Alcohol
 Alcohol (Arabic: الغول al-ghawl — properly meaning "spirit" or "demon" ) refers to a fermented or distilled intoxicating beverage containing ethanol. During the period known as Prohibition, from 1919 to 1933, it was illegal to manufacture, transport, or sell alcoholic beverages in the United States. The State of Indiana had already declared prohibition in 1916 when William Branham's father started operating a moonshine still. While hauling water used to cool the still, a voice spoke to William Branham from a whirlwind and said: "Don't ever drink, or smoke, or defile your body in any way. There will be a work for you to do when you get older." As a child, William Branham also witnessed the drunken actions of men and women who frequented his father's moonshine still. It is puzzling that, although he had been warned by an angel to never drink, he did consume alcohol as part of the religious service of communion. Does a blanket prohibition come with exceptions? Throughout his recorded sermons, William Branham speaks harshly against smoking and drinking - especially against Christians engaging in these activities. Today, most Christians believe that it is acceptable to drink in moderation, although a few still abstain. This article examines the question of whether William Branham's preaching against alcohol was a perspective based on his experience, or whether it has a Biblical basis.
Alcohol (specifically wine and strong drink) is mentioned numerous times in the Bible, and is referred to as an intoxicant, medicine, beverage, and religious symbol. But comparing scriptural pros and cons will only serve to justify both those who drink, and those who do not drink. For example:
In order for there to be a Biblical basis for or against drinking, both the scriptures that appear to support drinking, and those that appear to discourage drinking should agree, rather than argue. A quick glance suggests that moderate drinking is acceptable; however, William Branham - a man approved of God as a prophet through visions and miracles, strongly rebuked drinking and even moderate drinking. Here are some of the reasons why William Branham was against Christians partaking in any form of social drinking: King and PriestsJesus calls his followers "Kings and Priests" (Revelation 1:6). Looking at the Old Testament, it is very clear how God intended Kings and Priests to act around alcohol:
It should not be a mystery to the Christian that their body "is the temple of the Holy Ghost". (I Corinthians 6:19) As the priests were not allowed to drink wine or strong drink in the temple, why should the Christian be allowed to drink in the temple of the Holy Ghost? William Branham said: we're sons and daughters of the King. We ought to be conducting ourselves, not in gambling, not in smoking, not in drinking, not in picture shows, and television programs, and scandal, and lies, and carrying on. We should conduct ourselves as sons and daughters of God, walking with our heads up, living in the Light of the King. Yes, sir. It's yours if you want it. (The Inner Veil, Sturgis MI, 56-01-21) A Separated PeopleWhen God called the children of Israel out of Egypt, they first spent 40 years with no wine (Deuteronomy 29:5-6) so that they would know that "I am the Lord your God". Moses also taught the people of a "Nazarite" vow, which was for separation unto the Lord, part of which involved abstinence from wine (Numbers 6:2-3). The prophet Daniel also abstained from wine without taking such a vow, so that he would not "defile" himself, (Daniel 1:8) and John the baptist was instructed to "drink neither wine nor strong drink". (Luke 1:15) William Branham had a similar angelic commission. William Branham said about his campaign in Germany: So after while there come a question around the table, "What was the matter," that I wasn't drinking my beer, "was it because it wasn't good?" ...Now, I know it's written: when you're in Rome, be a Roman. But I said, "Tell them this: 'I do not condemn them. But I was borned under a Nazarite birth; I'm not supposed to drink.'" I didn't want to hurt them. And they understood it, went right on drinking. (Oncoming Storm, Phoenix, AZ, 60-02-29) So while the separated should live holy, they should not act the part of the judge, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (Colossians 2:16), because at the end of the day, God will judge or approve whom He will. Communion and RestorationMelchizedek, the priest of the most high God, ate bread and wine (communion) with Abraham. Jesus, the son of the most high God, served bread and wine to his disciples. After this, Jesus said two things to his disciples:
From that point on, wine came to symbolize two things: the blood of Jesus Christ (our point of contact with God), and the promise of a new kingdom. In the Old Testament, wine was also symbolized with the sacrifice lamb and restoration (Numbers 28:7, Leviticus 23:12-13).
Those who refrain from drinking alcohol, apart from the Lord's supper, are simply following Jesus's example in not partaking of the fruit of the vine until God's Kingdom comes, while keeping his commandment to gather at Passover. William Branham said: That's the first thing we'll take after we enter into the New Kingdom, we will eat it anew with Him in the Father's Kingdom, the bread and wine. "I'll not drink the fruit of the vine, or eat the bread anymore, until I eat it with you anew in the Father's Kingdom, and at that day. (Shalom, Sierra Vista, AZ, 640112) MedicineWine is presented as a medicine or anesthetic by at least four people in the Bible: Paul, Solomon, Abigail, and Ziba:
DeceptionWilliam Branham said, A certain church that I was at not long ago, they was voting in their pastor. And they said, "Now, we can't have him, because he is an old crank. We want somebody who'll go swimming with us, the girls and boys together, who'll take a little sociable drink, let us have dances in the basement." Huh! You just... I don't know what to tell you. You're sure in a bad shape. You see, sometime your choice is not God's choice. (Jehovah Jireh, Cleveland, TN, 57-01-06)) Wine is the end of wisdom, and has paved the way for the humiliating fall of the righteous since Noah's first hangover after the flood. (Genesis 9:24-25) Lot was another man who felt its shame, as his daughters got him drunk in order to commit incest (Genesis 19:35-36).
But the deception extends from those innocently shamed, into a tool for the cruel and ungodly. Isaiah calls certain spiritual leaders "greedy dogs" who say I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink (Isaiah 56:11-12). But Isaiah goes further, cursing the shepherds who drink wine, saying Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. (Isaiah 22:13-14) Finally, God told his prophet Hosea to marry a harlot to show God's shame towards Israel for their love for "flagons of wine" (Hosea 3:1) Immorality and PerversionInnocence and wine do not go hand in hand. Which is why Hosea says Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart. (Hosea 4:11) Wine is always in the possession (or thoughts) of those who fall away from God:
Living for others
The Bible says All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth... (I Corinthians 10:23-24,31-33) Clear instruction is given to specific classes of individuals as well:
William Branham said "you let a drunk man get out here on the street with...his automobile. That man ought to have at least ten years in prison. You let a man go down the street this morning with a--with a pistol in his hand shooting around like that, they'd throw the keys away on that guy. They'd send him to the inner jails. And then a drunk man can come down the street. He's absolutely just as much in danger of killing somebody as a man is with a pistol, and he gets five dollars for it or something. See? See, he--he's, It's almost premeditated murder." (Investments, Phoenix, AZ, 01-26-63) This statement is all the more potent when you realize that William Branham was killed by a drunk driver. When Moses led the children of Israel in the wilderness, their only provision was manna, and water from the rock. Specifically, they did not have any wine or strong drink. (Deuteronomy 29:5-6) The result of 40 years of prohibition was that the "next generation" who entered the promise land did so sober. This is the first instance of "prohibition for the youth". So, if you want your children to enter into the promised land...don't drink. JudgementBut it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. (I Samuel 25:37) There is no question that alcohol can possess an individual to do something they would not normally do. One question is, how can a Christian pay for a pack of beer (or a bottle of wine), knowing that a part of the cost is going to convince someone else (through advertising) to purchase a drink that may harm them. The stories are endless - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, suffocation in their own vomit, murder, and pre-marital sex are only some of types of collateral damage from intoxication. In the end, many "Christian" ministers and their congregations are leading people to hell, and not heaven, through the part of the cost of their beer that goes to advertising. Matthew 18:6-7 says But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Intoxication in the Old TestamentWine was inseparably linked to promises of prosperity in the Old Testament, and a blessing from God. Many of these scriptures can be read as prophecies of the Holy Spirit descending, which was fulfilled in the New Testament.
The one scripture in the Old Testament that could be taken as a prophet's blessing on the people to get drunk reads like this:
The interesting thing is that even though King David hands out a small portion of bread and meat, and a large portion of wine to both men and women (unlike the 200:1 ratio of bread to alcohol that Ziba gave David), "everyone departed to their own house." It is important to note that the scripture does not say that all the singles went to the pub first...which is what many Christians who want to drink expect to do with their liberties. Intoxication in the New TestamentAfter the Holy Spirit fell on Pentecost, those on the streets mocked them, thinking that they were drunk. (Acts 2:13) William Branham taught that oil represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and that wine represents stimulation by revelation (Acts 2). Both oil and wine were joined in worship in the Old Testament, and oil and wine are inseparable in New Testament worship as well. Joel's prophecy that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: (Acts 2:17) was demonstrated to be fulfilled by the intoxicating effect of the Holy Spirit on the first believers. While the stimulation of revelation eventually subsided, the Holy Spirit did not leave these believers. (Click here to learn more about revelation.) Other references to the substitution of the Holy Spirit for the bottle are found as follows:
In comparison, Peter said that before his conversion it was not unusual for him to get drunk (I Peter 4:3). After his conversion, however, Peter calls in no uncertain terms for Christians to "be sober". (I Peter 4:7). Summary
All of these reasons are Biblical support for William Branham's routine condemnation of the moderate consumption of alcohol by Christians. |