Doctrine
William Branham preached thousands of sermons, of which almost 1,200 have been recorded and transcribed. These sermons, together with a few books that he published (principally An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages) are the source for all Branham's doctrine. He believed that his theological understanding was the result of divine revelation, though he studied other teachers and incorporated some of their views
Along with some other Bible commentators, Branham believed that the seven churches described in The Revelation, chapters two and three represent seven historical ages of the Christian church, from its beginning to the present time. These ages were outlined in his book An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages :Ephesus (AD 53–170), Smyrna (170–312), Pergamos (312–606), Thyatira (606–1520), Sardis (1520–1750), Philadelphia (1750–1906), and finally Laodicea (1906–the rapture). Most of the dates agree with those given by Clarence Larkin in 1918 but Branham recognized the significance of the Azusa Street Revival to the Pentecostal movement. Branham believed the "angel" of each church was a man whose influence identified him as the messenger to an age. The messengers he named were Paul the Apostle, Irenaeus, Martin of Tours, Columba, Martin Luther, and John Wesley. He believed the last would be the Elijah prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6. Although Columba himself died 9 years before the Thyatirean church age began, his influence was carried on by the men he had trained. Branham never explicitly claimed to be the seventh angel but his followers today believe him to be the final messenger and the fulfilment of the second part of Malachi's Elijah prophecy.
Branham rejected the traditional understanding of the Trinity as three distinct, co-eternal Persons and taught what he called “the Supreme Deity of Jesus Christ”. At times he referred to the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity while explaining that God revealed Himself in three “offices or manifestations”. He used the example of an actor who plays several roles by changing his mask, and that of a father, husband and grandfather being the same person. There is only one God with three titles: Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Therefore water baptism, which he said should be by immersion, was performed in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not using the Trinitarian formula of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although Branham spoke about the "oneness of the Godhead", he disagreed with the Oneness Pentecostalism view.
Referring to the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, William Branham wrote:
| “ | Ever since then people have failed to realize that there is just one God with three offices or manifestations. They know there is one God according to Scripture, but they try to make it the fantastic theory that God is like a bunch of grapes; three persons with the same Divinity shared equally by all. But it plainly says here in Revelation that Jesus is "That Which Is", "That Which Was", and "That Which Is to Come". He is the "Alpha and Omega", which means that He is the "A to Z" or THE ALL OF IT. He is everything—the Almighty. He is the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star, the Righteous Branch, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He is God, Almighty God. ONE GOD. | ” |
Branham believed that his ministry was to declare that God was here as in the days of Abraham. He quoted Genesis 18:9–15 as Scriptural support for this statement in that during the appearance to Abraham, God knew what was in Sarah's mind in the tent behind him. He believed this foreshadowed the gift of discernment in his own ministry, and is indicated in Luke 17:28–30. After this supernatural sign was shown to Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. In the same way, William Branham believed the discernment in his ministry was a sign of the coming judgment on the earth (usually called the Great Tribulation).
Branham vehemently believed that the Bible was the infallible Word of God. He stated that anything contrary to the Word of God was Satan's kingdom. He insisted that faith had to be based on Scripture alone, and said that, even if an angel, another minister, or any church creed presented something different, it had to be ignored. He based everything on the Word of God being fully vindicated.
Branham's doctrine of serpent seed is still regarded as very controversial. He taught that eating the "fruit" in the Garden of Eden was taking heed of the devil's words which led to an act of sexual intercourse between Eve and the devil-possessed serpent, producing Cain as a result of their union. Branham preached that the Bible says a woman is the "weaker vessel" and he taught them that as Christians, they should wear modest clothing, keep their hair uncut, not preach, and be obedient to their husbands. Men should take their role as head of the house.
Branham said he had received seven major prophecies in 1933 regarding events unfolding in the world. He predicted "that 1977 ought to terminate the world systems and usher in the millennium."
| “ | Based on these seven visions, along with the rapid changes which have swept the world in the last fifty years, I PREDICT (I do not prophesy) that these visions will have all come to pass by 1977. And though many may feel that this is an irresponsible statement in view of the fact that Jesus said that 'no man knoweth the day nor the hour.' I still maintain this prediction after thirty years because, Jesus did NOT say no man could know the year, month or week in which His coming was to be completed. 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. | ” |
Branham claimed to have made several prophecies, including the Second Coming of Christ. This included a prophecy that "the city of Los Angeles would 'sink beneath the ocean'" and that a tidal wave would sweep inland as far as the Salton Sea.
Although William Branham encouraged people to attend the church of their choice, he also spoke strongly against religious organisations. He believed that denominationalism would prove to be the mark of the beast.
Criticism of Branham's ministry has focused not only on doctrinal differences, but on his belief in divine revelation through astronomical constellations and aspects of pyramidology. This is based on his comment that "God wrote three Bibles". He said these were the zodiac (see mazzaroth), the great pyramid and the Holy Bible. He believed the first two pre-dated any written Scripture, and they are not meant for Christians today. Branham was strongly opposed to astrological horoscopes and said fortune telling was of the devil.
Branham distinguished between the 'church' and the 'bride'. The latter were believers who had received the Holy Spirit. Only these believers would be taken in the Rapture Branham's followers believe he had a specific Message for the Bride, teaching that the Seven Thunders of Revelation 10:3–4 were to be revealed to gather the Bride, to give her faith, and to prepare her for the great translation faith.
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