Was Todd Bentley another William Branham?
William Branham was a well-known and controversial prophet from the Voice of Healing movement. His name has been used in many prophecies lately, particularly in and by prophets that attended the Lakeland Revival meetings in Florida with Canadian Evangelist Todd Bentley. Many in this generation have only heard his name, but who was Branham? Here is just a little information for you history students.
William Marrion Branham was born in Kentucky April 6, 1909. He is best known as the prophet of the Voice of Healing movement. On June 11, 1933 in Ohio he reported an encounter with an angel at a baptismal service. Many say they saw a light over his head.
In May 1946 Branham told followers the angel visited him again saying, “Do not fear. I am sent from the presence of the Almighty God to tell you that your peculiar birth and misunderstood life has been to indicate that you are to take a gift of divine healing to the peoples of the world. If you will be sincere when you pray and can get the people to believe you, nothing shall stand before your prayer, not even cancer. You will go into many parts of the earth and will pray for kings and rulers and potentates. You will preach to multitudes the world over and thousands will come to you for counsel.” Click here to watch a video with Brother Branham testifying of his calling.
In June that same year he launched his healing and prophetic ministry. It grew like wild fire and thousands found Jesus as their Savior. In 1947 Branham met a champion of the faith Gordon Lindsay, founder of Christ for the Nations, who became his biographer and publicist, booked his meetings and edited his Voice of Healing magazine. Later he would preach to some of the largest crowds in the world at that time, upwards of 45,000 in attendance. Lindsay wrote a best selling Christian book of his life “A Man Sent from God.”
In 1948 Pentecostal father of the faith F. F. Bosworth who wrote “Christ the Healer” met Branham in Miami Florida after he retired at 71. They were close friends and worked together in ministry until Bosworth’s death in 1958. He said of Branham “During the past few years, I have often wept for joy over God’s recent gift to the Church, of our beloved brother William Branham, with his marvelous gift of healing. This is a case of God doing exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think for I have never seen or read of anything to equal the healing ministry of William Branham.”
One of the most respected evangelist of the 20th century T. L. Osborn and wife Daisy testified to Paul and Jan Crouch on the Trinity Broadcasting Network how Brother Branham changed their lives and ministry forever. This is the part of Branham’s ministry we all would like to remember. Click here to watch the video.
Former speaker at the Lakeland Florida Revival Prophet Paul Cain said that Branham was “the greatest prophet that ever lived.” Today many have never heard of William Branham. So was Branham the greatest prophet that ever lived? Is he our example for prophetic ministry today? Do we want a double portion of the Branham anointing prayed over us? Should those kinds of prayers even be offered?
Braham had incredible crowds attend his meetings, many prophetic words of knowledge and healings but something went wrong, terribly wrong. After reviewing his ministry I think we need to take a break and examine some of his teachings. Not only that, we should also be careful prophesying Branham’s anointing over others when we don’t even know much about him.
Unfortunately, during the latter years of Branham’s ministry he went deep into deception and thousands questioned his unscriptural teachings. Even after close friends tried to reach him, including Gordon Lindsay he stood his ground and many of his ministry associates distanced themselves.
The Voice of Healing movement was over. This is the part of the story that no one wants to remember but it proves that all of us can be deceived when we embrace supernatural experiences and angelic visitations above the written Word of God. Like healing revivalists John Alexander Dowie before him, founder of Zion, Illinois, Branham began to think that he was Elijah.
This same deceiving spirit has plagued the Pentecostals for centuries (Acts 16:16). It is a high-level occult spirit, a counterfeit of the Holy Ghost that attacks those that rise to a certain level of ministry. It covets prophetic ministry and is full of orphic, mystical and supernatural experiences. If people do not discern and defeat this spirit it takes them out, their disciples too and buffets the advancement of the Gospel of Christ.
Sadly, Branham didn’t make it. He started the race blessing the body of Christ mightily but his end proved scripturally reckless and shipwrecked. Branham’s teachings — the good, questionable and bad are well documented in his letters, books and audios. The following paragraphs outline some of the more dangerous doctrines – in his own words – that damaged Branham’s ministry beyond repair.
Branham was a “Oneness Preacher” and denied the Trinity. In his own words:
“Why don’t you examine your baptism of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and that false `trinity’ it’s so-called, which is nothing in the world but three offices of one God, titles. No, name of Father, there’s no such a thing as name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost which is the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“…not one place in the Bible is trinity ever mentioned…It’s Catholic error and you Protestants bow to it.”
“You show me one place where one person was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost, I’ll raise my hands and say I’m a false prophet.”
Branham taught that Eve had sex with the Serpent and birthed Cain. This was his “Serpent Seed” teachings. In his own words:
“Eve’s eating was adultery with the serpent, Proverbs 30:20. Remember, he was not a snake at this point. That curse came after the act. …It was not an apple that caused Adam and Eve to realize they were naked. But it was a sex act. …The serpent was an upright handsome creature. He was, in fact, ‘the missing link’ that science even in their unspiritual wisdom, can see is missing ‘between man and monkey.’ Satan used this creature to get himself into the Human race.”
“Noah and his sons which come out, Ham, Shem, and Japheth, come out in the righteous line. How did the seed ever get over? The seed come over in the ark, just like it did in the beginning through the woman, their wives. They carried the seed of Satan through the ark, just as Eve packed the seed of Satan to give birth to Cain, through the woman.”
Branham prophesied and taught the Age would end around 1977 and usher in the Millennium. In his own words:
“That this age will end around 1977…I base this prediction on seven major continuous visions that came to me one Sunday morning in June, 1933.”
“So I repeat, I sincerely believe and maintain as a private student of the Word, along with divine inspiration that 1977 ought to terminate the world systems and usher in the millennium.”
Beginning in 1963 Branham taught that he (not Jesus) was given permission by seven angels to open the Seven Seals of Revelation. In his own words:
“We find out that during that time I saw seven angels in a form of a pyramid that swept down and picked me up. And I was brought east to open the Seven Seals for God.”
Unfortunately these are only a few erroneous teachings that came from esoteric experiences through visions, angelic visitations and encounters with the supernatural, not from the written Word of God. It’s interesting that David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, said he too was called to open the seven seals of Revelation. The teaching of special privilege and revelation, angelic visitations and assignments, mystical experiences and exceptional relationships with God and angels has caused many to err.
After reading just a few of Branham’s teachings, one should be all the more careful about throwing Branham’s name around at revival meetings, prophesying a “double portion” of his anointing and especially encouraging angelic visitations. It seems to me most would rather want a double portion of the Holy Spirit (if that’s even necessary) more than any angel, healing evangelist’s or dead prophet’s anointing. Yes, we can learn some good things from Branham’s early ministry, be respectful and forgiving of his Scriptural errors. But we must also learn from his mistakes so they are not repeated again. “Trying the spirits” by using the written Word of God to confirm what we hear, see and experience is not being judgmental. On the contrary trying the spirits is rock-solid Scriptural (1 John 4:1).
How does Branham’s story end? On Christmas Eve December 24, 1965 he died of injuries from a car accident in Tucson, Ariz. after being hit head on by a drunk driver.
Your partner,
Jonas Clark
Contact The Voice magazine editor at editor@thevoicemagazine.com or 954-456-6032.
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Dear Jonas Clark ,it seems that you know so much of a man who was used
of god in a migthty way.Did you know that JESUS CHRIST was also denied
by his fellow learnt jews.They also rejected his doctrine.The anointing that rested upon WILLIAM BRANHAM did not only heal people but seperated the wheat from the tares.The bible says that the rain falls on the just and unjust.Tares are not unblievers in the world but
so called christains who are found in the church.WILLIAM BRANHAMS
ministry was to prepare a bride for JESUS CHRIST, who will be a word bride and full of the anointing.The church has focused to long on the anointing and forsaken the true word.Great men of GOD who knew this man
where blind to the revelation of GOD.Why this has happened ?because
they were not given the same gift and had different responsibilities in the church.Saint JOHN the devine was the only one used to write the book of revelation .Show me one man who has the true understanding
of the book of revelation.There is none, even after 40 years of BRANHAM
death there is none.WILLIAM BRANHAM was not that what you think but
a true servant of GOD.Tares do not understand a revelation only mental
theology.Are you a tare or a foolish virgin or a bride. JAYCE PILLAY
(English is my second lamguage)
Jayce,
I come from Jewish background but I love Yeshua (Jesus)!
I am a lover of God and I invest my life at Jesus feet!
Tyhe Lord uses me in intercession for the nations.
I also have had Third Heaven experiences!
However we can’t change the Word of God!
I suggest that You read the Book of Revelation Chapter 5
In Verse 3 it says that no man in heaven,earth or under the earth was worthy to open the book (of the seven seals) or to look to the book.
So John (the revelator) wept.
In verse 5,it says:
“And one of the elders saith unto me,Weep not:behold,the Lion of the tribe of Judah,the Root of David,hath prevailed to open the book,and to loose the seven seals thereof”
In chapter 9 the four beasts and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb singing a new song:”Thou art worhty to take the book ,and to open the seals thereof:for thou was slained and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
Be careful that You will not honor a man’s saying above the Word of God!
We must spend time in the secret place with the Lord!
We must be a passionate bride!
That’s when the Lord takes us to the dephts of His heart and We become one with Him!
This is not a one time experience!-We must cultivate that intimacy daily.Then We will be able to see everything the way He does and to feel what Jesus feels for this broken world!
The Lord told me that the highest ministry there is,is intimacy with God!I also love to minister to the Father and to the Holy Spirit!
God Bless You!
Why is it so hard for Gods children to see the truth? Maybe it’s because they don’t really know the Word ( JESUS ) they only know a form of Godliness.
I am just a simple man that can not do nothing else but believe the word of God in it’s fullnest. As I read the word of God it tells me that He never changes that He is the same yesterday today and forever and I praise Him for that, because I can rest upon that.Since God can not learn anymore or change anymore,than I have to believe that the way He did things before that it will always be the same way He will act in the future as He did in the past.Brothers I beseach you to yield to the Holy Spirt and If you do not believe in Brother William Marrion Branham than you must look for another man that will fit into Malachi 4:5 because rememer God does not change, and if He sent John to prepare His first comming than He will send another man to prepare His second comming, just like He promised in Malachi 4:5 He can not do it any different, other wise He made a mistake the first time and He no longer would qualify for a God. Brothers and if you do believe in William Marrion Branham’s teaching obey his teaching and do not argue with the word of God or try to convince anyone for that is God’s Job.
May God Bless You All.
I wrote All This With A Humble Spirit
Spirit.
Search the scriptures please!
He was a man send from God
http://www.believethesign.com/
Thank you for your article. You mentioned, “Branham was a “Oneness Preacher” and denied the Trinity.” Then you submitted a few quotes. But here’s what he said concerning “oneness” and “trinitarianism.”
“I’m not Oneness. Not at all. I’m not trinity either. I’m a Christian. I believe in God. I believe in God manifested in three offices.”
“I know that I’m talking in here even to trinitarian ministers. And my brethren, I do not say this…to hurt. I’m a trinitarian too; I believe in the trinity, the three attributes of God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, but not three Gods.”
The quotes you give don’t prove that William Branham was Oneness nor does it show that he denied the true Biblical concept of the Trinity. He only denies the misconception that God is three Divine Persons or Beings making Him Three Gods.
Believers the day of the Lord is nigh.
Bro.Jonas Clark if you believer the Word, the Word said God is sending forrunner(PROPHET) before He come to Judge the World, then if you believe that can you please, believer show me this Forrunner(PROPHET) that you God has/will send as the days now are getting more evil.
God Bless and if possible see you in Rapture!!
Please don’t associate Evangelist Todd Bentley with William Branham nor to the Latter Rain Movement or Joel’s Army etc… To compare is untruth.
Just by researching William Branham’s life will show the significant difference. You may not agree with his doctrines, but his character speaks volumes and easily shows he does not fit the modern day ministries that try to glean from his authenticacy in order to boost their charlatan ways.
well friends,i’v known this Great Prophet for 4 years now,& there is no way absolutely no way we can deny Gods Words.THRUOGH HIS MOUTH.
Personally when i was growing in spirit as a young boy,i would read the bioble so hard and pray so much,that i feel guilty i’m failing to reach those levels,and & most of those who know me can deny if i explain how much i prayed.
i reached a point when i would go to church & find the Pastors/Priests/Evangilist wohoever’s sermons not satisfying i changed denominations so much & dont want top list them,something was still lacking,i could feel it.
i cried to the Lord where then is the true Church of God.7 found no answer,i got convinced no one is believing fully & should not go to Church & gave up,
i prayed hard If there is any true church you God WILL sent ME there.
A bout 6 Months later i visited my aunt who believes so much in Branham,Oh PRAISE God i found one of those false prophets,that we had been warned by Jesus,so real to me,it was that Branham Was a false prohet,itried to turn back my aunt in the right direction but never gave me a chance to utter any objection,2 years down the line I got so much courage to face the Pastor to warn him he was misleading his flock,,Great is the Lord
Before I could see him the next Sunday,Idont know how i opened THE BRANHAM website & i was sruck,so much struck in my soul tha t the man was Gods Direct MESSANGER.iCOULD NOT DENY IT now far far more real a prophet tthan my first thought,my BROther tried to change me back but i found it impossible to disbelieve God’s PROPHET and got baptised thi year-4 years after hearing about the prophet.
bROTHERS & SISTERS thats the only way you can understand Gods message of this hour,That man was from God & is in line with Elijah,Moses,John and all those great prophets.
dont deny it but pray that God may open your soul.
can anyone please read bible first before you speak..
it s very clear that branham is the false prophet and so many errors. how could anyone miss THE WORD OF GOD very simple scripture. eve sex with serpent?? a little 5 years child could read and understood adam “KNEW” his wife eve KNEW mean intercourse. was that hard to read?? helllo??
no one is worthy to open seals.. only JESUS bec HE has no SIN but Branham already sin and was not permit to open or to look at book AT ALL!!!!!!!!!
was that hard to understand??
He could be Elijah bec his family was not christian or jews. he was not jew. if he s elijah then what was he doing in USA?? he was suppose to be at Israel.
Elijah will come only to Israel not USA.
did you know that so many false prophet and always talk about REV> many false prophet misinterpret REV.
i think the problem today was that so many people are not reading bible everyday and not fellowship one other and not attending to church.
mostly people dont read WORD of GOD and that cause confusing.
people who read bible then they could tell that they are false prophet..
i encourage people who dont read bible much then please read bible more often..
i could tell u more about willaim branham but not worth my time bec i know GOD wants me to witness lost souls than wasting my time for those who are hard head or just won t admit to realized to see the truth.. please repent as soon as possible.. andd please read bible first.. once u understand bible again and again then u will see the thruth.thank you.. and GOD bless you