The estimate included 50,000 in the United States, with a considerable following in Central and South America (including 40,000 in Brazil), India, and Africa; particularly in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [229], Branham continued to travel to churches and preach his doctrine across Canada, the United States, and Mexico during the 1960s. [268] While most churches adhere to a common set of tenets, the "extreme local authority" of the church promoted by Branham has led to widespread differences in interpretation of Branham's prophetic teachings. [176], Despite his rejection by the growing Charismatic movement, Branham's followers became increasingly dedicated to him during his later life. [73] In his later years, he also connected the angelic visitation with the establishment of the nation of Israel, at one point mistakenly stating the vision occurred on the same day. [229] The sermons focused on the Book of Revelation 6:117, and provided an interpretation of the meaning of each of the seals, which Branham connected with his prior sermons on the church ages. The church was built on the same location reported by the local newspaper as the site of his June 1933 tent campaign. [177] James McDonald of the University of Arizona Institute of Atmospheric Physics was present when the 1963 cloud phenomena appeared. But it'll come through a prophet. [10][16] Branham stated he never violated the command. [193], Like other doctrines, the Godhead formula was a point of doctrinal conflict within Pentecostalism. [8][156], By the mid-1950s, dozens of the ministers associated with Branham and his campaigns had launched similar healing campaigns. [81], Just as Branham began to attract international attention in May 1948, he announced that due to illness he would have to halt his campaign. Branham later claimed he saw a car in 1960 that fulfilled his vision. He began speaking on the controversial doctrinal issues he had avoided for most of the revival. [191] Prior to 1957, Branham taught a doctrine of eternal punishment in hell. His fame rapidly spread as crowds were drawn to his stories of angelic visitations and reports of miracles happening at his meetings. [48] Branham married Brumbach in June 1934. One of his first was a prophetic vision he reported having in 1916 foretelling that 16 men would fall to their death during the construction of the Clark Memorial Bridge. [66] The fascination of most of American Christianity with divine healing played a significant role in the popularity and inter-denominational nature of the revival movement. [199], Weaver wrote that Branham's attitude to women concerning physical appearance, sexual drive, and marital relations was misogynistic,[202] and that Branham saw modern women as "essentially immoral sexual machines who were to blame for adultery, divorce and death. [41] In his early references to the event during the healing revival, Branham interpreted it to refer to the restoration of the gifts of the spirit to the church. After the world failed to end in 1977, Time Magazine included the failed prediction as one of the "top ten end-of-the-world prophecies". That's exactly right. According to Pearry Green, the broader Pentecostal movement considers Branham's version of the serpent seed doctrine repugnant and in their point of view, it was the "filthy doctrine that ruined his ministry. "[25] Branham used the term "hybrid" to describe anything he believed to be tainted by the serpent. [90] After one year of campaigning, his exhaustion began leading to health issues. [81][92] His illness shocked the growing movement,[93] and his abrupt departure from the field caused a rift between him and Lindsay over the Voice of Healing magazine. Branham Sermons PDF; According to Weaver, "his pronouncements with respect to women were often contradictory". [3][311], Pearry Green was a defendant in multiple criminal cases concerning his financial dealings. Separating himself from the things of the world and everything, and come into one purpose, Jesus Christ. The sick person would then simply be forced to accuse himself of lack of faith, or in some cases, throw his faith overboard. The tribe filed a racketeering case against them to recover their money. [121], Branham similarly claimed to pray for King Gustaf V while in Sweden in April 1950. [89], In the first part of his meetings, one of Branham's companion evangelists would preach a sermon. [81], Lindsay was a successful publicist and manager for Branham, and played a key role in helping him gain national and international recognition. [154] Branham reported his annual salary to the IRS as $7,000 ($66,633 in 2020 dollars) while his manager Gordon Lindsay's was reported at $80,000. [203][177], In the 1933 visions, he reported seeing self-driving "egg-shaped" cars in one vision. [188] Branham taught the doctrine widely from the early days of the healing revival, in which he urged his audiences to unite and restore a form of church organization like the primitive church of early Christianity. Weaver identified several parts of Branham's reported life story that conflicted with historical documentation and suggested that Branham began significantly embellishing his early life story to his audiences beginning in the 1940s. [32][33], At the time of Branham's conversion, the First Pentecostal Baptist Church of Jeffersonville was a nominally Baptist church which adhered to some Pentecostal doctrines, including divine healing and speaking in tongues; Branham reported that his baptism at the church was done using the Jesus name formula of Oneness Pentecostalism. [110], According to Pentecostal historian Rev. Several news outlets labeled Reagan as the "most racist pastor in America. [17] Branham called his childhood "a terrible life. [165][166][h], Consensus among historians is that the healing revival ended in 1958. They were arrested multiple times in both countries for harassing women for their appearance and disrupting church services. [167] Harrell attributed the decline to the increasing number of evangelists crowding the field and straining the financial resources of the Pentecostal denominations. [185] He believed healing was the main focus of the ministry of Jesus Christ and believed in a dual atonement; "salvation for the soul and healing for the body". [200][95], Branham's opposition to modern culture emerged most strongly in his condemnation of the "immorality of modern women". [91] Branham's illness coincided with a series of allegations of fraud in his healing revivals. [171] By the 1960s, Branham's contemporaries and the Pentecostal denominations that had supported his campaigns regarded him as an extremely controversial teacher. In this ebook is a total compilation of the 87 sermons of Reverend William Marrion Branham preached in 1953. [100], He would pray for each of them, pronouncing some or all healed. Despite Branham's objections, some followers of his teachings placed him at the center of a cult of personality during his final years. [38] Newspaper articles reported the original name of Branham's new church to be the Pentecostal Tabernacle. [132], Branham was also accused of fraud by fellow ministers and churches that hosted his meetings. "[136] Another case was four-year-old Donny Morton, who was diagnosed with a rare brain condition. [203] While rejecting Branham's teachings, Duyzer offered a glowing review of Branham's followers, stating he "had never experienced friendship, or love like we did there". [292], In April 2023, government authorities discovered a shallow grave were thirty-one bodies were buried. In response, the churches which hosted Branham's campaign conducted independent follow-up interviews with people Branham pronounced healed to gather testimonies which they could use to counter the negative press. Most of his predictions had already been fulfilled by the first time he reported the visions in 1953. Nous revenons sur la vie surnaturelle de ce grand prophte de Dieu, d'Enoch nos jours.Cela fera 56 ans, jour pour jour depuis qu'il nous a quitts l'ge . His teachings continue to be promoted by the William Branham Evangelistic Association, which reported that about 2 million people received its material in 2018. [280], The Living Word Fellowship, a group of over 100 churches at its peak, was founded by John Robert Stevens, who had been heavily influenced by Branham and promoted many of his doctrines, was often reported in the news during the 1970s and 1980s as a doomsday cult. In Iran, Branham's followers have faced persecution, with the government shutting down ten of their house churches in 2018 and jailing several Branham followers. [187], He stated the corruption came from the desire of early Christianity's clergy to obtain political power, and as a result became increasingly wicked and introduced false creeds. [256] In 2018, Voice of God Recordings claimed to serve Branham-related support material to about two million people through the William Branham Evangelical Association, and estimated there were 24 million total followers of Branham's teachings. Paul Schfer, Robert Martin Gumbura, Leo Mercer, the Malindi cult and other followers of William Branham's teachings have regularly been in the news due to the serious crimes which they committed. [99] Supplicants seeking healing submitted prayer cards to Branham's campaign team stating their name, address, and condition; Branham's team would select a number of submissions to be prayed for personally by Branham and organized a prayer line. [266][267], His followers "range widely in belief in practice. [185] Branham argued that God was required to heal when faith was present. Only a piece, scrap, made of a man, to deceive him by; God made it, right here has proved it. [157] In 1955, he reported a vision of a renewed tent ministry and a "third pull which would be dramatically different" than his earlier career; he began to increasingly refer to the vision as his popularity began to decline. [1][315][2][316][317] In 2021, they were reported in the news again as fugitives who were evading arrest after attacking women at a Presbyterian Church in Canada. [186] It supports the restoration of apostles and prophets, signs and wonders, spiritual gifts, spiritual warfare, and the elimination of non-primitive features of modern Christianity. [182] Many of his followers regard his sermons as oral scripture and believe Branham had rediscovered the true doctrines of the early church. [195][172][j] Branham stated that he was not opposed to organizational structures; his concern focused on the "road block to salvation and spiritual unity" he believed denominations created by emphasizing loyalty to their organizations. Followers of Branham's teachings in Colonia Dignidad were portrayed in the 2015 film Colonia. [172], Branham developed a unique theology and placed emphasis on a few key doctrines, including his eschatological views, annihilationism, oneness of the Godhead, predestination, eternal security, and the serpent's seed. [31][10] The church was pastored by Roy Davis, a founding member of the second Ku Klux Klan and a leading recruiter for the organization. [114], Branham's meetings were regularly attended by journalists,[115] who wrote articles about the miracles reported by Branham and his team throughout the years of his revivals, and claimed patients were cured of various ailments after attending prayer meetings with Branham. Through Sowders' group, he was introduced to the British Israelite House of David and in the autumn of 1934, Branham traveled to Michigan to meet with members of the group. "[25] Leaders in Branham's movement have taken actions to prevent followers from discovering the true origin of the serpent seed teaching. [105] The photograph showed a light above Branham's head, which he and his associates believed to be supernatural. William Marrion Branham (1909 - 1965) About William Branham - PDF; Pillar of Fire Testimony - PDF; W.M.Branham Photo Gallery; W.M. [89] According to writer and researcher Patsy Sims, "the power of a Branham service and his stage presence remains a legend unparalleled in the history of the Charismatic movement. [60] Their obituaries reported Branham as pastor of the Pentecostal Tabernacle, the same church where their funerals were held. Branham claimed repeatedly throughout his ministry that the vision was fulfilled during the 19271929 construction of the bridge, but there is no evidence of the drownings having ever occurred. Branham thought the decline was temporary. The governments of South Africa and Norway intervened in order to stop his healing campaigns in their countries. Recevez le Saint-Esprit et il vous enseignera la Bible. [8] From 1955, Branham's campaigning and popularity began to decline as the Pentecostal churches began to withdraw their support from the healing campaigns for primarily financial reasons. [296], Polygamist followers of Branham's teachings have also been reported by news media in the United States for marriage to minors. [81] Following the Shreveport meetings, Branham held a series of meetings in San Antonio, Phoenix, and at various locations in California. [210] In his recorded sermons, Branham first publicly hinted at his belief in the serpent seed doctrine in 1953. [157], His correspondence also decreased sharply. That's exactly right. [135], According to Kydd, "the controversy surrounding Branham deepened" with time. Hollenweger said that while there were a few "well-attested cases of miraculous healing", Branham was "nave" and "dishonest" and misled his audiences when he reported the number of people healed. [199] Branham once told women who refused to dress according to his instructions "not to call themselves Christians" but qualified his denunciations by affirming that obedience to the holiness moral code was not a requirement for salvation. Followers of Branham's son expect the resurrection of Branham to fulfill unfinished prophecies. Branham claimed that he had converted over one million people during his career. I sure would. "[279] Mercer sexually abused children and adults. [39][40], Belief in the baptismal story is a critical element of faith among Branham's followers. [232][229][233] Branham claimed to his audiences that he was hunting in Arizona when angels appeared to him and created the cloud overhead. In March 1924, Branham's father was arrested for his criminal activities; he was convicted and sentenced to a prison. Il l'avait rembarre; a lui tait parfaitement gal. [64] Some, like Christian author and countercult activist Hank Hanegraaff, rejected the entire healing revival as a hoax and condemned the movement as cult in his 1997 book Counterfeit Revival. [210], Branham believed the term "predestination" was widely misunderstood and preferred to use the word "foreknowledge" to describe his views. He chooses a people. [144] After reviewing the results of the investigation, one minister concluded "that the cures claimed are so largely exaggerated as to be almost fraudulent in their claim. Investigators found no evidence for the meeting; King Gustaf V died in October 1950. He required supplicants to claim to be healed to demonstrate their faith, even if they were still experiencing symptoms. [203], Branham taught an unorthodox doctrine on the source of original sin. They were the tools of the Devil. [81] Baxter generally focused on bible teaching; Bosworth counseled supplicants on the need for faith and the doctrine of divine healing. [89], Branham spent many hours ministering and praying for the sick during his campaigns, and like many other leading evangelists of the time he suffered exhaustion. [177] He held his final set of revival meetings in Shreveport at the church of his early campaign manager Jack Moore in November 1965. [225] Summarizing the contrasting views held of Branham, Kydd stated, "Some thought he was God. 4th 691, 188 P.3D 580, 80 Cal. Some thought he was an end-time messenger sent from God, and some still do. [80] The first addition to the team was Jack Moore and Young Brown, who periodically assisted him in managing his meetings. [g] Upshaw had limited mobility for 59 years as the result of an accident, and said he was miraculously healed in the meeting. [246] Critics of Branham investigated his prophecies. Branham claimed to visit the grave of Buddha while in India, however Buddha was cremated and has no grave. A dog can't do it, a hog can't do it, a bird can't do it. I am too. [98] He insisted his calling was to bring unity among the different churches he was ministering to and to urge the churches to return to the roots of early Christianity. Philippe insisted decolonization of Africa was a sin, and that Africans could only prosper when in servitude to Europeans. [128][148], Their expectations had been raised so high, only to be dashed after all the excitement was over. They believe that William Branham, or "Brother Branham," was the final prophet to the church, in fulfillment of Malachi 4:5. He frequently told supplicants to expect their symptoms to remain for several days after their healing. [15], Branham is known for his role in the healing revivals that occurred in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s,[62] and most participants in the movement regarded him as its initiator. [319][320], In 2021, Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Institute published an article labeling Branham's followers a cult stating, "Branham's ministry was characterized by white supremacy and deeply misogynist attitudes. LA FOI 29.12.1957 JEFFERSONVILLE, IN, USA . [175] As a result of their view of his teachings, many Pentecostals judged that Branham had "stepped out of his anointing" and had become a "bad teacher of heretical doctrine". [289][290][291] Schfer and his compound were portrayed in the 2015 film Colonia. [10] Branham explained that his tendency towards "mystical experiences and moral purity" caused misunderstandings among his friends, family, and other young people; he was a "black sheep" from an early age. "[5] He made a lasting influence on televangelism and the modern charismatic movement,[6] and his "stage presence remains a legend unparalleled in the history of the Charismatic movement". [157] The Branham campaign held meetings across the United States in 1956, and a large meeting in Mexico City that had 20,000 in attendance. [111], To his American audiences, Branham claimed several high profile events occurred during his international tours. In another case, a woman suffering a heart condition was pronounced healed by Branham, but died less than a week later. [63] Christian writer John Crowder described the period of revivals as "the most extensive public display of miraculous power in modern history". He is credited as "a principal architect of restorationist . [237] At the time, Branham continued to leave the identity of the messenger open to the interpretation of his followers, who widely accepted that he was that messenger. He is a segregationalist [sic]. [25], Branham told his audiences that he left home at age 19 in search of a better life, traveling to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked on a ranch for two years and began a successful career in boxing. [10], Branham told his audiences that he grew up in "deep poverty",[10] often not having adequate clothing, and that his family was involved in criminal activities. [144] A minister attending meetings in Durban with his congregation reported that over twenty people suffering from tuberculosis were pronounced healed by Branham, but all failed to recover. The news media has linked Branham to multiple notorious figures. [242] He argued that continued allegiance to any denomination would lead to an acceptance of the mark of the beast, which would mean missing the rapture. [1][2][3] He is credited as "a principal architect of restorationist thought" for charismatics by some Christian historians,[4] and has been called the "leading individual in the Second Wave of Pentecostalism. There is nothing designed to stoop so low, or be filthy, but a woman. [230][177][231], The United States Air Force later declassified the launch records and acknowledged the manmade origin of the cloud. Si a devait lui coter la. 1,866 likes. Hollenweger was disappointed that Branham refused to acknowledge the numerous failed pronouncements of healings. [179] Branham's doctrines are a blend of both Calvinism and Arminianism, which are considered contradictory by many theologians; the teachings have been described as "jumbled and contradictory and difficult to categorize". [238] In 1964 and 1965 he began to make special emphasis that the Son of Man could only be revealed through the ministry of a prophet. [201] Branham believed women were guilty of committing adultery if their appearance was intended to motivate men to lust, and viewed a woman's place as "in the kitchen". [11] Branham told his publicist Gordon Lindsay that he had mystical experiences from an early age;[10] and that at age three he heard a "voice" speaking to him from a tree telling him "he would live near a city called New Albany". [127] By 1960, the number of evangelists holding national campaigns dropped to 11. [162], According to Collins, Jim Jones and Paul Schfer were influenced to move to South America by Branham's 1961 prophecy concerning the destruction of the United States in a nuclear war. [84] Lindsay was impressed with Branham's focus on humility and unity, and was instrumental in helping him gain acceptance among Trinitarian and Oneness Pentecostal groups by expanding his revival meetings beyond the United Pentecostal Church to include all of the major Pentecostal groups. Following the January flood, Hope's health continued to decline, and she succumbed to her illness and died on July 22, 1937. [10][29] Branham had no experience with religion as a child; he said that the first time he heard a prayer was at his brother's funeral. Branham's teachings on the subject caused confusion among his followers who repeatedly asked him to clarify his relationship to Christ. [82][83] In 1948, Branham and Lindsay founded Voice of Healing magazine, which was originally aimed at reporting Branham's healing campaigns. [147] According to Pohl, Hollenweger, and Steiner, Branham's practice of blaming the supplicant for lack of faith was severely damaging in multiple churches and left many people who failed to receive healing in despair. [211] Branham taught that humanity's choice in salvation was negated by their ancestry, and that genetics determined one's eternal destiny; the offspring of Cain were foreordained to damnation while the offspring of Seth were foreordained to salvation. Children were beaten for minor infractions like talking during a march or not tying their shoes. [172][235] Branham did not directly claim to be the end-time messenger in either of his sermons on the church ages or the seven seals. [89] His preaching style was described as "halting and simple", and crowds were drawn to his stories of angelic visitation and "constant communication with God". [194] He distinguished his baptismal formula from the Oneness baptism formula in the name of Jesus by teaching that the baptismal formula should be in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. The church was officially registered with the City of Jeffersonville as the Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle in November 1936. Court records indicate Frank was a key figure in helping Colonia establish its weapons factories by contracting with German arms producers to assist the colony in setting up their operations. [253][139], Branham was the "initiator of the post-World War II healing revival"[63] and, along with Oral Roberts, was one of its most revered leaders. I can never forget them. His family was unable to pay for his medical bills, but members of the Indiana Ku Klux Klan stepped in to cover the expenses. [181] The doctrines Branham imported from non-Pentecostal theology and the unique combination of doctrines that he created as a result led to widespread criticism from Pentecostal churches and the Charismatic movement. [179], Scholar Robert Price and Doug Weaver suggested that Branham's stance on denominations was developed in response to their rejection of his teachings in an attempt to maintain the loyalty of his closest followers. [97] Kydd reported that by watching films of the revival meetings, "the viewer would assume almost everyone was healed", but "results were less promising whenever follow-up was made. [168] Weaver also believed that "fraud and chicanary" by the revivals evangelists also played a major role in the decline. Recruiters do not tell new members that the cult originated with deep ties to white supremacy groups." [60] By February 1937, the floodwaters had receded, his church survived intact and Branham resumed holding services at the Pentecostal Tabernacle. [177] Before he died, some of his followers had already begun compiling his sermons and treating them as oral scripture, with a significant minority of his followers believing in his divinity. parler du 7 ange et sa comission [239], Branham believed denominationalism was "a mark of the beast", which added to the controversy surrounding his later ministry. [219] As in their dispensational systems, Branham said each church represents a historical age, and that the angel of each age was a significant church figure. [81] He decided to publicize Oral Roberts during Branham's absence, and Roberts quickly rose to prominence, in large part due to Lindsay's coverage. [192] By 1957 he began promoting an annihilationist position in keeping with Parham's teachings. [101][102] Branham's use of what his fellow evangelists called a word of knowledge gift separated him from his contemporaries in the early days of the revival. . "[25], "Branhamism" redirects here. Gumbura and his followers were polygamous. His followers might refer to themselves as Branhamites or Message Believers. [186] Charismatic writer Michael Moriarty described his teachings on the subject as "extremely significant" because they have "impacted every major restoration movement since". In 1997, the O'odham Nation in Arizona accused Wayne Evans of defrauding their tribe of over $1 million and giving that money to Voice of God Recordings. News reported that Coleman's son had solicited over $20 million in funds under false claims. [57] In September 1936, the local news reported that Branham held a multi-week healing revival at the Pentecostal Tabernacle in which he reported eight healings. Rptr. [43] Because of the way Branham's telling of the baptismal story changed over the years, and because no newspaper actually covered the event, Weaver said Branham may have embellished the story after he began achieving success in the healing revival during the 1940s. Branham generally prayed for a few people each night and believed witnessing the results on the stage would inspire faith in the audience and permit them to experience similar results without having to be personally prayed for. [133], In 1948, W. J. Taylor, a district superintendent with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, raised concerns again following another wave of Branham meetings and asked for a thorough investigation. [193] By the 1960s, he had changed to openly teaching the Oneness position, according to which there is one God who manifests himself in multiple ways; in contrast with the Trinitarian view that three distinct persons comprise the Godhead. [119] Despite such occasional glowing reports, most of the press coverage Branham received was negative. [96] As the revival progressed, his contemporaries began to mirror the practice. [59], The following year, disaster struck when Jeffersonville was ravaged by the Ohio River flood of 1937. "[144] When Branham attempted to visit South Africa again in 1965, the South African government placed restrictions on his visa preventing him from holding any healing revivals while he was in the country. "[127], Followers of Branham's teachings can be found around the world; Branham claimed to have made over one million converts during his campaign meetings. Newspaper articles continued to refer to his church as the Pentecostal Tabernacle until 1943. To his surprise, his wife died only days later of her illness. For Brahmanism, see, Branham reported his name as William Marvin Branham on his October 16, 1940, registration with the United States. [11] Branham also said that when he was seven years old, God told him to avoid smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages. [80] Moore invited his friend Gordon Lindsay to join the campaign team, which he did beginning at a meeting in Sacramento, California, in late 1947. [212] Branham's embrace of the serpent seed doctrine alienated most of the members of his Pentecostal audience. Mercer would punish girls by cutting their hair, and force boys to wear girls' clothing. [94][111] Branham held his first series of campaigns in Europe during April 1950 with meetings in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. [8] The American government targeted the other leading revivalists with lawsuits during the same time period, including Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, and A. The percentage of healings that stood up after investigation was embarrassingly low.

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