One of the characteristics of a cult is the devaluation of Christ. Is this true of the Message?

Click on headings to expand them, or links to go to specific articles.

Click here to find out about THE definitive book on William Branham - Under The Halo: Examining the Legacy of William Branham

Did William Branham Minimize the Ministries of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ?

As we examine this question, we return to our methodology for studying Scripture, Isaiah 28:10 (KJV):

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little

Holy Spirit

Let’s look at the Ministry of the Holy Spirit first. To examine this ministry, we only need to look at what Jesus Christ Himself tells us about this subject in the Gospel of John:

John 14:15-16 (KJV) 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

John 14:25-26 (KJV)

25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 16:12-13 (KJV)

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

So, Jesus tells us that there are three distinct attributes of the Holy Spirit that we find relevant to this discussion:

He will ABIDE WITH US FOR EVER;
He will TEACH US ALL THINGS;
He will GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH.

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would arrive:

Acts 1:4-5 (KJV)

4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

And in fact, true to the promise of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit did arrive:

Acts 2:1-4

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The DAY OF PENTECOST is the moment the Holy Spirit FELL upon the people, the disciples of Jesus, in the upper room.

The Apostle Peter tells the people in Jerusalem how they themselves shall receive the Holy Spirit:

Acts 2:37-38 (KJV)

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Peter here tells the people in Jerusalem the “FORMULA” for Salvation through Jesus Christ… it’s a simple formula:

REPENT, proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior;
BE BAPTIZED for the remission of our sins;
You SHALL RECEIVE the Holy Spirit.

While this seems very straight forward, there is often confusion about “additional requirements” for Salvation… things like, “believe in the message for your day,” or perhaps “believe in the messenger for your hour.”

I call these requirements “additional” because they clearly are not included in Peter’s discussion on the Day of Pentecost. And because they are not included in the discussion which Peter had with those present, we can IGNORE THEM as Scriptural requirements for Salvation.

So, let’s bring this discussion back to William Branham and the question of whether he minimized the Ministry of the Holy Spirit.

One month prior to his death, William Branham who told us over 400 times in his 1,205 sermons that he was a prophet of God, gave us this:

The Word that fell on the Day of Pentecost will not work this day. No, sir. That was for Pentecost. This is for the Bride, going Home of the Bride. We got something different.^[1]

Let’s examine this snippet of Branham’s sermon… let’s take a look at “The Word.” Scripture is clear about “The Word” as the Gospel of John shows:

John 1:1- (KJV) :1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

In other words, The Word IS GOD!

When Branham tells us that The Word that FELL on the DAY OF PENTECOST “will not “work for this day” did he forget what Jesus Christ Himself told us in the Gospel of John in Chapters 14 and 16, namely that The Holy Spirit:

He will ABIDE WITH US FOR EVER;
He will TEACH US ALL THINGS;
He will GUIDE US INTO ALL TRUTH?

And what exactly is the “SOMETHING DIFFERENT” to which William Branham refers?

We know that the Holy Spirit, The Word which fell on the Day of Pentecost, IS GOD according to Scripture in John 1:1. But, Branham one month before his death tells us that “we got something different.” Can we conclude reasonably that Branham is suggesting there is ANOTHER WAY TO BE SAVED? Can we reasonably conclude that Branham suggests that there ANOTHER GOD?

Since that is a reasonable conclusion based on Scripture and what Branham himself tells us, let’s re-examine the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 13 which instructs us concerning how we are to scripturally evaluate someone who tells us they are a prophet of God, as William Branham did over 400 times in his 1,205 sermons:

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (KJV)

1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

God in this chapter of Deuteronomy VERY ACCURATELY describes William Branham:

A DREAMER;
GAVE SIGNS AND WONDERS;
The SIGNS AND WONDERS give us the impression that they have come to pass;
And Branham suggests “ANOTHER GOD,” “SOMETHING DIFFERENT” than THE WORD WHICH FELL ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST, THE HOLY GHOST, GOD HIMSELF!

The consequences for such utterances are VERY SEVERE according to Scripture… “that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death.”

The Apostle Paul is VERY CLEAR when he addresses this very issue in his First Pastoral letter to Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:3-5 (KJV)

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

“… FROM SUCH WITHDRAW THYSELF …”

And didn’t William Branham tell us he “ONLY TAUGHT WHAT PAUL TAUGHT?”

The Ministry of Jesus

Now, let us address the issue of whether William Branham minimized the Ministry of Jesus Christ Himself.

To address this issue, we need to understand what the ministry of Jesus Christ was about. Let’s refer to Scripture, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little:

BIRTH AND ANCESTRY

Isaiah 7:14
Micah 5:2
Genesis 12:3

8Jeremiah 23:5-6

MINISTRY AND ACTIONS

Isaiah Chapter 53
Zechariah 9:9
Isaiah 61:1

BETRAYAL AND CRUCIFIXION

Zechariah 11:12-13
Psalm 22
Isaiah 53:9
Psalm 16:10

The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 53 is particularly instructive. In the very first 3 verses, we learn that Jesus would be rejected and despised by men.

Isaiah 53:1-3 (KJV) :1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah is clear WHO IT IS that would reject Jesus when in Verse 3 he states “… and WE esteemed Him not.” Here Isaiah tells us the Nation of Israel, WE, will reject Jesus.

And this is critical to our discussion.

We need to lay some ground work before we get too far into this discussion.

Let’s remember what the relationship was between God and Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:

Genesis 3:8-9 (KJV)

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

We notice here that God had direct communication with Adam and Even in the garden… that is, until the fall of man.

Genesis 3:21-24 (KJV)

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

It is at this point that the ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP between God and His people ENDED, at least for a long while.

We see that Moses received God’s Laws and read them to God’s people:

Exodus 24:4-7 (KJV)

4 And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

5 And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord.

6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.

The MOSAIC LAW contains 613 specific regulations, among these those which we colloquially refer to as the “TEN COMMANDMENTS.”

Within the LAW OF MOSES there are specific rules for how God interacted with His people, particularly after he closed the ONE-ON-ONE relationship after the Fall of Man. The ONLY two ways that God had to interact with His Nation was:

Through the HIGH PRIEST in the Holy of Holies for the atonement of sins; And through SPECIFIC COMMISSIONS from God’s true prophets as was discussed in the article concerning Deuteronomy, Chapter 18.

This requirement exists today for those who are in the Nation of Israel, the Jews, because THEY HAVE NOT ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS THE MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD.

But one of the MOST IMPORTANT MINISTRIES OF JESUS CHRIST was to RESTORE the ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP between God and His people!

Matthew 27:50-51 (KJV)

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent

When the curtain which separated God from His people in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom, GOD WAS EXPOSED TO EVERYONE WHO ASKED FOR SUCH A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, and not just the High Priest.

In other words, Jesus Christ died on the cross to RESTORE the ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP which was enjoyed between God and Adam and Eve… NO human intercessor required… no High Priest, no prophets, between man and God!

Why was this important? We can examine what Jesus told His disciples in the following Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This “GREAT COMMISSION” (as it is sometimes called) was given to the disciples to EVANGELIZE THE GENTILE WORLD.

Remember, the MOSAIC LAW was and still is relevant ONLY TO ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE, the nation of Israel, the Jews.

And because the nation of Israel as a whole rejected Jesus as the Messiah, God provided the Gentile World with a way to gain Salvation as Peter describes in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2.

How do we know the Gentile Church (the Gentile people who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior) ARE NOT BOUND TO THE LAW? Scripture explains this to us:

Galatians 2:1-14 (KJV) :1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.

2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

The Apostle Paul also speaks about TWO COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS and describes them as follows:

2 Corinthians 3:5-17 (KJV)

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Paul is quoting the OLD TESTAMENT PROPHET Isaiah:

Isaiah 28:14-18 (KJV)

14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, That rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, And with hell are we at agreement; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.

17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, And righteousness to the plummet: And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, And your agreement with hell shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, Then ye shall be trodden down by it.

Paul goes on to speak about the OLD COVENANT RELATIONSHIP versus the NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP in other letters as well telling us the difference between A COVENANT OF WORKS versus A COVENANT OF GRACE:

Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV)

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Let’s return then to William Branham and why I say that he MINIMIZED the Ministry of Jesus Christ.

William Branham declared over 400 times in his 1,205 sermons that he was a prophet of God, and that he brought God’s Word for his “AGE.” I will not digress here to speak about the fallacy of “Church Ages,” or dispensationalism. That is a topic for another time. But I digress…

Nor will I speak in this article about William Branham’s failure against a Scriptural examination as a prophet of God… we did that in our discussion of Deuteronomy 18:20-22.

I CAN discuss, however, that Scripture ASSERTS WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION THAT A PROPHET TO THE GENTILE CHURCH IS NOT REQUIRED, OR EVEN DESIRABLE.

We have seen what the Apostle Paul tells us concerning a NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP OF GRACE versus an OLD COVENANT RELATIONSHIP OF WORKS, EVEN DEATH.

In the interest of completion and transparency, as Isaiah reminds us (… precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little …), we should look at other Scripture that confirms what the Apostle Paul tells us.

Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV) :1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…

Even Jesus Christ confirms this precept for us:

Luke 16:16 (KJV)

16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Should we now disregard the very Words of Jesus Christ?

But William Branham, his ministers, and his believers tell us that William Branham was a prophet of God, and tell us that his message is a requirement for the rapturing of the church, and even for salvation:

He told me if I get the people to believe me. That seems strange for me to have to say this, “You believe in me?” Said, “Aren’t you supposed believe God?” You must believe that. You must believe God and believe Christ, and believe the Holy Ghost. Then after believing all of them, God wants you to believe me. But then there’s something for you to do. Now, you can believe a man and still the gift won’t work for you. Reason today people believe in God. It’s still Jesus. Isn’t that right? He said, “As you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Did He say it? “As you have belief in God, you believe in Me.” That’s the only way He could help them, ’cause they believe. Now, I want you to believe me as one of them. But I want you to believe the day is coming and will to you… And I’ll do all I can to help you.^[2]

Remember, let me tell you, THUS SAITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD that's on me, this is the last sign to the Gentile church before the rapture. THUS SAITH THE WORD OF GOD, THUS SAITH THE HOLY SPIRIT that speaks, that, knows the secret of the heart, THUS SAITH THE LORD, you are receiving your last call. Call Me fanatic if you wish to and blaspheme the Holy Ghost.^[3]

The trouble of it is, you Pentecostal people, you Baptists, you Methodists, you've failed to recognize your God-given privilege. Hear me. THUS SAITH THE LORD, you believe it with all your heart. He promised it in the last day. Hasn't been for two thousand years, because the Bible said it wouldn't be. But Jesus said... As it was in the days of Sodom, when that Angel come, turned His back to the tent, and asked for Sarah, and told what she said in the building... How many knows that? Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Sodom, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man." When? Just before Sodom burned. That's just before this world's going to burn. The whole unbelieving world will be--go into chaos and burn with fervent heat. We know that. And just before that time... Remember, THUS SAITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, this is your last sign. Write it in your Bible. And if something rises besides this, and greater than this, call me a false prophet. That's quite a statement. I watch what I say. I'm in contact with better than ten million people around the world (See?), so I have to say that; and I know I didn't say that myself.^[4]

Will all borned again believers go in the rapture? No, just the remnant, just the remnant, not all born again believers. The Bible said, “And the rest of the dead lived not for a thousand years,” and then they was raised and separated, the sheep from the goats. Not all borned again will go in the…according to Scripture.^[5]

No matter how much education, and how kind, how much you speak with tongues, how much kind, gentle, and everything you are; unless you accept that Word of the hour, when It’s manifested before you, you’re in the same predicament. That might sound crude, I don’t mean it that way, but it’s Truth. Just, just believe It, see.^[6]

Who then should we believe? Are we to believe William Branham, or are we to believe Scripture, the Very Word of God, even Jesus Christ Himself?

Why do we allow a church to place regulations, legalisms, and requirements upon us that might (and I say MIGHT) have been appropriate for an OLD COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, a relationship based on MOSAIC LAW, upon people who are SAVED BY GRACE, and enjoy the ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP, the NEW COVENANT RELATIONSHIP with God?

Paul tells us that we ARE NOT BOUND TO MOSAIC LAW:

Romans 7:1-4 (KJV)

1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

James even tells us if we restrict ourselves to JUST ONE of the regulations within the MOSAIC LAW, we are obligated to the ENTIRE MOSAIC LAW, ALL 613 REGULATIONS!

James 2:8-10 (KJV)

8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

And the Apostle Paul is keen to remind us, and exhort us in this manner:

Colossians 2:8-23 (KJV)

8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16 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:

17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Didn’t William Branham tells us he ONLY TAUGHT WHAT PAUL TAUGHT?

Summary

We can therefore say that William Branham minimized the Ministry of the Holy Spirit by telling us that the Holy Spirit was totally inadequate and insufficient for today when Jesus Christ tells us that the Holy Spirit will be with us FOREVER, will TEACH US ALL THINGS, and will LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH.

William Branham goes so far as to tell us that he presents “SOMETHING DIFFERENT,” something MORE SUFFICIENT than the Holy Spirit, although I can only guess at what that might be.

And William Branham minimizes the Ministry of Jesus Christ Himself when Branham announces himself as THE PROPHET OF GOD a human intercessor in the caste of the OLD COVENANT RELATIONSHIP, without whose message you cannot participate in the rapture of the church, or even achieve salvation.

Branham conflates the requirements of the OLD COVENANT (the COVENANT OF DEATH, the COVENANT OF WORKS) for his followers and takes people away from the Perfect Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who ushered in a NEW COVENANT (the COVENANT OF GRACE), and restored back to God’s people the ONE-ON-ONE RELATIONSHIP. just like Adam and Eve shared with God. By staying within the OLD COVENANT, William Branham REJECTS the NEW COVENANT just as the Nation of Israel did while Jesus walked the earth.

Let me repeat again what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy: