William Marrion Branham- Introduction
Some say he was Elijah, others say he was the Son of Man. Some even say he was the Christ. Was William Branham (one of the most popular faith healers of this century) really a prophet of God?
William Marrion Branham- His Ministry
The ministry of William Branham blossomed in the late 1940’s until his death in 1965. Many of his followers claim that he personified the second coming of Elijah whose message, they say, was to call the church out of the creeds of orthodox theology.
William Marrion Branham- Legendary Treatment
Some even say that Branham was the incarnation of Jesus Christ, and they go as far as to say that he was virgin born, and actually pray to him and baptize in his name. In light of all this, it is rather strange that some Pentecostal and Charismatic leaders like Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, and Benny Hinn still consider Branham to be a great man of God — all of this because of his ability to perform miracles.
William Marrion Branham- A True Prophet?
Well, miracles are really not a sufficient test to confirm whether or not someone is a true prophet of God. If that were the case, practitioners of the Christian Science cult who report miraculous healings would also have to be considered Christians. You see, the acid test is how do Branham’s teachings hold up in the light of Scripture? Well the truth is, Branham was clearly influenced by the Oneness Pentecostal Movement. Therefore, he claimed that the Trinity was of the devil. He also said that Eve had sex with the Serpent in the Garden of Eden which resulted in the birth of Cain and that Cain’s descendents are the scientists and educated people of today.
William Marrion Branham- Clarifying the Falsehoods
Well it goes without saying, of course, this doctrine is totally false. In fact, Cain’s descendents (as anyone ought to know) were wiped out during the flood of Noah (Gen. 6-9). And, of course, contrary to Branham’s teachings, the Bible clearly affirms the doctrine of the Trinity as one God revealed in three eternal Persons in such passages as Matthew 3:16,17; John 1:1-14; and John 15:26.
William Marrion Branham- A False Prophet
Well here’s the bottom line, because William Branham taught these and other false doctrines, we can only conclude that he was not a true prophet of God. Hagin, Roberts, Hinn and others may call him a true prophet of God, but the clear verdict of Scriptures is that he is the personification of the false prophets who are described in Jeremiah Chapter 23.On whether or not William Branham was a true prophet of God, that’s the CRI Perspective. I’m Hank Hanegraaff.
