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The William M.
Branham Home Page
This page is dedicated to educating the public about the life of
William Branham and his ministry. The page presents Branham's life
highlights, doctrines, and references to more information. (official
home page)
http://enterprise.newcomm.net/%7Ewmbbba/
Eagle Computing Home
Page
Unofficial home page of William Branham, this page is dedicated to the
electronic publication of the sermons of William Branham. From this
site you can gain access to 1,120 of Branham's sermons. Also from
this site you can access the Church History, including Early Church
Fathers and Foxes Book of Martyrs. This site provides a link to the
Bible with Greek and Hebrew lexicons. (unofficial home page)
http://www.themessage.com/
Watchman
Expositor Profile
This is a profile of William Branham and Branhamism by Phillip Arnn for
the Watchman Fellowship site, a counter-cult organization.
http://www.watchman.org/branpro.htm
Kingdom
Theology: William Branham
Like the Watchman Expositor Profile, this site provides information
on the ministry of William Branham. However, the site also provides
information on Branham's ministry in relation to the Pentecostal
Movement. It provides some views on why Branham's ministry conflicted
with that of main Pentecostal movements as well as views on some of
the controversial aspects of Branham's ministry. (counter-cult
page)
http://web.idirect.com/~bhph95/kingdom2.htm
Books:
Dissertation:
Essays:
During the 1940s, William Branham emerged as a healing revivalist. As Branham grew older, his ministry began to change and he began to preach controversial doctrines. When Branham died, his ministry was carried on by a group of believers, who claim that Branham was a prophet and who closely adhere to all that Branham taught.
Outline:
I. Background of Branham's Healing Ministry
II. Beliefs Held by the Followers of Branham
III. Conclusion
BodyIn May of 1946, William Marion Branham claimed that an angel spoke to him and called him to serve the Lord. The angel appeared to Branham while he was baptizing people in the Ohio River and said to him, "As John the Baptist was sent for the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, you've got a ... Message that will bring forth the forerunning of the Second Coming of Christ" (Qtd. in Weaver 27). This divine calling, as Branham saw it, led him to begin an extremely influential ministry. The commission of the angel started Branham's miraculous healing ministry which would continue for more than a decade. Branham claimed that the angel stayed with him throughout his entire life and was sent from God to help him with his healing ministry.
Until the late 1950's Branham traveled around the country and around the world, preaching to thousands, performing healings and having visions. His healing ministry was one of the major forces in the Pentecostal revival of the time period. By the late 1950's however, Branham felt called to "restore the gospel" (Weaver, 108) and he began to develop doctrines which were highly controversial and unorthodox. These doctrines caused Branham's popularity to decline. Yet, despite the unpopular attitude, a group of individuals began to follow Branham's teachings.
On December 18, 1965, Branham was involved in a head-on car collision which proved to be fatal. Though he died on Christmas Eve, 1965, Branham's ministry survived through the efforts of his devoted followers. Convinced that Branham's controversial doctrines were the one way to get to heaven these followers created "the Message," a movement dedicated to the preservation of Branham's teachings.
During the final years of his life, Branham's message focused on eschatological issues. Interpreting Revelation chapters 1, 2, and 3, Branham preached that there were seven church ages throughout the history of Christianity. Each church age had a specific messenger who preached the "message of the hour;" if this message was not followed, salvation could not be obtained. The first messenger was Paul of Tarsus, the last was yet to be revealed. Branham concluded that the world was in the midst of the seventh and final church age and that soon a prophet would reveal the word of God. Although he made no outright claims, Branham felt that he was the messenger to the seventh church age, the age of Laodicea. According to Branham, the age to which he was ministering to was corrupt and the only means of salvation for this age would be through a prophet, sent from God. Branham described several characteristics of this prophet, all which paralleled his life and beliefs. Followers of Branham came to believe that he was this prophet. Believers claim that Branham's prophetic calling can be seen through many facets of his life. The most important proof of Branham's validity was his visions. Branham claimed that he had received visions through the course of his lifetime; it was these visions which directed his ministry and directly influenced his doctrine. The Branhamites, followers of Branham, also hold that Branham's calling can also be seen through his "miraculous" healing ministry as well as through several pictures of Branham that depict Branham with a halo of light over his head and shoulder.
Acknowledging that William Branham is the prophet of the age prompts believers to espouse numerous other beliefs most of which differ from mainstream religious beliefs. Branham claimed he received these beliefs, or "revelations," from God and that he was responsible for letting his church know these truths. Some of the controversial beliefs held by Branhamites include: anti-denominationalism, denial of eternal hell, predestination and the "serpent seed" doctrine. True followers believe every doctrine that Branham introduced because they believe that he was sent from God.
Branham preached that denominationalism was the "mark of the beast," an idea which is mentioned in Revelation. He was also leery of the Catholic Church claiming that the Church owned all the gold in the world and would someday take over the United States (Weaver 117). He felt that if one belonged to a denomination, his way to salvation would be blocked. This idea leads followers of William Branham to believe that to be truly saved, one cannot belong to a denomination. Believers claim that although those belonging to denominations may be sincere, they do not possess the full truth because they are not followers of William Branham.
One of Branham's more controversial doctrines denied eternal hell. According to the Branham the unjust would be punished and tormented in hell. However, their punishment would not be eternal. Branham claimed that there is only one eternal life -- that which is granted to the faithful, the children of God. Branham also preached that those in hell cannot be tormented forever because that would mean they received eternal life. Branham also justified this by pointing out that the phrase eternal hell is never used in the Bible. The Bible only that they [the sinful] would burn forever and ever. He maintains that forever is a space of time, not an eternity. Thus, the sinful may be tormented for millions of years, but they will eventually be destroyed.
Branham's stance on salvation greatly differed from that of mainstream churches. He preached the doctrine of predestination which states that God knew all those who would be his children before they were born. Even though a man may be predestined for salvation or condemnation, his freedom to choose or not to choose salvation is not taken away. Predestination, according to Branham, simply means that God knew those who would be saved and those who wouldn't be saved because God is omniscient. Branham reassured his followers that God wants all of humanity to be with him in heaven. Predestination is not God choosing who would and who wouldn't be saved, rather it is His foreknowledge of a man's choice.
The most controversial doctrine that William Branham taught is the "serpent seed" doctrine. Branham claimed that the fall of man in the Garden of Eden occurred after Eve had sexual intercourse with the serpent. The serpent was the missing link between man and ape and this allowed for the sexual interaction between it and Eve. Cain was the offspring of this interaction and thus carried the seed of Satan in him, the serpent's seed. The godly seed was carried on through Seth. The seed of Satan, present in Cain, was the cause of all civilization including the educational system and scientific development (Weaver, 113). It was the seduction of Eve by the serpent which started procreation through sexual intercourse as well as the presence of the seed of Satan in man.
Though Branham's doctrines are highly controversial and are a result of unorthodox interpretations of the Bible, his followers believe that these doctrines are the unaltered word of God. They maintain that the words of William Branham are infallible because he was a messenger from God, a prophet sent to save the world during its last days. Branham's eschatological message declares that the end of the world is at hand and that to be saved you must follow his teachings. His followers dot the globe; however, there is often disagreement as to the extent of Branham's identity with Christ (some claim that Branham is God in the flesh) and the interpretation of his teachings. Despite these differences one thing is held in common, all followers of William Branham believe that he was a prophet, sent to this last age to save all of mankind from condemnation through strict obedience to his teachings.
Prepared by Elisabeth Lindeman
Soc 257: New Religious Movements
Spring Term, 1996
Last modified: 07/17/01