The Case Against Branhamism
Bible Answers on the End-Time Message • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro
Intro
Text - John 3.27-30
27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
Title - The Case Against Branhamism
Series - Bible Answers on the End-Time Message
Background
Background
The supernatural can be overwhelming to the natural man.
Peter and John were overwhelmed by Christ’s transfiguration - they wanted to build 3 temples on the mountain top
the people of Lystra were awed by the miracle done through Paul and Barnabas
8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.
9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
Throughout history, many Christians were guilty of building fanatic following around the the personality and ministry of God’s servants
Lutheranism - established by Martin Luthers followers after he was dead
Calvinism - John Calvin’s followers probably believed that he had the most well-rounded theology
How Branhamism developed
How Branhamism developed
Willim Branham’s ministry was marked by many supernatural and controversial things -
his teachings were not readily accepted
his prophecies were misunderstood
his views were misinterpreted
Branhamism (like many other cultic fanaticism) is viewed in two ways -
outsider’s perspective - branhamism includes all followers of the Message
insider’s perspective - branhamism refers to cultic following of some churches and ministers within the Message
Examples of fanatic following -
on baptizing in the name of Willia Branham
26 I heard of it a—a few years ago and I thought it was a joke. And I met a couple brethren (which I don’t see neither one of them in the meeting this morning), two or three of them one time in a fishing trip, and they approached me by the subject of saying, “Brother Branham, aren’t you the anointed Messiah, the Christ?”
27 And I put my arms around the neck of both brethren, or, all of them, and I said, “Brethren, as much as I have tried to be a true servant of Christ, I would not that you would say such a thing as that. And if it would ever be said of me, then I will leave the field with a clear conscience, and you who do that will be responsible for every soul that I would have saved during that time; see, for taking me from the field.” And I thought that ended it.
28 And I heard it a few more times. But it wasn’t so. And the other day in Canada a brother showed me a little ticket of a thing he’s packed in his pocket, said “William Branham is our Lord,” baptizing in the name of William Branham. And a little…a precious…If it had been an enemy, if it had been my enemy I would have knowed it was a joke. But a precious, darling brother come up to confess his sins and his wrongs and say his faith in me as being Jesus Christ.
29 And I have got letters at home, and calls from Chicago and different places, asking me if I believe that dogma.
30 And I got all kinds of letters that’s come in the last few days, and calls from different places, so, saying that I was Christ. Brethren, that is a horrible, disgraceful, ungodly lie of the devil! See? See, I am your brother. Now, that would run any person from the field. That would make anyone that loves Christ run from the very thing.
61-0611 - Revelation, Chapter Five #1
Rev. William Marrion Branham
on Moving to Arizon for the rapture
269. Also about these families that have sold out and moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona, where they have interpreted from one of your tapes titled (just a minute) Little Bethlehem—Little Bethlehem, the Rapture will take place in Arizona. Did you advise them to go there?
246 I certainly did not. When they wrote a letter about that, somebody up here in Connecticut or something, I answered the letter back and said, “You’re making the worst move you ever made in your life. Don’t you do a thing like that.” See, you can’t…Well, you just remember, you people…Now, you all know that I’m not telling them people to do that; I’m telling them not to do it. But you see, that’s got to follow the meeting. Why does people call me Messiah? Why does people…? They got carry…Well, one fellow out there showed me the other day, he had a little thing and he was go…carrying on, wanted all the people to be baptized in my name. That’d make me an antichrist! But I’m not for those things, and all you people know that. But you see, this has got…That only identifies the Message true.
247 Did not they come and try to tell John, though, that forerun the first coming of Christ, “Aren’t you the Messiah?”
He said, “I am not! I’m not even worthy to loose His shoes. I’m not even worthy to look at Him.”
See? But he said, “He that cometh after me…”
64-0823M - Questions And Answers #1
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Marks of Branhamism
Marks of Branhamism
Exalting the man of God beyond his calling.
Branhamism exalts the man of God beyond his calling and gift.
Examples
in Canada, some personal friends of WMB were baptizing people in the name of William Branham
in India, some ministers call him Christ Branham
Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son - Alpha
WMB was the firstborn Son of God - Omega
Believing that all the mysteries in the Bible were revealed to William Branham
Branhamism believes all mysteries have been revealed in WmB, leaving no room for the Holy Spirit to teach and guide other believers.
some ministers believe and teach that there are no more revealing of God outside of or after WMB
Taking everything WMB said to be truth or the absolute interpretation of the Bible.
Branhamism declares the sermons of WMB as the absolute interpretation of the Scripute.
many Message ministers believe that the sermons of WMB are the absolute interpretation of the Bible
Quote -
87 I thought, “Oh, my!” I never preached anything in my life under inspiration I had to take back, ’cause I don’t depend upon my own understanding. And if my understanding is contrary to God’s Word, then my understanding’s wrong. It’s got to be God’s Word. If it isn’t, leave it alone, it’s not right.
62-0211 - Oneness
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Rejecting all ideas outside of WMB’s sermons.
Branhamism fanatically follows the words and practices of WMB, while rejecting others.
“you are not a true believer if you entertain other minister’s teachings”
“you are not a true believer is you do not follow every thing that WMB did.”
“quotationer” / quoter
Creating new doctrines out of WMB’s statements and not based on the Scripture.
Branhamism assumes that WMB introduced new doctrines, and regards His words to be the Word, or on the same level as the Scripture.
Examples -
2 souls
third testament
eighth messenger
the rapture is spiritual, not actual experience
How to shun the spirit of Branhamism
How to shun the spirit of Branhamism
Make the Bible the standard of all that is true and right.
filter everything with the word of God
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Avoid exalting the man of God beyond his measure.
reconize the gift and the calling
recognize the purpose of the ministry
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Avoid idolatry.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
idolatry can be as simple as exalting a person in your heart.
Recognize the gift of God in others.
William Branham did
Recognize the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.
listen to the Holy Spirit
be guided by the Holy Spirit
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
the Holy Spirit will never speak against Jesus, nor will it recognize any authority or lordship on par with Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What do we say about Branhamism?
Branhamism is not WMB’s work.
Branhamism is the work of the devil who wants to sow confusion in the message, and discourage many others from receiving the message.
Branhamism is the result of fanatic spirits in the people, who are blinded by their emotions, fears, and respect of man.
What do we say to those who accuse us as branhamites?
We are not Branhamites like some in the Message, because -
we do not exalt WMB above his calling and gift as God’s prophet in the last days
we do not make WMB equal with Jesus Christ
we do not make everything he said/preached to be absolute doctrine
But as message believers -
we recognize that WMB was God’s prophet in the last days
we believe that God has used WMB in a mighty way to accomplish many things in the last days, including -
the calling out of the Bride of Christ out of religious systems
the revealing of many biblical mysteries and doctrines that were either lost in history or not given until this time
the unveiling of God’s end-time works
we read WMB’s sermon and gain insight through them more than any other books (outide the bible) simply because he was God’s voice for our time
we stay with the Word/Bible and hold It to be THE Word of God
And it’s got to come to one final absolute, and my absolute is the Word, the Bible. And as a pastor here of the church, my absolute is the Word, and I want…I know you, our brothers, you kind of look to me to be your absolute to what…as long as I follow God as Paul said in the Scripture, “You follow me, as I follow Christ.”
63-1226 - Church Order
Rev. William Marrion Branham