Jump to content

William Branham and the nature of God: Difference between revisions

William Branham and the nature of God (view source)

Revision as of 17:42, 28 February 2020

2 bytes added ,  4 years ago
no edit summary
No edit summary
Line 26: Line 26:
We do not spend time in this article highlighting the problems with William Branham's beliefs. That discussion is contained in other articles in this series, which can be accessed from the links at the top of the page and attempt to point out specific problem areas with William Branham's belief system. .  The purpose of this article is simply to highlight what he believed.
We do not spend time in this article highlighting the problems with William Branham's beliefs. That discussion is contained in other articles in this series, which can be accessed from the links at the top of the page and attempt to point out specific problem areas with William Branham's belief system. .  The purpose of this article is simply to highlight what he believed.


=The Godhead and Respect=
William Branham relates a vision he had of a [[The Vision of the Pentecostal Kitten|"Pentecostal kitten"]].  When petted the animal against the fur, it would spit and become extremely upset.  What is interesting about this vision is that it is a better description of message followers (and ministers in particular), than it is of Pentecostals today.
In the past, some Christians in positions of power have persecuted heretics (or anyone who disagrees with their own favourite doctrine). But persecuting heretics is as spiritual as stoning the good Samaritan.  The treatment of the Cathars at the hands of the Catholics, most notably in the massacre in Beziers in 1209 A.D., is a historic example of this persecution. 
The Apostle Paul wrote about people who ''"hold the truth in unrighteousness"'' (Romans 1).  He describes people who understand the Godhead correctly, but still choose to live a life of corruption.  Paul’s final description of these individuals is ‘unmerciful’, which is an apt description of Arnaud-Amaury, the Catholic ambassador to the Cathars of Bezier, who declared “Kill them all, the Lord will recognise His own.”
Jesus taught that only those who had a pure heart would see God (Matthew 5:8). So even though what we are describing is heresy, there is no need to stone or persecute Branhamites.  What there is a need for is to be merciful.


=William Branham's Continuously Changing View=
=William Branham's Continuously Changing View=
Line 110: Line 101:


:''"O my brethren, let none of you that fear God recommend such a writer any more; much less labor to make the deadly poison palatable, by sweetening it with all care! All his folly and nonsense we may excuse; but not his making God a liar; not his contradicting, in so open and flagrant a manner, the whole oracles of God! True, his tales are often exceeding lively, and as entertaining as the tales of... the fairies! But I dare not give up my Bible for them; and I must give up one or the other. If the preceding extracts are from God, then the Bible is only a fable! But if all Scriptures are given by inspiration of God, then let these dreams sink into the pit from whence they came."<ref>Thoughts on the writings of Baron Swedenborg, by John Wesley, Wakefield, May 8, 1782.</ref>
:''"O my brethren, let none of you that fear God recommend such a writer any more; much less labor to make the deadly poison palatable, by sweetening it with all care! All his folly and nonsense we may excuse; but not his making God a liar; not his contradicting, in so open and flagrant a manner, the whole oracles of God! True, his tales are often exceeding lively, and as entertaining as the tales of... the fairies! But I dare not give up my Bible for them; and I must give up one or the other. If the preceding extracts are from God, then the Bible is only a fable! But if all Scriptures are given by inspiration of God, then let these dreams sink into the pit from whence they came."<ref>Thoughts on the writings of Baron Swedenborg, by John Wesley, Wakefield, May 8, 1782.</ref>
=The Godhead and Respect=
William Branham relates a vision he had of a [[The Vision of the Pentecostal Kitten|"Pentecostal kitten"]].  When petted the animal against the fur, it would spit and become extremely upset.  What is interesting about this vision is that it is a better description of message followers (and ministers in particular), than it is of Pentecostals today.
In the past, some Christians in positions of power have persecuted heretics (or anyone who disagrees with their own favourite doctrine). But persecuting heretics is as spiritual as stoning the good Samaritan.  The treatment of the Cathars at the hands of the Catholics, most notably in the massacre in Beziers in 1209 A.D., is a historic example of this persecution. 
The Apostle Paul wrote about people who ''"hold the truth in unrighteousness"'' (Romans 1).  He describes people who understand the Godhead correctly, but still choose to live a life of corruption.  Paul’s final description of these individuals is ‘unmerciful’, which is an apt description of Arnaud-Amaury, the Catholic ambassador to the Cathars of Bezier, who declared “Kill them all, the Lord will recognise His own.”
Jesus taught that only those who had a pure heart would see God (Matthew 5:8). So even though what we are describing is heresy, there is no need to stone or persecute Branhamites.  What there is a need for is to be merciful.


{{Bottom of Page}}
{{Bottom of Page}}
[[Category:Doctrines]]
[[Category:Doctrines]]
[[Category:Godhead]]
[[Category:Godhead]]
Retrieved from "http:///index.php?title=Special:MobileDiff/24274"