Billy Paul Branham
Billy Paul Branham was born in 1935 to William and Hope Branham. Billy Paul's mother and his younger sister Sharon died in 1937, and his attachment and unique relationship with his father formed in the lonely years that followed. Billy Paul Branham said that he met the Angel of the Lord that spoke with his father, and thousands of miracles as he accompanied him through campaigns across the United States, Canada, Africa, and India.
Until his death in 2023, he was the vice-president of Voice of God Recordings in Jeffersonville, Indiana, whose goal is to distribute the recorded sermons of William Branham. The assets of this non-profit corporation at the end of 2012 were in excess of $100 Million USD.
Failed Prophecy
In "The Acts of the Prophet," a book written by Pearry Green, William Branham prophesied that Billy Paul "wouldn't be an old man until sharks will swim right where we are standing", which was in front of the May Company in downtown Los Angeles. Billy Paul died in 2023 at the age of 88 with the prophecy unfulfilled and Los Angeles still standing.
While message followers will use the excuse that this prophecy was never made on a tape, they must also realize that there were no "before the fact" prophecies that are contained in any of William Branham's sermons. It is also clear, based on the correspondence with Billy Paul below, that he fervently believed that the prophecy would come to pass.
Correspondence with Billy Paul
The following letter was sent to Billy Paul Branham on January 28, 2017:
- Dear Billy Paul Branham,
- I am James Manuel from Cape Town, South Africa. I came in contact with the message of Brother Branham in late 1972, and was baptised in the name of Jesus Christ according to Acts 2:38 early in 1973. Since then I enhanced and believed the End Time Message of Brother Branham with all my heart.
- My wife, Crystal knew nothing else as she was only a young child when her parents accepted the message. My children were raised in the message and they knew nothing else.
- I left the message in 2012 after a 5 year search for answers which never came. The only responses I got from everyone I communicated with, including Joseph Branham, was robotic in nature. In other words, I had to ignore what I saw, and accept the evident discrepancies in the words and/or message as truth by faith, because Brother Branham said so.
- You are probably in the most favorable position to answer this question which bother me in no uncertain terms. I heard you tell the story of how you and your dad were standing in front of May's department store in downtown Los Angeles. You dad wanted to know from you where you were standing, and you replied, "Downtown LA", to which he replied, "be more specific". You said, "in front of May's Department Store", to which he replied, "Billy, I may be gone, but before you are an old man, sharks will swim where you stand."
- Brother Billy, you are over 80 and definitely not a young man any longer. Do you still feel it will happen as you told us all those years? Or.....is it a story you invented to keep us loyal and expecting?
- It is important for us to know because if it is the truth you told....it would mean Brother Branham gave a false prophecy. If it was not the truth, you have a responsibility to set the record straight.
- I trust that you will get this letter, and that we shall see a response from you personally to put this prophecy/story to rest.
- Thank you in advance for your favorable response.
- God bless you.
- Your brother in Christ,
- James Manuel
Response from Billy Paul
The response to the above letter came to Curtis Walling via Facebook on January 29, 2017 as follows:
- From: Billy@Branham.org
- I stand on exactly on what Brother Branham said, and it was not a story I made up and shame on you for thinking such a thing so I doubt you would believe me or not but I will witness to you just the same it is exactly what he said and I'm not an old man as yet, and won't be until that happens.
- Bro. Billy
Death
On October 19, 2023, Voice of God Recordings issued the following notice:
- Brothers and Sisters,
- Not long ago, Brother Billy told me about a dream he had, which I would like to share with you, as I believe it was from the Lord.
- He said he was walking by a beautiful stream of water, and Brother Branham stood just on the other side. Brother Branham spoke, and said, “Paul, you look tired.” Brother Billy said, “I am dad.” Brother Branham proceeded to say, “Come walk with me.”
- Early this morning, at 3:33 am, on October 19, 2023, our beloved Brother Billy Paul Branham peacefully passed unto the other side of that great Stream, and is walking with his buddy, Brother Branham, never to be tired no more.
- You can imagine what that dream means to my heart right now. I know it was sent from God, to encourage Brother Billy, our family, and all of us, for this time. Thank you Lord Jesus, You are so mindful to send us the Angels with the softest hands during times like this in which we need comfort.
- We want to thank you all for your precious and sincere prayers. They certainly have been felt by all of us.
- God bless you.
- Brother Joseph and the Branham Family
Illness
On October 17, 2023, Voice of God Recordings issued the following notice:
- A Very Special Prayer Request
- Brothers and Sisters,
- Our battle-scarred veteran, Brother Billy, is in the hospital with many complications and illnesses in his body, due to his age. He’s 88 years old, tired, weary, and his body has simply lost its strength.
- We know ALL THINGS are in the Lord’s Hands, and His timing for everything is just perfect.
- We humbly ask that you do not come to the hospital, or try to contact him or the family at this time. Please respect the family’s privacy, and their efforts to do all they can to tend to Brother Billy’s needs.
- Please remember Bro. Billy and the family in your prayers.
- God bless you,
- Bro. Joseph
Billy Paul's first marriage
Billy Paul Branham was married on August 11, 1953 to Ollie May Christopher. The marriage license indicates that William Branham, Billy Paul's father, consented to the wedding. The wedding was officiated by Rev. P.E. Franz. The license was also signed by Julius Poff, an officer of the court.
Billy Paul states that he was born on September 13, 1935, but the marriage certificate states that his birthdate was September 13, 1934.
William Branham stated that Billy Paul had "run off with some little kid still in common school and got married". He also stated that the marriage had been annulled by himself and the girl's father after they found out about it.
But the truth is that May Branham, Billy Paul's first wife, filed for divorce from her husband a mere 43 days after they were married. Additionally, a restraining order was issued and the marriage was annulled as a result of the divorce proceedings.
Why did William Branham find it necessary to lie with respect to his son's first marriage that the marriage was not conducted by "magistrate" but by an ordained minister?
Did William Branham also lie about whether he had consented to the marriage (according to the legal documents he had). If Billy Paul was the one who lied on the marriage license, why did both the court officer and the minister who married them believe the lie?
Additionally, if the date of Billy Paul's birth is correct on the marriage license, then this is evidence that William Branham and Hope Brumbach were married while she was pregnant. Was Billy Paul conceived out of wedlock?
Quotes of William Branham
The question was asked the other day, "Was a annulment—annulment—an annulment the same as a divorce?" See? When you ask me those questions, friend, you don't know what that does to me. I've got many friends setting here that's married two or three times. Did you realize I'm talking to my own son, Billy Paul? Would I spare Billy Paul? No, indeedy.
Billy Paul got married to some little girl, and come up, and said, "Daddy, I'm going to get married." I was washing my car; I said, "Butt your head against the wall," just kept on washing my car like that.
He said, "I'm going to get married." I said, "Oh, go on," just kept on like that. He goes around and tells his mother, and his mother laughed at him. You know what he done? Run off with some little kid still in common school and got married.
We annulled the wedding, the father of this girl and myself. We annulled the wedding, but he was married just the same. He's my boy setting here listening at me now. That's exactly. He come to me with the girl that he lives with now, my daughter-in-law. My little grandson…
He said, "Daddy will you marry me?" I said, "By no means." That's my own son. You think that don't cut me to the core when I packed him in my arms and done everything I could do, and I've been both father and mother to him? You think that don't kill me to say that? But it's the truth. Certainly. My boy setting here listening at… My daughter-in-law and my little grandson setting right here now… But I tell him it's wrong (See?), because I've got to. I'm duty bound to that Word.
And I say, you got married by a magistrate? You should've been married by the church, by the minister. That's the decent thing to do for a Christian. But being that you have already made that promise, and vow, and been married twenty-one years ago, I think it's all right. You say, "Well I…" The question might be, "Should I come and be married again?" If you wish to. Don't have nothing in your mind that bothers your faith, 'cause if anything's there, you can't go no further than right there; you stop right there. When that question mark come, that's where you end, right there. But I, for me it would be all right.[1]
Footnotes
- ↑ 64-0830M, Questions And Answers #3