William Branham's View of Himself: Difference between revisions

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=He did not rebuke people who bowed before his photograph=
==He did not rebuke people who bowed before his photograph==


:''Little Sister Burns, that rests with God tonight, was standing in her home, took that little picture with the Angel of the Lord on the top of it, and knelt down before It and said, "O God, help me to find Brother Branham for my dear husband."  (April 7, 1957, William Branham, Sermon: Then Jesus Came)
:''Little Sister Burns, that rests with God tonight, was standing in her home, took that little picture with the Angel of the Lord on the top of it, and knelt down before It and said, "O God, help me to find Brother Branham for my dear husband."  (April 7, 1957, William Branham, Sermon: Then Jesus Came)


=He said he was the Holy Ghost=
==He said he was the Holy Ghost==


We have had Message Believers tell us that William Branham was the Holy Ghost.  We assume that they base this on quotes such as:
We have had Message Believers tell us that William Branham was the Holy Ghost.  We assume that they base this on quotes such as:
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:''The only thing, that, we're so dull in faith, till we fail to see Him. That's the reason God sends prophets to the earth. See, people won't read their Bible. And they--they don't. They just go, so God always sends them a sign. '''And usually a prophet is a sign. See? And today the Holy Ghost is our Sign, 'cause He is God's Prophet moving through us. He is God's Prophet, a Sign of the last days.'''<ref>62-0123 FORSAKING.ALL_ TEMPE.AZ TUESDAY_</ref>
:''The only thing, that, we're so dull in faith, till we fail to see Him. That's the reason God sends prophets to the earth. See, people won't read their Bible. And they--they don't. They just go, so God always sends them a sign. '''And usually a prophet is a sign. See? And today the Holy Ghost is our Sign, 'cause He is God's Prophet moving through us. He is God's Prophet, a Sign of the last days.'''<ref>62-0123 FORSAKING.ALL_ TEMPE.AZ TUESDAY_</ref>


=He claimed to do things that Jesus could not do=
==He claimed to do things that Jesus could not do==


Only God himself could be greater than Jesus.  Because of this, people like [[Fred Sothmann]] believed that William Branham was God the Father because William Branham could create squirrels, and knew the mystery of the Seventh Seal.   
Only God himself could be greater than Jesus.  Because of this, people like [[Fred Sothmann]] believed that William Branham was God the Father because William Branham could create squirrels, and knew the mystery of the Seventh Seal.   
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:''“Jesus never mentioned it…John couldn’t write of it …I’m going to tell you my revelation of it…Jesus said…He didn’t know it, Himself. Said, ‘Only God’ would know it.”'' (William Branham, the [[Seventh Seal]])
:''“Jesus never mentioned it…John couldn’t write of it …I’m going to tell you my revelation of it…Jesus said…He didn’t know it, Himself. Said, ‘Only God’ would know it.”'' (William Branham, the [[Seventh Seal]])


=If you disagreed with him you were blaspheming the Holy Spirit=
==If you disagreed with him you were blaspheming the Holy Spirit==


:''...She said, '''"Reverend Branham, if I want somebody, talk to me about like that, I'll get somebody that's got some sense; not you."'''
:''...She said, '''"Reverend Branham, if I want somebody, talk to me about like that, I'll get somebody that's got some sense; not you."'''
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'''Call Me fanatic if you wish to and blaspheme the Holy Ghost.'''<ref>61-0411 BUT.IT.WASN'T.SO.FROM.THE.BEGINNING_ BLOOMINGTON.IL</ref>
'''Call Me fanatic if you wish to and blaspheme the Holy Ghost.'''<ref>61-0411 BUT.IT.WASN'T.SO.FROM.THE.BEGINNING_ BLOOMINGTON.IL</ref>


=He said he was born a prophet=
==He said he was born a prophet==


:''I do not believe this... Since you're small audience tonight, I'm going to make a confession. I do not believe that God ever intended a gift of this type to be used for these type of meetings. Because it's--it's--it's done a great work. And it is a Divine gift. God, Who is my solemn Judge, Who I stand here, knows that I'm truthful to you. I believe God's proved that to you, just that it's truthful.
:''I do not believe this... Since you're small audience tonight, I'm going to make a confession. I do not believe that God ever intended a gift of this type to be used for these type of meetings. Because it's--it's--it's done a great work. And it is a Divine gift. God, Who is my solemn Judge, Who I stand here, knows that I'm truthful to you. I believe God's proved that to you, just that it's truthful.
:''Now, I--I believe that it was borned as--as a prophetic utterance. Oh, many people call it one thing, and another thing, and so forth. I don't know what it is, just so the Lord loves me, and I love Him, and settles it with me. Don't have to be anything, call it anything, just so it gets the results for the Lord Jesus and for His people. That's the main thing. It has caused many others, Brother Roberts for one, Brother Jaggers, most all of them, they come set right where you're setting. They seen the Lord working; it inspired their faith, and said, "Here we go." And they went out and done something for the Lord. I hope there's fifty comes out of this meeting the same way. That's right. Go out and do something. It's all for the Kingdom of God, all for His Glory.  <ref> HOW.THE.ANGEL.CAME.TO.ME_  OWENSBORO.KY  SATURDAY_  53-1107 </ref>
:''Now, I--I believe that it was borned as--as a prophetic utterance. Oh, many people call it one thing, and another thing, and so forth. I don't know what it is, just so the Lord loves me, and I love Him, and settles it with me. Don't have to be anything, call it anything, just so it gets the results for the Lord Jesus and for His people. That's the main thing. It has caused many others, Brother Roberts for one, Brother Jaggers, most all of them, they come set right where you're setting. They seen the Lord working; it inspired their faith, and said, "Here we go." And they went out and done something for the Lord. I hope there's fifty comes out of this meeting the same way. That's right. Go out and do something. It's all for the Kingdom of God, all for His Glory.  <ref> HOW.THE.ANGEL.CAME.TO.ME_  OWENSBORO.KY  SATURDAY_  53-1107 </ref>


=He said he was an Old Testament Prophet in the New Testament=
==He said he was an Old Testament Prophet in the New Testament==


:''They'd always go down and find out where this prophet was. A seer means--a seer means to either "foretell or tell forth," he is a seer that sees things that's going to happen. And he predicts it to the people. And the Bible said, "If it doesn't come to pass, then don't you hear him." It has to be every time. God cannot fail, see. "And if it doesn't come to pass," then He said, "He wasn't with that person." So upon that, the people knew that the Word of the Lord was with this seer that He had, the Old Testament seers. <ref> THE.SIGN.OF.THIS.TIME_  NY.NY  V-18 N-8  WEDNESDAY_  63-1113 </ref>
:''They'd always go down and find out where this prophet was. A seer means--a seer means to either "foretell or tell forth," he is a seer that sees things that's going to happen. And he predicts it to the people. And the Bible said, "If it doesn't come to pass, then don't you hear him." It has to be every time. God cannot fail, see. "And if it doesn't come to pass," then He said, "He wasn't with that person." So upon that, the people knew that the Word of the Lord was with this seer that He had, the Old Testament seers. <ref> THE.SIGN.OF.THIS.TIME_  NY.NY  V-18 N-8  WEDNESDAY_  63-1113 </ref>
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:''If you notice, the prophet, in one sense of the word, in the Old Testament, when he said THUS SAITH THE LORD, now watch him, he goes right into the phrase of taking the place of God. You notice, when he placed out before him, THUS SAITH THE LORD, he fell right into God, and he acted as God. Then he gave his Message, which was God speaking through him, "THUS SAITH THE LORD!" <ref> ASHAMED_  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-9  SUNDAY_  65-0711 </ref>
:''If you notice, the prophet, in one sense of the word, in the Old Testament, when he said THUS SAITH THE LORD, now watch him, he goes right into the phrase of taking the place of God. You notice, when he placed out before him, THUS SAITH THE LORD, he fell right into God, and he acted as God. Then he gave his Message, which was God speaking through him, "THUS SAITH THE LORD!" <ref> ASHAMED_  JEFF.IN  V-3 N-9  SUNDAY_  65-0711 </ref>


=He thought he was the Elijah prophet in fulfillment of Malachi 4=
==He thought he was the Elijah prophet in fulfillment of Malachi 4==


:''Now, anyone knows that Amos 3:7 says that God promised that He would never do nothing until first He revealed it to His prophet. Through the church ages we've had reformers; but promised by Malachi 4 that there would be a prophet in the land in the last days (because it has to fit that pattern, see) before the end time come. <ref> TRYING.TO.DO.GOD.A.SERVICE.WITHOUT.IT.BEING.GOD'S.WILL  SHP.LA  65-1127B </ref>
:''Now, anyone knows that Amos 3:7 says that God promised that He would never do nothing until first He revealed it to His prophet. Through the church ages we've had reformers; but promised by Malachi 4 that there would be a prophet in the land in the last days (because it has to fit that pattern, see) before the end time come. <ref> TRYING.TO.DO.GOD.A.SERVICE.WITHOUT.IT.BEING.GOD'S.WILL  SHP.LA  65-1127B </ref>


==He was the last sign==
===He was the last sign===


William Branham stated that no one greater than him would ever come on the scene before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
William Branham stated that no one greater than him would ever come on the scene before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
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:''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. <ref> BE.NOT.AFRAID.IT.IS.I  BLOOMINGTON.IL  61-0414 </ref>
:''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. <ref> BE.NOT.AFRAID.IT.IS.I  BLOOMINGTON.IL  61-0414 </ref>


==He said that all of his visions and prophecies were fulfilled==
===He said that all of his visions and prophecies were fulfilled===


:''Comes, many, many, times and tells things. And I don't live far from here, a hundred and nineteen miles. You can go to my home town and find it one time, in all the times that It's ever told anything, that didn't come to pass just exactly the way It said. Now, you pin a sign on my back as a false prophet, and I'll walk through your streets. 'Cause it's not myself, I'm a man, but He's God. And He's the One Who does the saying. If I would say it, it could be a lie, 'cause I'm subject to any--any mistakes, lies, anything else, like anybody else. <ref> DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE_  OWENSBORO.KY  FRIDAY_  53-1106 </ref>
:''Comes, many, many, times and tells things. And I don't live far from here, a hundred and nineteen miles. You can go to my home town and find it one time, in all the times that It's ever told anything, that didn't come to pass just exactly the way It said. Now, you pin a sign on my back as a false prophet, and I'll walk through your streets. 'Cause it's not myself, I'm a man, but He's God. And He's the One Who does the saying. If I would say it, it could be a lie, 'cause I'm subject to any--any mistakes, lies, anything else, like anybody else. <ref> DO.YOU.NOW.BELIEVE_  OWENSBORO.KY  FRIDAY_  53-1106 </ref>
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:''Excuse this, but I want you to know the Truth. And I haven't got much time left, you know that, I'm fifty-five. But these tapes will live when I'm gone, and you'll see whether it's right, or not, if I be a true servant or a false prophet. I've never told you nothing yet but what happened, so will this happen. <ref> THE.HARVEST.TIME  PHOENIX.AZ  64-1212 </ref>
:''Excuse this, but I want you to know the Truth. And I haven't got much time left, you know that, I'm fifty-five. But these tapes will live when I'm gone, and you'll see whether it's right, or not, if I be a true servant or a false prophet. I've never told you nothing yet but what happened, so will this happen. <ref> THE.HARVEST.TIME  PHOENIX.AZ  64-1212 </ref>


==He said his words were God's words==
===He said his words were God's words===


:''Remember, I'm not a false prophet. I tell the truth. God wouldn't lie. And see if it isn't going to be greater that it has ever has been at any time. <ref> GOD.HATH.A.PROVIDED.WAY_  JEFF.IN  SUNDAY_  56-0108 </ref>
:''Remember, I'm not a false prophet. I tell the truth. God wouldn't lie. And see if it isn't going to be greater that it has ever has been at any time. <ref> GOD.HATH.A.PROVIDED.WAY_  JEFF.IN  SUNDAY_  56-0108 </ref>


 
===His interpretation of the Bible was correct===
==His interpretation of the Bible was correct==


:''Now, let us all pray. Lord, with our heads bowed, just now, it's got to be known that Your Scripture's the truth, and I've told the truth of It, or either, I am wrong and a false prophet, or Your Scripture has misled us. Now, Lord, we know that that's not so. We know that Your Scriptures are Truth. <ref> LED.BY.THE.SPIRIT_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  59-0407 </ref>
:''Now, let us all pray. Lord, with our heads bowed, just now, it's got to be known that Your Scripture's the truth, and I've told the truth of It, or either, I am wrong and a false prophet, or Your Scripture has misled us. Now, Lord, we know that that's not so. We know that Your Scriptures are Truth. <ref> LED.BY.THE.SPIRIT_  LA.CA  TUESDAY_  59-0407 </ref>


==Deuteronomy 18:22 Applied to William Branham==
===Deuteronomy 18:22 Applied to William Branham===


:''The Bible said, "If there be one spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then believe him." Is that right? Well, I'm with that. "But if it doesn't come to pass, don't believe it." Those things are born; you're born to do that. <ref> THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_  TOLEDO.OH  FRIDAY_  51-0720 </ref>  
:''The Bible said, "If there be one spiritual or a prophet, and what he says comes to pass, then believe him." Is that right? Well, I'm with that. "But if it doesn't come to pass, don't believe it." Those things are born; you're born to do that. <ref> THE.ANGEL.OF.GOD_  TOLEDO.OH  FRIDAY_  51-0720 </ref>  
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:''...As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith.
:''...As a prophet, every revelation will be vindicated, for every revelation will come to pass. Wonderful acts of power will be performed at his commands in faith.


=He was not subject to the judgment of the church=
==He was not subject to the judgment of the church==


EXPECTATION  NEW.YORK.NY  50-0405
EXPECTATION  NEW.YORK.NY  50-0405