WILLIAM MARION BRANHAM: New Testament Prophet or Occult Mystic?

Was William Branham a true prophet of God as he claimed? Or was he only one of the many deceivers that our Lord Jesus Christ warned his disciples about? This is a legitimate question that should be asked and must be answered because thousands of people are influenced to this day by Branham's teachings. William Branham believed that an angel guided him throughout his life. William Branham's ministry was a result of this angel's guidance: this supposed angel from heaven would appear to him on more than one occasion (Gal. 1:8). A predominant characteristic of Branham's meetings was his near total fixation on the presence of this angel. Branham said, I'm convinced that that very Spirit that you feel, the Holy Spirit that is moving in us, I'm convinced that that's Christ. Amen! I'm convinced that, right now, that This is what I'm looking at, this Circle of Light before me, I'm convinced that's the Holy Spirit! I'm convinced that vision is over my eyes! I know it is. Amen! When asked if it was the Holy Spirit that did the supernatural signs and miracles in his meetings, Branham responded, No, my angel does these things! Branham said, I believe that that same Angel anoints us, because It was God. This is absolutely un-biblical. Jesus Christ's apostles were led by the Spirit of truth and the scriptures, not by an angel from heaven and a feeling. The apostle Paul warned, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Gal. 1:6-9). And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (II Cor. 11:14,15). Some people might point to William Branham's ability to slay people in the Spirit as proof that he was a true prophet of God. But the only people who were slain in the Spirit in the New Testament were God's enemies. If we try the spirits and test this phenomena by the scriptures (I John 4:1; II Tim. 3:16), we will see that the only people who were slain in the Spirit were the soldiers and men who came to arrest Jesus;

and Saul and his companions who were enemies of the Christian church; and Ananias and Sapphira who tempted the Spirit of the Lord and lied to God. The band of men and officers went backward, and fell to the ground when Jesus said unto them, I am he (John 18:3-6); and Saul (Paul) and those with him were all fallen to the earth when Jesus spoke to him before his conversion (Acts 26:14); and Ananias and Sapphira died as a result of being slain in the Spirit (Acts 5:1-10). Nowhere in the scriptures will you find an apostle or disciple of Jesus Christ being slain in the Spirit and convulsing uncontrollably, as witnessed in these modernday so called healing revivals. When the apostle John saw Jesus Christ he fell at his feet as dead (Rev. 1:17). But note that John fell as dead, he did not fall down convulsing at Jesus' feet in some sort of ecstatic trance (John 18:3). Note also that before Paul (Saul) was converted he and they who journeyed with him to persecute the church were all fallen to the earth when Jesus spoke to him, but after his conversion neither Paul nor any of those whom he ministered to were slain in the Spirit falling to the ground in convulsions or ecstatic trances (Acts 26:14). Some people might point to William Branham's ability to cast out devils and do many other wonderful works in Jesus' name. But consider what the Lord Jesus Christ himself said: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22). Remember that even Judas Iscariot, whom Jesus called a devil, was given power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (John 6:70; Matt. 10:1). Some people might point to William Branham's ability to prophesy in the name of the Lord Jesus and Branham's apparent ability to read minds and tell some people certain personal things in their life, an ability shared by many psychics and mediums, as proof that he was a true prophet of God. But hear what Jesus Christ said: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23). Jesus said that a wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. (Matt. 16:4; John 4:48; Mark 8:12). Jesus' apostles did not follow him because of the signs and wonders; they followed him because he faithfully preached the scriptuers: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:67,68). Paul said, I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:6,7). But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye

receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.... For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. (II Cor 11:3-13). For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22). Many of William Branham's teachings revealed his delusional thinking. Branham taught that the Holy Bible (KJV) had errors and that God was giving him (Branham) the correct interpretation (the Bible calls this private interpretation II Peter 1:20). What better way to deceive people than to tell them that they don't really have the pure words of the Lord in our preserved English KJV Holy Bible (Psa. 12:6; Prov. 30:5). A common characteristic among all cults and deceivers and false religions is to explicitly or subtly move authority away from the Bible to another source (a man, a vision, a confirmation in the heart, a lexicon or some other book) in order to supersede the authority of the Holy Bible. From Genesis 3:1 in the garden of Eden where the serpent said, Yea, hath God said . . ?, to the present day cults whose leader's words overrule the written word of God, Satan's methods of deception to cast doubt on the scriptures have not changed. Notice that when the serpent first deceived man the temptation was not to be evil but to be good, to be as gods (Gen. 3:1-5). This is why almost all cult leaders and false prophets have a deity complex, to be as gods, to be like the most High, to be reverenced and feared by their followers (Isa. 14:14; III John 1:9). William Branham also taught that the occult pyramids and the zodiac (BabylonianChaldean astrology which is condemned by God in the Bible Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10,11; II Kings 21:6; II Chron. 33:6; Isa. 47:13; Rom. 1:19-28) were reliable sources of God's word. (Incidentally, both Charles Taze Russell, founder of the Jehovah's Witness Organization, and William Branham's grave sites are adorned with occult pyramids.) The apostle Paul exhorted us to Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Tim. 4:2-4). But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers: the lusts referred to here are not only sexual lusts but also spiritual lusts a lusting after power and control, to exercise dominion and authority over others Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? (Matt. 20:25-27; James 4:5). Jesus talked about the lusts of other things entering in (Mark 4:19). So we know by the scriptures that not all lusts are sexual in nature. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (Psa. 81:12; 78:18). William Branham believed that he was God's mouthpiece and that God was using him in much the same way as the Old Testament prophets. However, the mouthpiece of God theology was not original to Branham. Joseph Smith, who founded the Mormon church in 1830, claimed repeated revelations from God. Smith's newly formed church was given a revelation from God to accept his [Smith's] word . . . as if from mine own mouth, in patience and faith. (Doctrine and Covenants, 21:5). But even Joseph Smith was not the originator of this myth, as other

cult leaders, both before and after Smith, claimed this divine authority. In the latter part of the second century a self-appointed end time prophet named Montanus, founder of Montanism (who was a priest in a Phrygian mystery cult prior to his supposed conversion to Christianity), was subject to ecstatic trances and repeated revelations and viewed himself as the mouthpiece of God (Another Gospel, Tucker, pp.33,34). William Branham said, Now, I'm just your brother, by the grace of God. But when the Angel of the Lord moves down, it becomes then a Voice of God to you... But I am God's Voice to you... Now, see, I can say nothing in myself. But what He shows me. (William Branham, Footprints On The Sands Of Time, p. 214). Donald Gee said that a careful study of the New Testament will reveal that the Early Church NEVER placed utterances through their prophets on a level with the Scriptures. Note carefully the distinctive phrase used in 2 Peter 1:21 to describe the latterprophecy of the Scripture. See again the decision of Acts xv.28, where the difficulty was NOT solved by reference to the accredited prophets present (Barnabas, Judas, Silas, etc.), but by reference to the Old Testament Scriptures. The infallibility of prophets in the Early Church is strictly denied (I Cor. xiv. 20). Does this emaciate our conception of the nature of Spiritual Gifts so as to make them of no more worth than ordinary natural endowments? Not in the least. They are still supernatural. They remain to this day the Divine-appointed manifestation of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church (see I Cor. xii. 7-11). They have their basis in a genuine inspiration, but that inspiration is not on a level with the inspiration of the Scriptures. (Montanism, Donald Gee, 1928). Even today some misguided modern-day prophets erroneously believe that they are God's mouthpiece. Though sincere in their beliefs, teaching that God speaks to us as in time past... by the prophets is both un-biblical and anti-biblical and leads to errors, delusions and false doctrines. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son (Heb. 1:1-3). In the Old Testament, in time past, God spoke to his people by the prophets and by the scriptures written by the prophets. But in the New Testament, in these last days, God speaks to each and every one of his people by his Son through the Holy Ghost in each and every one of his people with the scriptures written by the apostles (Heb. 1:1-3; John 14:26; Acts 1:2; 10:44; 11:15; 15:8; II Tim. 3:15). These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. exclaimed the apostle John, But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (I John 2:26,27; John 14:26; Rom. 10:8; Psa. 119:99,100; Prov. 30:5,6; Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18,19). Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 tells us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: God gave us his written words to keep us from deceiving ourselves and to keep us from being deceived by others. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? (Proverbs 22:20,21) Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
(Proverbs 30:5,6)

William Branham's teachings directly contradicted much of that which is written in the holy scriptures (I Cor. 4:6; II Tim. 3:15). Branham said, I saw seven angels in the form of a pyramid that swept down, picked me up and was brought east to open the seven seals of God (Commissioned by Seven Mighty Angels). But in contrast to Branham's teachings the apostle John said, And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (Rev. 5:1-4). Verses five and nine tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who is worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof. William Branham, the Branch Davidians and the Heaven's Gate cult all believed that they were chosen by God to open the seven seals. Thier teachings, which contradict the Holy Bible, were all from the same source the father of lies (John 8:44). And other false doctrines being propagated by modern-day seers and prophets are the secret rapture and the close of the Gentile Times. To dispell the secret rapture theory the Bible assured us that when Christ returns (and there is only one return) every eye shall see him (Rev. 1:7). And as far as God closing the door of grace to the world, the Bible assured us that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved., and Jesus himself assured us saying I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. (Acts 2:21; Matt. 28:20). The close of the Gentile Times is not a new idea or new revelation; it is a false doctrine that various cults like the Jehovah's Witness organization and others have been teaching for over a hundred years (God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1973, p. 330). Jesus Christ and the apostles are our pattern and our example of the true New Testament church, for us not to think of men above that which is written (I Cor. 4:6). And the New Testament, that which is written, is the revelation of Jesus Christ. English physicist Michael Faraday (1791-1867) said, The Christian who is taught by God (by His Word and Holy Spirit) finds his guide in the Word of God, and commits the keeping of his soul in the hands of God. He looks for no assurance beyond what the Word of God can give him.... The Christian religion is a revelation, and that revelation is the Word of God. (America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations, p. 232). But this simple truth of scripture is hidden from them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight (Isa. 5:21). Jesus said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes., babes in Christ (Matt. 11:25): And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (II Tim. 3:15). The apostle Paul said to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, and that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written (Rom. 12:3; I Cor. 4:6). But instead of understanding what the will of the Lord is by trusting the Holy Bible and searching the holy scriptures, many are turning to man and leaning unto their own understanding (II Tim. 3:15; Eph. 5:17; Prov. 3:5). Instead of

hearing, what saith the scripture? (Rom. 4:3) and Search the scriptures (John 5:39), we are hearing What saith the man of God? and Search his latest book. The phrase, it is written, referring to the scriptures, occurs sixty-three times in the New Testament. But instead of hearing, It is written, It is written again (Matt. 4:4,7; Acts 1:20; 7:42), we are hearing Thus saith the LORD, etc., etc. Many people are apparently unaware of the fact that the phrase, Thus saith the LORD, does not appear anywhere in the New Testament scriptures. Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:16) Numerous prophecies and predictions made by Branham did not come to pass. It is significant that Branham falsely predicted that America would be destroyed in 1977, given the fact that he was believed by many to be God's end-time prophet (The Seven Church Ages, p. 322). Mediums' and soothsayers' prophecies often fail, as did many of Branham's prophecies. The Holy Bible tells us that the hit and miss prophecies of Branham and other modern-day prophets are proof that they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart (Jer. 23:26). It is absolutely un-scriptural for anyone calling himself a prophet today to make even one false prophecy. There is not a single example in the entire New Testament of a prophet or apostle making a prophecy that failed to come to pass. Those who follow Branham's teachings today can take one or two New Testament scriptures out of context and twist them to fit their own beliefs, but they are only deceiving themselves and those who accept their private interpretations. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
(Deuteronomy 18:21,22)

The gnostic teachings of Branham (serpent seed doctrine, etc.) and his acceptance of Freemasonry (a satanic occult organization) should have been a dead giveaway from the very beginning. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (Eph. 5:11). Another occult aspect of Branham's meetings was his total dependence upon an angel when ministering to the people. Branham would always ask the people if they believed he was God's prophet. People had to first acknowledge that Branham was God's prophet before the angel would begin to perform supernatural manifestations. No true New Testament prophet or apostle ever did such a thing. The apostles of our Lord asked the people if they believed that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the savior of the world. Philip said to the Ethiopian eunuch, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:37). The fact that Branham's angel guide granted certain supernatural signs, and the fact that some of Branham's prophecies did come to pass does not mean that he was a true prophet of God:

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
(See also II Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15; Galatians 1:6-9)

There is little doubt that William Branham was truly sincere in what he believed. But he made a deadly mistake in believing that his sincere heart would prevent him from being deceived: He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool, and Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, (Prov. 28:26; Jer. 17:5). Instead of trusting the scriptures, William Branham made the fateful decision to trust his own feelings. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matt. 22:29). Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they [the scriptures] are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39,40).