Revelation 10:7

William Branham's interpretation of Revelation 10:7 is solely about pointing to himself. Branham thought that he was:

  • The angel sent to the Church in Laodicea in Revelation 3:14;
  • Responsible for the opening of the seven seals of Revelation 6; and,
  • The angel of Revelation 10:7.

What the Bible says

Revelation 10 starts with a picture of another mighty angel, an intentional echo of Revelation 5:2

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”[1]

wherein he introduced the first “mighty angel,” who was associated with the first scroll.

Revelation 10:7 states that:

...in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.[2]

The Bible speaks of an angel (or messenger) to each of the churches in Revelation chapters 2 & 3. There is no indication that these are the same angels as indicated in Revelation 8:1 which states:

Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.[3]

The Bible does not teach that Revelation 3:14, the unveiling of Revelation 6, and Revelation 10:7 all happen at the same time. It also does not teach that the Angel in Revelation 3 is the same angel as that in Revelation 10. It does not teach that the Angel to Laodicea in Revelation 3:14 is the one who opens the seals (the Lamb is the one that opens the seals). Similarly, the Bible does not teach that the Angel to Laodicea is the same angel that sounds in Revelation 11:15.

In fact, it is clear that the sixth trumpeting angel sounds in Revelation 9:13 and the seventh trumpeting angel (the one spoken of in Revelation 10:7) does not actually sound his trumpet until Revelation 11:15:

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”[4]

The sounding of the seventh trumpet takes place AFTER the two witnesses of Revelation 11:1-12 have been resurrected and leave the earth.

What William Branham did was to use a number of scriptures, including Rev, 10:7, for the sole purpose of pointing to himself (in a fashion that the Bible never intended).

Quotes of William Branham

We know that the seventh angel has given the message. We see It vindicated with signs. We know we're at the end of the Laodicean age. We know that national strife, signs and wonders, are appearing everywhere. We know that we're at the end time, God bearing witness. And it behooveth us; it's becoming to us that we fulfill all righteousness. Nations against nations, perplexed at time, distressed, all these things that we have heard... If you can receive it...[5]
...Revelations 10, "And at the sounding of the seventh angel, the Laodicea messenger, the mysteries of God would be made known." And this is the last age, which is Laodicea.[6]
Now mark that with what the last prophet said, "Behold I send to you Elijah the prophet, and he will restore the--the hearts of the children back to the fathers." See? A Message to bring them back to the Bible, and the Son of man will be revealing Himself in that day. And at that day of the sounding of the last church age, the seventh angel, the mysteries of God should be made known in that day. The Seven Seals would be broken. The mysteries of all these churches and things, how they happened, and what tak-... how, what taken place.[7]
Here is where I wanted to get to, in Revelations 10. We'll get to it in a few minutes, and another Scripture verse. He said, "In the days of the Message of the seventh angel, the mystery of God ought to be finished." Here is the question, is, if you follow in that line in this hour, will it be finished? "Will I find the Faith?" Will Malachi 4 be fulfilled in this time, "Restore the Faith of the children, back to the Faith of the fathers, the original, the Word"? See?[8]
And the Seven Seals of God, when It was opened there on the mountain, God will let me die right now at this pulpit if That ain't the Truth. And I foretold you, a year and six months before it happened, what He told me, "Go to Arizona," and what would happen out there in the desert. And there's men setting right here, tonight, was standing right there and present when the seven Angels come down. And even mag-... The magazine, Life magazine, packed the article of It.[9]
Now, we're promised a church age through reformers, and we've had them. But He promised, in Malachi 4, He'd keep His pattern in the last days, what would take place, "To turn the hearts of the children back to the Faith of the apostolic father." For that very purpose! And the church is so broke up in denominations and isms, it's so tore to pieces till it's dead; it's been a carrier. And then He promised, in the hour of the seventh angel's Message, the Seven Seals would be revealed; and the mysteries of God would be declared (Revelation 10) when the seventh angel begins to sound his Message, not the healing service, the Message that follows the healing service.[10]
And these Seven Seals was not to be opened (Revelations 10) until the sounding of the last earthly angel on earth, Revelations 10:7. See? "And in the days of the sounding of the last angel's Message, seventh angel, the mystery of God should be finished in that age." That, and that's the age that we're living in.
We all know we're living in the Laodicea Age. There will never be another age to it. It can't be. So, we're living in the Laodicea Age. And these Seven Seals that's held that Book, is a mystery to people, should be opened at that day. That's what He promised. Now, it won't be nothing outside the Word, because you can't add to the Word or take from the Word. It's got to remain always the Word. But the revelation is to reveal the Truth of It, what It is, to make It fit with the rest the Scripture. And then God vindicates that to be the Truth. See?
...now, in the seventh church age, "When the seventh angel begins to sound, the mysteries of God was to be made known right there," the Seals.[11]

References

  1. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Re 5:2.
  2. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Re 10:7.
  3. Revelation 8:1 (ESV)
  4. Revelation 11:15 (ESV)
  5. IT.BECOMETH.US.TO.FULFIL.ALL.RIGHTEOUSNESS JEFF.IN 61-1001M
  6. MARRIAGE.AND.DIVORCE JEFF.IN 65-0221M
  7. SPIRITUAL.FOOD.IN.DUE.SEASON JEFF.IN 65-0718E
  8. THE.ANOINTED.ONES.AT.THE.END.TIME JEFF.IN 65-0725M
  9. THE.INVISIBLE.UNION.OF.THE.BRIDE.OF.CHRIST SHP.LA 65-1125
  10. I.HAVE.HEARD.BUT.NOW.I.SEE SHREVEPORT.LA 65-1127E
  11. THE.RAPTURE_ YUMA.AZ V-5 N-14 SATURDAY_ 65-1204