The Seven Churches Ages
Ages.
Its a small word. It seems harmless enough. But it's extra.
Revelation 1:11 is addressed from the "Alpha and Omega" to "the seven churches which are in Asia."
The problem with William Branham's doctrine is that:
- Only two of the Church Age Messengers set foot in Asia.
- Revelation 22:18 says, "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." The word "Ages" is extra. Its not found at all in Revelation 1:11. So Ages may be a small word, but it's scary. Go there at your own risk.
- He copied this doctrine from Clarence Larkin.
Where is Asia?
Asia Minor, and all of the cities where these churches were located, is located in the country of Turkey.
- Paul grew up in Asia Minor, and established the church in Ephesus.
- Irenaeus was born in Smyrna, then moved to France.
- Martin was born in Hungary, then moved to France.
- Columba was born in Ireland, then moved to Scotland.
- Martin Luther lived in Germany.
- John Wesley lived in England.
- William Branham lived in the United States.
Other than Irenaeus and Paul, none of these individuals set foot in Asia.
Who is Clarence Larkin?
William Branham took his teaching on the church ages directly from Clarence Larkin, who wrote a book about the Book of Revelation. To see exactly what William Branham plagiarized from Clarence Larkin, please click on this link.
Messengers Outside Their Ages
John was told to write to each churches. William Branham said that each church represented an age, and that each age had a messenger. So, you would expect that each messenger would have lived within the correct church age...but this is not the case.
Paul
- Paul was martyred in approx. 73AD.
- John wrote the Book of Revelation from the Isle of Patmos around 95AD.
If William Branham was correct, then Paul had been dead for over 20 years when John sent him the letter. I guess he never got the memo.
Columba
- William Branham said the Thyatira Age started in 606 AD.
- William Branham named Columba as the messenger to the Thyatira Age.
- Columba died in 597 A.D., 9 years before the Age was supposed to start.
The Message to the Seven Churches
- ...What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
- The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
- Revelation 1:11-20
|- |}