William Branham and the future
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This article is a short summary of William Branham's view of the future...
The End of the Christian Church on Earth
William Branham believed that he was born a prophet. And as a prophet, he prophesied harsh judgment on America and the Catholic Church. He prophesied that the Catholic Church will join hands with the World Council of Churches, and agree on the topic of the Eucharist, or communion [1]. He also prophesied that this new Federation of Churches would force all other Churches to join its association (and accept its universal doctrine), resulting in a boycott, closure, and persecution of all independent churches who refuse to join this union of systems.
William Branham taught that membership in the Federation of Churches would be the mark of the beast. According to the book of Revelation, anyone who has the mark of the beast or worships the image of the beast will be thrown into the lake of fire in the final judgment. William Branham explained that the beast is the Roman Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches (or the new Federation of Churches) is the image onto the beast. After a short period of persecution by the Federation of Churches, the remaining Christians will be raptured (directly ascending into heaven without seeing death).
He also taught that the rapture marks the end of the dispensation of grace, and Jesus Christ will turn from his ministry as high priest, and will leave the mercy seat to ascend to the throne as King, crowned by the Saints. The baptism of the Holy Ghost will no longer be available for people on earth after this time, and those who are not raptured will ultimately stand on their own account before God.
The Antichrist and Israel
William Branham prophesied that the Catholic Church would strike an economic deal with the nation of Israel, and that the Federation of Churches would produce the antichrist. William Branham also prophesied that two prophets would arise in Israel with mighty miracles, but that the Catholic Church would break its deal with Israel and lead a persecution on Israel, killing these prophets in the process. William Branham also prophesied that at some point the Jews would rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and restore temple worship. He also prophesied that a remnant of 144,000 Jews would be placed into their respective tribes by the words and direction of these prophets, and that Jesus Christ would reveal himself to this remnant. During the time of assault led by the Catholic Church, the bodies of the two prophets will be left on display in the streets of Jerusalem for three days, in a scene that will be visible around the world (probably via television or the internet). After three days, these prophets will be resurrected and will be seen alive by their enemies.
The Disturbance of Nature and the Third World War
William Branham prophesied that intense natural destruction will be unleashed on the earth, including the following catastrophes on U.S. soil:
- Los Angeles would slide into the ocean, [2]
- Florida would become submerged under the ocean,
- The United States would be turned into a heap of ashes from coast to coast, but would have time to unleash its own nuclear power in the minutes before this happened. [3]
William Branham also prophesied that the Vatican city would ultimately be destroyed by Communist Russia[4], possibly through a vodka-inspired nuclear attack.
He said that "based on divine inspiration" this would all happen by 1977.
The Millennium
William Branham taught that the Millennium is a period of one thousand years where the devil will be bound, and man will live free on the earth. The Millennium is a sign that the curse in the garden of Eden ("the day you eat, that day you die") is finally lifted. The Millennium is a type of "honeymoon" for King Jesus and his bride. After the Millennium is the Judgment, then time will melt into Eternity once more.
- I just finished a series of services on the last seven seals. And finding, in this sixth seal, that there is a great interruption in--in nature. The moon, the stars, the earth belches forth. The church is purged, Israel is purged, and everything is purged under that seventh seal, so that the Millennium can start in. There has to be a cleansing, first.
- Sermon: Look, Phoenix, AZ, April 28, 1963
The cleansing of the earth and the cleansing of the bride is so that they can serve God as vessels of honor. This is the future based on the dispensational teachings of William Branham.