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The Message: Difference between revisions
→The true status of followers of William Branham
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The crucial part of the above definition of the word cult is, “whose authority is viewed as being equal to or greater than the Bible.” '''The founder of the cult is viewed as being a “prophet”''' or “prophetess” of God. '''Since he or she is the “voice of God,” the person’s teachings are authoritative.''' Thus the cult is based solely upon the religious authority of the founder. Everything depends on the validity of that authority. | The crucial part of the above definition of the word cult is, “whose authority is viewed as being equal to or greater than the Bible.” '''The founder of the cult is viewed as being a “prophet”''' or “prophetess” of God. '''Since he or she is the “voice of God,” the person’s teachings are authoritative.''' Thus the cult is based solely upon the religious authority of the founder. Everything depends on the validity of that authority. | ||
The issue of religious authority is the most basic problem one encounters when witnessing to a cultist. While the child of God looks to the Scriptures as the ultimate standard by which to decide religious truth, the cultist looks to his leader to decide the truth for him. As long as the Christian and the cultist are looking to different religious authorities, there is no common ground between them where they can begin.<ref>Robert A. Morey, How to Answer a Mormon: Practical Guidelines for What to Expect and What to Reply When the Mormons Come to Your Door (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1983), 12–13.</ref> | The '''issue of religious authority''' is the most basic problem one encounters when witnessing to a cultist. While the child of God looks to the Scriptures as the ultimate standard by which to decide religious truth, '''the cultist looks to his leader to decide the truth for him'''. As long as the Christian and the cultist are looking to different religious authorities, there is no common ground between them where they can begin.<ref>Robert A. Morey, How to Answer a Mormon: Practical Guidelines for What to Expect and What to Reply When the Mormons Come to Your Door (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1983), 12–13.</ref> | ||
==Do message believers put William Branham's teachings on par with the Bible?== | ===Do message believers put William Branham's teachings on par with the Bible?=== | ||
It is clear that some followers of William Branham believe that he was Jesus Christ. Many followers of William Branham do put his sermons on equal standing with the Bible because they believe that he was infallible. These groups would include most of the followers of Joseph Branham. | It is clear that some followers of William Branham believe that he was Jesus Christ. Many followers of William Branham do put his sermons on equal standing with the Bible because they believe that he was infallible. These groups would include most of the followers of Joseph Branham. | ||
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#To the extent that William Branham did make a significant error, they believe that God would have corrected him. This has resulted in the doctrine of [[Progressive Revelation]], which basically states that if William Branham taught different things about a subject, one should rely on his last teaching on the issue. | #To the extent that William Branham did make a significant error, they believe that God would have corrected him. This has resulted in the doctrine of [[Progressive Revelation]], which basically states that if William Branham taught different things about a subject, one should rely on his last teaching on the issue. | ||
#Message believers hold that the only true evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is believing the Word for your hour. This means the teachings of William Branham. As a result, if you think that William Branham's message has any significant errors, it proves that you don't have the Holy Spirit. | #Message believers hold that the only true evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is believing the Word for your hour. This means the teachings of William Branham. As a result, if you think that William Branham's message has any significant errors, it proves that you don't have the Holy Spirit. | ||
==Are William Branham's teaching in opposition to Biblical Christianity?== | |||
[[The Status of Message Believers|We believe that some message believers are Christians]]. This is because some message churches do believe in and teach the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the only means for the forgiveness of sins. However, that does not mean that the message represents true or restored Christianity. | |||
To the extent that William Branham preached doctrines that agreed with the Bible, his teachings are acceptable. However, he did disagree with true Biblical Christianity in a number of significant areas. | |||
Many of these false doctrines actually were solely designed to point to himself as being God's supreme prophet for the end time: | |||
*[[Matthew 17:11]] | |||
*[[The Fulfillment of Malachi 4:5]] | |||
*[[Enoch and Noah#The Seventh from Adam|Enoch being the seventh from Adam]] | |||
*[[Reading between the lines]] | |||
*[[Prophets that ministered at the same time|God only deals with one prophet at a time]] | |||
*[[The Importance of a Seven-Lettered Name]] | |||
Other doctrines were simply incorrect if a person reads the Bible in an honest fashion: | |||
*[[The Serpent's Seed]] | |||
*[[Michael the Archangel]] | |||
*His [[Lazy Theology]] | |||
*[[Enoch and Noah|Enoch was a type of the wise virgin, and Noah was a type of the foolish virgin]] | |||
*[[Illegitimate children]] cannot be part of the rapture. | |||
*[[Christians that were required to believe Satanic doctrine]] | |||
*[[Marriage and Divorce|If your wife cuts her hair, you can divorce her]]. | |||
*[[Marriage and Divorce|A man can remarry after divorce but a woman can't]] | |||
*[[Destruction of Los Angeles|Capernaum is under the sea]] | |||
*[[Twisted Theology#Don't Weep|John never wept because there was no one worthy to open the book]]- he was weeping for joy. | |||
*[[Three holy words]] of the Bible | |||
*His reasons for rejecting of [[Eternal Sonship]] | |||
*The difference in meaning of [[Q&A on the Godhead#Eternal vs. Everlasting|Eternal vs. Everlasting]] | |||
Finally, William Branham's teaching on the Godhead were very strange: | |||
*In some ways, his teachings were most similar to those of [[The Godhead#The Tabernacle of the Body|Emmanual Swedenborg]] | |||
*In some of his teachings, his view of the Godhead seems to be a form of [[Oneness|modalistic monarchianism]]. As a result, many message churches effectively espouse the "oneness" view of the Godhead. | |||
*But some of his teaching also leans toward an [[Dynamic Monarchianism|Adoptionist]] view of the Godhead. Followers of [[Vaylism|Lee Vayle's]] have essentially espoused this view (which some refer to derisively as the '''"Twinity"''' doctrine). | |||
==The "Bride" is not a special category of Christian== | ==The "Bride" is not a special category of Christian== | ||