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William Branham: Difference between revisions
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William Branham wrote that he received a commission for his healing ministry in March 1945 when he saw a vision of birds that would not eat from a small pile of white bread. A voice told him “That is your Tabernacle and they won't eat the bread of life anymore. I am sending you…westward.” William Branham was then shown a large tent with a platform at the front. Behind the tent was a great pile of the same white bread, and he was told to feed a white-robed audience that had gathered from everywhere. The following day, William Branham explained the vision to his church. | William Branham wrote that he received a commission for his healing ministry in March 1945 when he saw a vision of birds that would not eat from a small pile of white bread. A voice told him “That is your Tabernacle and they won't eat the bread of life anymore. I am sending you…westward.” William Branham was then shown a large tent with a platform at the front. Behind the tent was a great pile of the same white bread, and he was told to feed a white-robed audience that had gathered from everywhere. The following day, William Branham explained the vision to his church. | ||
[[Image:Image-rs-155 - Br Br - seated with Bible.jpg|200px|right|thumb|William Branham in the 1940's, still with hair.]] | [[Image:Image-rs-155 - Br Br - seated with Bible.jpg|200px|right|thumb|William Branham in the 1940's, still with hair.]] | ||
William Branham left Jeffersonville on June 14, 1945 and headed directly west with his wife, son, and Rev. Daugherty to St. Louis, Missouri. The testimonies from the tent meetings in St. Louis were compiled in a tract called “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” and distributed at subsequent revival meetings. The tract describes that the group that left from Jeffersonville carpooled, as gas rationing was in effect. Gas rationing in the United States ended August 15, 1945. | William Branham left Jeffersonville on June 14, 1945 and headed directly west with his wife, son, and Rev. Daugherty to St. Louis, Missouri. The testimonies from the tent meetings in St. Louis were compiled in [[Tract: Heavenly Vision|a tract called “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” and distributed at subsequent revival meetings]]. The tract describes that the group that left from Jeffersonville carpooled, as gas rationing was in effect. Gas rationing in the United States ended August 15, 1945. | ||
Meda Branham gave birth to a girl, Rebekah, on March 21, 1946. <ref>[[Searching for Vindication]] Timeline</ref> | Meda Branham gave birth to a girl, Rebekah, on March 21, 1946. <ref>[[Searching for Vindication]] Timeline</ref> | ||
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In June 1947, the Evening Sun newspaper of Jonesboro, Arkansas also reported that "Residents of at least 25 States and Mexico have visited Jonesboro since Rev. Branham opened the camp meeting, June 1st. The total attendance for the services is likely to surpass the 20,000 mark." William Branham also met Gordon Lindsay in 1947, who became his primary manager and promoter. Shortly after, several other prominent Pentecostals joined his ministry team, including Ern Baxter and F.F. Bosworth. Gordon Lindsay proved to be an able publicist for Branham, founding The Voice of Healing magazine in 1948 which was originally aimed at reporting on Branham's healing campaigns. | In June 1947, the Evening Sun newspaper of Jonesboro, Arkansas also reported that "Residents of at least 25 States and Mexico have visited Jonesboro since Rev. Branham opened the camp meeting, June 1st. The total attendance for the services is likely to surpass the 20,000 mark." William Branham also met Gordon Lindsay in 1947, who became his primary manager and promoter. Shortly after, several other prominent Pentecostals joined his ministry team, including Ern Baxter and F.F. Bosworth. Gordon Lindsay proved to be an able publicist for Branham, founding The Voice of Healing magazine in 1948 which was originally aimed at reporting on Branham's healing campaigns. | ||
Both F.F. Bosworth and Gordon Lindsay had connections to Alexander Dowie, who claimed he was Elijah. Bosworth was the band director in Zion, Illinois in 1905 and 1906 as Dowie’s utopian empire crumbled. Charles Parham, one of the founders of the Azuza Street Revival and a member of the KKK, established Tent meetings in Zion in 1907. Bosworth attended these meetings along with John G. Lake until the Zion Pentecostal revival fell apart after Parham was jailed. | Both [[F.F. Bosworth]] and Gordon Lindsay had connections to Alexander Dowie, who claimed he was Elijah. Bosworth was the band director in Zion, Illinois in 1905 and 1906 as Dowie’s utopian empire crumbled. Charles Parham, one of the founders of the Azuza Street Revival and a member of the KKK, established Tent meetings in Zion in 1907. Bosworth attended these meetings along with John G. Lake until the Zion Pentecostal revival fell apart after Parham was jailed. | ||
Gordon Lindsay was born in Zion, Illinois. Lindsay eventually worked with John G. Lake in establishing a the Divine Healing Mission in Portland, Oregon. | [[James Gordon Lindsay|Gordon Lindsay]] was born in Zion, Illinois. Lindsay eventually worked with John G. Lake in establishing a the Divine Healing Mission in Portland, Oregon. | ||
It is likely through connections with F.F. Bosworth and Gordon Lindsay that William Branham learned the doctrine that Elijah would come before the second coming. It didn’t take long before William Branham became convinced that he was that Elijah. | It is likely through connections with F.F. Bosworth and Gordon Lindsay that William Branham learned the doctrine that Elijah would come before the second coming. It didn’t take long before William Branham became convinced that he was that Elijah. | ||
William Branham said the Angel gave him his commission at Green’s Mill in an old cabin.<ref> William Branham, September 23, 1951 in a sermon called “Principles of Divine Healing.” </ref> He also said the Angel gave him his commission at Green’s Mill in a secret cave. | William Branham claimed that he received the gift of healing that commissioned his healing ministry from the Angel of the Lord on the day Israel became a nation on May 7, 1946<ref> William Branham, August 9, 1954 in a sermon called “Manifestation of the Resurrection”</ref>, and then again when Israel became a nation on May 6, 1947.<ref>William Branham, July 18, 1954 in a sermon called “The Great Coming”</ref> William Branham seemed unaware that Israel actually declared its independence on May 14, 1948. | ||
William Branham said the Angel gave him his commission at Green’s Mill in an old cabin.<ref> William Branham, September 23, 1951 in a sermon called “Principles of Divine Healing.” </ref> He also said the Angel gave him his commission at Green’s Mill in a secret cave.<ref> William Branham, May 9, 1953 in a sermon called “The Pillar of Fire”</ref> In a video called “Twentieth Century Prophet” William Branham said that he was 37 years old when a tall angel with olive complexion walked into his room at home, and told him: | |||
:''Fear not, I am sent from the Presence of God to tell you that you're to pray for sick people. Great signs and wonders will be following your ministry, and you'll be praying for kings and monarchs... As Moses was given two signs of confirmation of his ministry, that I would be given two signs. One would be the praying for the sick, the miracles, and the other would be you'd know the very secrets of the people's heart. | |||
William Branham also met with Avak Hagopian in Florida in 1948, a renown “faith healer” from Armenia who was featured in the May 19, 1947 edition of LIFE magazine. Avak was tall, of olive complexion, had long shoulder-length hair and wore flowing robes – eerily similar to the description of William Branham’s angel. | William Branham also met with Avak Hagopian in Florida in 1948, a renown “faith healer” from Armenia who was featured in the May 19, 1947 edition of LIFE magazine. Avak was tall, of olive complexion, had long shoulder-length hair and wore flowing robes – eerily similar to the description of William Branham’s angel. | ||
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On the night of January 24, 1950, an unusual photograph was taken during a speaking engagement in the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas. The photograph was of William Branham standing at the podium, with a halo of light behind his head. William Branham claimed that this was a supernatural light, and paid to have the photograph examined by a professional, George J. Lacy, to confirm that the negative had not been tampered with. The photographer then refused to let William Branham use the photograph as the cover for his life story. | On the night of January 24, 1950, an unusual photograph was taken during a speaking engagement in the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, Texas. The photograph was of William Branham standing at the podium, with a halo of light behind his head. William Branham claimed that this was a supernatural light, and paid to have the photograph examined by a professional, George J. Lacy, to confirm that the negative had not been tampered with. The photographer then refused to let William Branham use the photograph as the cover for his life story.<ref> http://en.believethesign.com/images/1/11/The_Simple_Truth_about_the_Houston_Photograph.pdf </ref> | ||
William Branham continued his worldwide ministry, and the “Voice of Healing” magazine published an article in June 1950 about a boy who was raised to life in Finland during the William Branham campaigns, after being hit by a car. | William Branham continued his worldwide ministry, and the “Voice of Healing” magazine published an article in June 1950 about [[Kari Holma|a boy who was raised to life in Finland during the William Branham campaigns, after being hit by a car]]. | ||
{| style="width:200px; border:1px solid #E8B399;background-color:#F0DCC8;vertical-align:top; float:right; text-align:center; padding: 0.3em;margin-left:15px" | {| style="width:200px; border:1px solid #E8B399;background-color:#F0DCC8;vertical-align:top; float:right; text-align:center; padding: 0.3em;margin-left:15px" | ||
|'''Finland Miracle''' <br> [ | |'''Finland Miracle''' <br>[[Kari Holma|Do the stories match?]] | ||
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=Teaching Strange Doctrine= | =Teaching Strange Doctrine= | ||
From the mid-1950s onwards William Branham became more open with his own beliefs. As a result, people who once preached with him abandoned his ministry. Ern Baxter told him not to teach, but he did not listen. | From the mid-1950s onwards William Branham became more open with his own beliefs. As a result, people who once preached with him abandoned his ministry. [[Ern Baxter]] told him not to teach, but he did not listen. William Booth Clibborn accused William Branham of not knowing his Bible, but William Branham never put the effort in to learn the Bible.<ref> William Branham, April 5, 1956 in a sermon called “The Resurrection of Jesus” </ref> [[Hagin Prophecy#The Hagin Prophecy|Gordon Lindsay also reached out to William Branham to encourage him to stop teaching, but William Branham replied “''I know I’m not a teacher, but I want to teach. And I’m going to teach!''”]] | ||
Some of William Branham’s doctrines from the 1950’s include: | Some of William Branham’s doctrines from the 1950’s include: | ||
*[ | *[[The Godhead|He taught that neither Oneness theology nor Trinitarianism lined up with the Bible.]] | ||
*[ | *[[Enoch and Noah|Reaching outside the Bible to the apocryphal book of Enoch, he said that Enoch talked with Noah.]] He typed this to a sign of the rapture, with Noah preparing for the tribulation after Enoch’s rapture. But based on the Bible, Noah was born after Enoch was not. | ||
*Like Job’s friends, William Branham taught that God always punishes you for good reason (which is why his first wife Hope died). | *Like Job’s friends, William Branham taught that God always punishes you for good reason (which is why his first wife Hope died). | ||
*William Branham taught that he was a prophet like Moses, with two signs. But he had to overlook the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth to claim that he was a prophet like Moses. | *William Branham taught that he was a prophet like Moses, with two signs. But he had to overlook the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth to claim that he was a prophet like Moses. | ||
*Because Elijah confronted Jezebel, William Branham felt vindicated to speak harshly against women. | *Because Elijah confronted Jezebel, William Branham felt vindicated to speak harshly against women. | ||
**In March 1958, William Branham was teaching that it was appropriate for a man to blister his wife with a 2x4 if she smoked or wore shorts. | **In March 1958, William Branham was teaching that it was appropriate for a man to blister his wife with a 2x4 if she smoked or wore shorts. | ||
**[ | **[[The Serpent's Seed|William Branham preached that Eve cursed the human race by breeding with the Serpent, producing Cain]], even though the Bible says that “sin entered the world by one man” (Romans 5:12) | ||
**He taught that Satan designed the Woman, even though God said “Let us make mankind in our image.” | **He taught that Satan designed the Woman, even though God said “Let us make mankind in our image.” | ||
*[[The Prophet and The Eagle|He taught that prophets were eagles in the Bible]] – which is not supported by scripture. | *[[The Prophet and The Eagle|He taught that prophets were eagles in the Bible]] – which is not supported by scripture. | ||
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In these sermons, William Branham tells that he was hunting earlier that month when seven angels came to him in Arizona, and that one angel revealed the seals to him before each sermon. He later saw a picture of a cloud over Arizona in LIFE magazine, and claimed that he was hunting exactly under it at the time, when he actually went hunting a few hundred miles south of the cloud a week later. | In these sermons, William Branham tells that he was hunting earlier that month when seven angels came to him in Arizona, and that one angel revealed the seals to him before each sermon. He later saw a picture of a cloud over Arizona in LIFE magazine, and claimed that he was hunting exactly under it at the time, [[Rattlesnake Mesa|when he actually went hunting a few hundred miles south of the cloud a week later.]] | ||
In May 1962 William Branham expressed his confusion and decision at becoming a seer or an evangelist.<ref>Questions and Answers, May 27, 1962</ref> In June 1963 he tells of an angelic visitation where he is told to ''"Return! Did not I tell you in the beginning to do the work of an Evangelist?"'' In the same sermon, William Branham confesses that he has lost the love for the people, calling them "Ricky and Ricketta" when they are still children of God, and are only under bondage to denominations who tell them ''"don't you do this, and don't you do that."'' <ref>Standing in the Gap, June 23, 1963</ref> | In May 1962 William Branham expressed his confusion and decision at becoming a seer or an evangelist.<ref>Questions and Answers, May 27, 1962</ref> In June 1963 he tells of an angelic visitation where he is told to ''"Return! Did not I tell you in the beginning to do the work of an Evangelist?"'' In the same sermon, William Branham confesses that he has lost the love for the people, calling them "Ricky and Ricketta" when they are still children of God, and are only under bondage to denominations who tell them ''"don't you do this, and don't you do that."'' <ref>Standing in the Gap, June 23, 1963</ref> | ||
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During the 1950’s and 1960’s, over 1,100 sermons were recorded. The men in charge of this recording were [[Leo Mercer|Leo Mercer and Gene Goad, two homosexuals who started a religious commune that William Branham preached at in Prescott, Arizona, and where they sexually abused the members and their children]]. The sermons were then given over to the William Branham Evangelistic Association. The sole director of this Association for a time was [[Fred Sothmann|Fred Sothmann, who believed that William Branham was God the Father]]. | During the 1950’s and 1960’s, over 1,100 sermons were recorded. The men in charge of this recording were [[Leo Mercer|Leo Mercer and Gene Goad, two homosexuals who started a religious commune that William Branham preached at in Prescott, Arizona, and where they sexually abused the members and their children]]. The sermons were then given over to the William Branham Evangelistic Association. The sole director of this Association for a time was [[Fred Sothmann|Fred Sothmann, who believed that William Branham was God the Father]]. | ||
After William Branham’s death, the audio tapes were transferred into an entity called “Voice of God Recordings”. Voice of God Recordings reported assets of $109,834,481 on their US tax return as of June 30, 2011. They earned these funds by distributing the sermons of William Branham. | After William Branham’s death, the audio tapes were transferred into an entity called “Voice of God Recordings”. Voice of God Recordings reported assets of $109,834,481 on their US tax return as of June 30, 2011. They earned these funds by distributing the sermons of William Branham.<ref> http://en.believethesign.com/images/d/d5/The_Simple_Truth_about_Message_Fruit.pdf </ref> | ||
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