time, but look! Judas Iscariot followed those same tracks. He was justified by believing on the Lord Jesus and then accepting Him as his personal Saviour. He was sanctified and give power to cast out spirits; put his name on the Lamb’s Book of Life. But when it come to Pentecost and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the fullness of the Word, he showed his colors. That’s exactly what the Canaan spies did; that’s exactly what Esau done.

What does the Bible say?

What does the Bible actually say about Judas?

In John 6:70, Jesus says

 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)

We also read in John 12:

But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

Jesus said Judas was a devil. So how was he sanctified? Does the Bible state clearly that

In light of this knowledge, we can look at the specific claims that William Branham's made about Judas.

Was Judas sanctified?

In John 17, Jesus prays:

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

And in John 18, we read:

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”  This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Jesus makes it clear in his prayer that Judas is already lost. Judas is not included in Jesus prayer because Jesus is praying for those that are not lost. That is why he singles out Judas as being lost. But John also says that Jeus fulfiled his prayer that he had not lost one. This also makes it clear that Judas was not one of the ones given to Jesus by the Father.

Judas was someone who stole funds from the beginning of his time with Jesus. He was never sanctified.

Was Judas' name on the Lamb's Book of Life

The Lamb's Book of Life is referred to only in the Book of Revelation:

...and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

There are also references to the "Book of Life" as follows (all of which are in the Book of Revelation with the exception of one passage in the Book of Philippians):

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.

And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life.

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Did Judas perform miracles?

Many people assume that Judas performed miracles but it is important to look at what scripture actually says and not make assumptions or presume it says things that it actually does not.

Luke 10:1 states:

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

While some speculate that the Twelve might have been a part of this mission, it is clear that they are not counted among this number, for “seventy-two others” are in view here (i.e. seventy-two other than the Twelve).

A more relevant passage that was not referenced by William Branham is Luke 9:

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

 On their return, the apostles told him all that they had done.

......do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

One could assume that Judas took part in the ministry of miracles that we performed by the disciples but it is also clear that this is an assumption. As a result, it is also clear that one could also assume that Judas traveled with the disciples and even prayed with them but that he was simply part of the group that saw miracles take place as a result of the prayers of the group. Did Judas pray for someone on his own and that person was healed? There is nothing in scripture that would state that such a thing took place. And in light of the other statements regarding Judas, it is also safe to assume that he did not have any kind of a healing anointing at all.

William Branham is simply making an assumption and then uses that assumption as part of the basis for his doctrine - False Anointed Ones at the End Time.

Quotes of William Branham

“That's what Judas Iscariot was. And what would--did he do? Was he one of the fellows that was against Christ? Why, he was the treasurer, walked with Him (Certainly.), walked right along with them, went out there, and cast out devils, and done just exactly what they did.” (Second Seal)

“Judas took the place of treasurer, and fell by money. So does the church of this day!” (Fourth Seal)

Questions

• If Judas had the gift of healing, how can William Branham's healing ministry be evidence that he was Elijah the prophet?
• If Judas fell for money, does it matter that Voice of God Recordings had $110,000,000 in assets when they filed their 2011 tax return? Does it matter that Sarah Branham wrote a letter disclosing that her father was independently wealthy when he passed away, despite his 'backwoods' demeanor?

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