The Truth about William Branham: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

This is a brief history of the life and ministry of William Branham, a prominent healing evangelist in the mid-20th century. I try to give a balanced perspective on the man and his ministry that includes his days of incredible miracles and his ultimate descent into error. When Gordon Lindsay accompanied him as his crusade director he kept him on track, but once he and Ern Baxter weren't there to steady him, he got off into false doctrine, thinking that he was the messenger of the covenant. God spoke to Kenneth Hagin, Anna Schrader, and others that he had made a fatal error and needed to get back to his calling. Gordan Lindsay tried to persuade him to stop teaching but he wouldn't listen. Branham died on Christmas Eve in 1965, sadly fulfilling Brother Hagin's prophecy.

I'm Rod Saunders, founder of Jew and Greek. I’m a musician, web developer, and a student of philosophy and economics. I recently published my first book on Amazon entitled Defending the Faith: Word of Faith Apologetics. It’s a response to the numerous charges against and misrepresentations of the Word of Faith movement and theology. I also have a CD of original music on CD Baby entitled Gates of Pearl. “Jew and Greek” is a good name because the two civilizations that influenced Western civilization the most were those of the Judeo-Christian and Greek worlds. From the Jews we received our values and a monotheistic theology, and from the Greeks we got philosophy which brought us science, sports, the arts, democracy, and economics. As a result I discuss all of the above in this blog and in my videos.

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[JewandGreek]

In the six months since I did this video it has attracted a lot of Branhamites (followers of William Branham). I just want to say here that Branham was a true prophet in my opinion, but he was also very flawed and died before his time by the mercy of God. All of these Branhamites need to forsake their idolatry and get their eyes on Jesus - not legalism, not Branham's quirky teachings, and not Branham's miracles. Jesus is your savior, teacher, and king. He sent William Branham to preach the gospel and minister healing and prophecy through his unique gifts. When Branham strayed from his calling he was removed from the scene and others carried on the work of preaching the gospel in the power of the Spirit. Ministers come and go, but the Word of God endures forever. Blessings.

[honestnewsnet]

Gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

[judemoralesU]

I was baptized in the Ohio River by the preacher of the Rock of Ages Church when I was about 11. I heard trumpets from the sky. I went to tell my grandmother that I must be crazy, she said "you're not" and she opened the bible to a verse that said "when a soul is saved, the angels rejoiced and blew trumpets from the four corners of the earth". I'm 72 now but I remember this clearly.

[wallacewillard]

Show me any man today, or in the passed, that is not flawed. I have listened to many many hours of Branhams teachings. One thing for sure, his ministry has brought me closer to the Lord Jesus.

[michaeldente]

Revelation cometh not by intellectual conception...Only God can reveal and that does not require a mental agreement.

[RichardKipkiruirono]

Critics will go on criticizing but the truth keeps marching on. Praise the Lord 😅

[LarzGustafsson]

I was re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ on April 28th, 1996 by a UPC Minister here in Sweden. That changed my Christian life for the better.

[sunsetpsalmist]

You really have no idea how Bro. Branham's entire message and holiness standard is transforming lives into the perfect image of Jesus Christ in this evil generation. God have mercy.

[Jesus-Is-Humble]

I must first state that I'm not a Branhamite, don't know him, and never met anyone who knew him. I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ who is a solid Bible reader and one who is also familiar with what Branham actually said (because I've listened to his sermons). I can tell you factually that he was NOT a unitarian, nor did he teach "the oneness" doctrine in the manner that you state. Branham accurately quoted the scriptures and said that God IS ONE ( see MARK 12:29 and JOHN 10:30). Also read Wycliff's or Tyndale's translation of 1 John 5: 7 "For ther are thre which beare recorde in heuen the father the worde and the wholy goost. And these thre are one."

Note, in his sermon Branham clarified that he didn't mean God is one like one finger, but explained he was talking about a compound one-ness, a complexity that describes the complete unity of God manesfested in terms we as humans can understand as offices of Father, Son, Holy Spirit. God demonstrated himself to us in this way so that we have an picture of who he is (because he is beyond our limited human understanding and HOLY beyond our understanding of the word).

Regarding what you said about Branham's serpent seed doctrine being wrong -- I don't have scriptual proof that it is wrong and if you do please point to the scripture. In fact, Branham's explanation seems to be the more credible of what exactly happened in that Garden than many other explanations others have made. The Bible does that Adam and Eve knew they were naked after they "ate" -- an implication of self realization. Implications comes with "naked" which makes sense to think there was a sexual sin initially -- and that would be a big deal because of the consequences it posed for human procreation. Note: Eve's punishment was that she would have childbirth in pain -- another implication that comes from sexual intercourse as one could only have a child in those days through intercourse. Lastly, there is only one iniial mention mention of Adam "knowing" his wife before she first gave birth to Cain and then to Abel -- so it was written as if the birth took place concurrently. Lastly, interesting that Adam "knew" his life and the serpant represented the tree of "knowledge" of good and evil. So Branham might be correct -- I don't know for sure but he has a credible explanation. That others misused Branham's insight is not his fault.

I do AGREE with YOU that Branham likely got into error late in his life in other ways -- BUT I think iit happened likely in the last year or maybe two years of his life when he was preaching about the book of Revelation and some other sermons that did not sound annointed. There was something off -- he sounded tired, and I think that maybe he was discouraged about his personal life and the way things were going -- perhaps emotionally drained and world weary.

I do hope that those who attend the church he founded realize that he did not intend for them to live off his tapes. We are to be the disciples of Jesus Christ only and Branham would agree with that 100 percent as he has said so many time. Jesus alone is Lord. To those who want to be saved the Bible tells us what to do -- Repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you today. Do not be deceived. See: Acts 2: 38; March 16:16. Then life your life in line with the teachings of Jesus -- read it for yourself. Most of all love one another christians - that is how you know you have passed from dark to light (1 Corinthians 13:1-8)

[NandoValenzuela]

Branham's tabernacle as well as his grave is near by where I live everyone in the surrounding area says they're a cult an things like that but I believe this man was annointed

[eagleeyes]

Believing Jesus after the fact is easy but what if you had to live 2000 years ago in His earthly ministry....6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.6:59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John

[MrCurtis]

Very Well said, I've heard both ends of the spectrum concerning Branham, this was the most balanced version, and IMO the best! You said it,
focus on Jesus because a man and/or his ministry always has a chance to fail and let you down, Jesus never will!

[meenakasim]

Bro Branham was an old testament Prophet. Everybody liked his healing but when he started preaching about trinity then the people started finding faults in him. Bro Branham was a man chosen by God...he was not flawed...he died in his appointed time .

[rosez]

William Brahnam was a man sent from God the rest is up to God .I love his message nommater what it changed my life he taught me the true word

[romanjrojasv]

Greetings, one says in his opinion and according to the text where it is prophesied that he would die at an early age for wrongly teaching doctrine, but has a minister always died of old age? What about Peter?

[Leratopp]

All you people claiming William Branham taught strange doctrines towards the end of his life, please state what those false doctrines are. He was anointed of God and He revealed Jesus in the day that we live in. I Jesus with ALL MY LIFE, and I thank the very same Jesus for sending a man who taught me the truth Word of God.

[MrDonpasqualino]

Overall decent, with some good info, and paid respect where it was due, but to judge a man's doctrine as wrong by your own? Nonsense! If you believe in the trinity, then include how the trinity is the truth after you claim Branham preached a false doctrine against it. I've listened to so many of Branham's sermons that I can assure you its the other way, as Branham learned the truth more as he walked with God and by the end had solid doctrine. If the serpent seed doctrine is wrong, please show us how before striking it down. God bless you brother!

[SamuelIkoh]

I thank GOD that these things have come to pass to prove that William Marrion Branham is a through prophet of GOD to the loadecian church age. Had the religious evil spirits of this day did not attack the message of the prophet, I would have known that it's not from GOD. Like they told the LORD JESUS CHRIST in HIS days, " for good works we kill thee not but for thou being a man and maketh thyself GOD"

[whseed]

There is is over one thousand audio sermons of William Branham on line, why not listen to them yourself, people too lazy

[ksdmanikumar]

Bro .... In My experience with God I thought God not there but ....I sence some fire on me in meetings so....that personal experience is need to accept branham is real prophet
Branham is real Prophet❤
Stay with the word
God bless you @JewandGreek