Ok this is where I say we really just need to step back and test what the spirit is saying here. William Branham and his devotees believe (WMB from here on out) to be the voice or messenger of the SEVENTH angel! In studying cults and other false religions we see a pattern of angelic (1 Timothy 4:1) visitors giving “New Revelation”. The problem is we need to test the spirits. (1 John 4) There is warning after warning in the bible of lying spirits lying signs & wonders (2Th 2:9) We get this brief quote off of the “Official William Branham Page”. Then consider the many scriptures that warn over and over of the deception that is to mark the last days. Jesus warned us as do the other prophets and apostles: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:4-5
By Joshua Toupos
The claims made here are very serious! [bctt tweet=”WMB and many in the Third Wave claim to be apostles and prophets for today. They claim to be anointed.”]
Take a peek here… From WMB’s site:
In Revelation 10 above we find that John was instructed to“…Seal Up those things which the Seven Thunders uttered, and write them not…..BUT in the days of the Voice of the Seventh Angel, when he shall begin to sound, the Mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared unto His servants the prophets”. A “prophetic ministry” is here promised to come in the last days to receive from ‘the Lamb’ the mystery of the Opened Book.
William Branham Voice of the Seventh Angel?
This prophetic ministry – “…the days of the Voice of the ‘Seventh Angel’ (Messenger), when he shall begin to sound,…” – clearly relates, NOT to an heavenly angel sounding on a trumpet, but it is the MESSENGER (a man) to the Laodicean Age Speaking to us the Word of God. The proof of this is set forth in Rev. 9:13 and Rev. 11:15. HERE are the two heavenly trumpeters. “And the SIXTH angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God saying to the SIXTH angel which hath the trumpet.”(Rev. 9:13). “And the SEVENTH angel sounded and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, etc.” NOTICE in the SEVENTH trumpet that Christ is set forth as taking His rightful kingdom. BUT in Rev. 10:7 the Messenger there is still sounding, and his sounding is declaring the Mysteries of God to the Church, not through a denomination or Evangelist or Bible teacher BUT through a Prophet.
Yes, this shows us that this one we call ‘The Seventh Angel’, is no spirit being. He is a man. He is a MESSENGER, and since he is the Last Messenger, being the Seventh Messenger, he is the Messenger to the Laodicean Age. As the Elect of God in the Ephesian Age recognized Paul as thier Messenger and paid attention to his Message, even so the Elected Seed of God in this last Age, can and will know the Seventh Angel Messenger-Prophet sent to them – they WILL hear, recognize and act on the Message he brings. (Source)
This man, William Branham has set a trajectory for those who seek after “Signs n Wonders” into the lap of the coming Antichrist and not the Lord Jesus Christ. Now is this is a list of scriptures to consider on deception and warnings of false prophets, teachers and apostles:
If I have not yet listed enough scripture warning against false teachers, then the following list of verses should help: Just hover cursor over scriptures and the passage will pop up!
Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 24:10; Mark 22:23; Acts 20:25-31; Romans 16:17-18; Galatians 1:6-9; Colossians 2:8,18-19; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:3-7; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 1 Timothy 4:1-8,16; 1 Timothy 5:3-10; 1 Timothy 6:20-21; 2 Timothy 2:14-18; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:9-16; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 2 Peter 3:14-18; 1 John 1:18-27; 1 John 4:1-6; 2 John 7-11; Jude 3-19
Why Study Prophecy?
Briefly let’s look at this claim of being the voice of the 7th Angel! Where is that in relation to the bible? In Revelation 1:19 we are given an order of events. An outline of sorts for the entire book!
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter…” Revelation 1:19
Briefly let me state here that “if” the claims of WMB where true, then a whole bunch of the book of Revelation has been fulfilled. I have been given DVD’s, links, and books on wild speculative soon coming events from the first Gulf War onward.
An overview of the seven seals from a decidedly biblical perspective. One should note here that the bible only has ONE true interpretation. The book of Revelation has over 800 illusions to the Old Testament in it’s 404 verses! Most of it is interpreted for us and the rest is a treasure hunt of sorts by connecting the Old Testament prophecies as a cypher.
The First Chapter of Revelation is a picture of the glorified Christ! Wow. Chapters 2 & 3 outline all of Church history. See our Revelation Video Series section. From Chapter 4 the Church is not even mentioned except as the bride coming back with her Husband in glory! Chapters 4 & 5 show the wonders of the Church now in heaven at The Bema Seat and the Throne room of heaven! Chapters 6 thru 20 is the Tribulation period, Daniel’s 70th Week. Climaxing at the Great White Throne Judgement. Revelation 21 & 22 is the Millennium and The New Creation of Heaven and Earth and on into eternal glory.
Okay so lets look briefly at the Seal Judgements in Revelation 6 and the Trumpet Judgements. A brief outline:
SEAL Judgements
Rev. 6:2 1st seal conquers with a peace plan.
Rev.6:3-2nd Seal: Wars on earth
Rev.6:5-3rd Seal: Worldwide economic trouble
Rev.6:7-4th Seal: Death released. 1/4 of the worlds population to die by plagues, disease, and beasts of the earth
Rev.6:9-5th Seal: Persecution and mass killing of God’s people worldwide
Rev.6:12-6th Seal: Massive earthquake wrath of God.
Rev.7:2-7th Seal: 144,000 Jewish males are anointed to evangelize the earth
TRUMPET Judgements
Rev.8:7-1st Trumpet: Hail, fire, and blood. 1/3 all grass and trees burned up
Rev.8:8 -2nd Trumpet: Great mountain hits sea. 1/3 all ocean becomes blood. 1/3 all sea life dies and 1/3 all ships destroyed.
Rev.8:10-3rd Trumpet: Wormwood star hits earth. 1/3 all freshwater poisoned.
Rev.8:12-4th Trumpet: 1/3 of sun and moon darkened.
Rev.9:1-5th Trumpet: locust beasts that sting and torment men are loosed from the pit.
Rev.9:13-6th Trumpet: demons released and 200 million army kills 1/3 of the world’s population.
Now that’s a full 25% of the worlds population of today let’s say 7 billion! That’s 1 billion 750 million dead! Very quickly so we are talking less that 7 year span here. Yikes, then the by the 6th Trumpet another full 33% of what’s left is killed! 5.25 Billion left takes another 33%, nearly 2 billion more perish! This is close to half the population! 3.48 Billion! If WMB was the voice of the 7th angel, don’t you think we would of noticed or recorded these cataclysmic events? I think that’s an affirmative.
So if he is not the voice of an angel and he has made public he speaks with an angel. What spirit is this? We don’t discount that he had some experiences, but was it from God or another spirit? How about a familiar spirit. The bible speaks to this type of spirit guide and angelic messenger.
A Familiar Spirit
and is intended to express the idea that sorcerers had spirits as their servants ready to obey their commands. Those attempting to contact the dead, even to this day, usually have some sort of spirit guide who communicates with them. Recall Branham’s life testimony is he had an angel (spirit guide from birth) These are familiar spirits. See list of scripture on this very frequent phenomena. Familiar Spirits in the bible.
Leviticus 19:31;20:6,27; and Deuteronomy 18:9-14 refer to “mediums and familiar spirits” and forbids being involved with them, as they are an abomination to the Lord. A medium is one who acts as a liaison to supposedly contact or communicate with the dead on behalf of the living. Benny Hinn and others want the anointing from past revivalists! In reality mediums are contacting demons who convince the mediums that they are “familiar” and can be trusted and believed. The practices associated with mediums and familiar spirits were banned in Israel, and the punishment for practicing such things was death.
We will have to visit in the next article that William Branham preached “another Jesus” 2 Cr 11:4
Benny Hinn and others want the anointing from past revivalists!
Familiar spirits and spirit guides are under the control of their master, Satan. They influence people to spread lies and deceit in order to thwart the kingdom of God. To knowingly open oneself to the work of demons is an evil thing: “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in [a] fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12a). Today those in the Third Wave seek “The Anointing of those past so called prophets much like Saul the apostate King of Israel sought a familiar spirit and perished!
1 Samuel 28:3-25 – Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
1 Chronicles 10:13 – So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to enquire [of it]…
Some avenues through which demons or “familiar spirits” can gain entrance (false anointing) into a person’s life are divination, transcendental meditation, visualization, necromancy, witchcraft, drugs, and alcohol. These are all activities that believers are exhorted to avoid. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with love, with joy, and with the fullness of life that comes from Jesus Christ. We are also to be on guard, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). (Source)
Anointed?
1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
2) anointed
You hear this all the time with the signs & wonders “The Anointing” Here we have another quote among hundreds to choose from! “In Photo above, Wm. Branham, weakens Under The Anointing, Discerning the thoughts and Intents Of the Heart…..A Brother At The Back Is Holding Him Up.” (Source)
This is an very troubling statement in his booklet:
“The anointed at the end of the time” Branham says that the false Christs and false prophets (Matt. 24:24) are anointed with the really Holy Spirit. He says that God gives the Holy Spirit in the same way that the rain falls on both the weeds and the wheat.
On the page 8 Branham says, “Jesus says that the rain falls on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Now perhaps anyone would say to me, Do you think that the anointing over these persons is of the Holy Spirit? Yes, the true Holy Spirit of God over these persons and yet they are false! Do listen attentively to what he said, they will appear and do great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if that were possible. And they are anointed with the really Holy Spirit!”
On the page 21 Branham says, “You see that the anointing comes over the unrighteous, the false teachers, and get them to do just what God said that they would not do, but they will do it yet.”
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 Church 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.
The Seven Hidden Gospels?
As at the beginning of this article we see the claim to be “the Voice of the Seventh Angel” and today it is venomous dribble is draped in the so called “7 Hidden Gospels”. This is more gnostic super duper flim flam for those who won’t read their bible, but want to have some kind of goose bump experience to feel God. This is why we are inspecting the foundational teachings that permeate the Third Wave Teachers today. Looks like sand to me and it won’t hold to the light of scripture as noted above. Not even close!
There is only one gospel message that the bible teaches. Galatians 1:6-9 There are too many today who want to sound super spiritual by promoting “New Revelation” and hidden meanings. The others are cursed!
Next time we will need to look at how the setting up of false prophets and apostles for today is another gospel and another Jesus. This is why this series is so vital to those who get sucked into the Signs and Wonders. We hope to cause you to study your bible and not follow the false teachers. See the connection made here by Beyond Grace
There is a conspicuous tie between the doctrine of the seven hidden gospels and the levels of revelation. Because canonized scripture was given by a direct form of revelation it only seems logical to require that form of revelation to the additional seven that will be “added to the book”. And there is a connection to the restoration of the Apostolic office, as only those who have seen Jesus face-to-face have, to this point, been considered apostles. A simple vision will not suffice; one must have been transported to the throne room for this form of high revelation. Many of the Kansas City Prophets and people like Todd Bentley claim this level of authority.
In recent years just about everything in the third-wave church has been declared to be prophetic, be it “prophetic evangelism”, “prophetic soaking prayer” or even “prophetic flag waving” during the duration of the services. One of the most common terms these days for these third-wave churches within the Manifest Son’s movement is “The Prophetic Church”.
The Gnostic emphasis on the mystical experience, coupled with the need for a perverse emphasis on personal prophecy (negating the need for each believer to establish a direct working relationship with God) has brought the church to adopt stranger and stranger ways of hearing from God. The doctrines of “inherent inaccuracies” and “levels of prophecy” are now being taught and propagated in the third-wave church. (Source)
Defending The Gospel
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:6-9
-There is only one Gospel of Jesus Christ because…
v.6-7 – 1. God has determined to call sinners to repentance only through this Gospel.
v.8-9 – 2. God has determined every so-called new “gospel” is false.
v.10 – 3. God is pleased by the preaching of this Gospel alone.
v.8 – But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
– But though we,
The apostle Paul here is talking about the apostles. In Ephesians 2:20, the apostle Paul said, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Even though the apostles were the “foundation layers” of the church, we still shouldn’t receive a “new” Gospel from them, ever.
NOTE: There are those who have come throughout history who have claimed to be apostles, or at least coming in their authority; and because they preached a different Gospel, they showed themselves to be false.
-Illustration: The Pope is considered a modern-day apostle, but he preaches and teaches a different Gospel; therefore, we shouldn’t accept him or his teaching!
–or an angel from heaven,
Even if an angel appeared in front of us right now; if this angel carried a different Gospel than this Bible, then we shouldn’t listen to him.
-Illustration: Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, and the “Translator” of the Book of Mormon, was supposedly told by the angel Moroni to translate the Book of Mormon from “golden tablets”. He did this by looking through “supernatural spectacles” to translate the reformed Egyptian Hieroglyphics into English; which became the Book of Mormon (it’s also reported that Joseph Smith put a Seer stone in a hat, not looking at the golden plates, but translating from the stone itself). Also, Muhammad, the founder of Islam, supposedly was given the Koran by Allah’s (Islam’s god) command through the angel Gabriel.
NOTE: I don’t doubt that both of these men literally saw angels; but, they weren’t heavenly angels because they carried and communicated different Gospels. The apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians 11:14said, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
–preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you,
Once again, there is only one Gospel. The apostles carried it, and faithfully proclaimed it; and they preached on the authority of Christ.
–let him be accursed.
Because of these truths, if anyone comes with ANYTHING else other than the Gospel of the apostles, then let him be accursed. This means that false teachers are to be put out of the church. John the apostle wrote in 2 John 1:7-11, “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”
v.9 – As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
-The apostle Paul, in order to be clear repeats his declaration that there is one Gospel; there is one good news, and if anyone preaches another one, let him be accursed.
Conclusion:
NOTE: False teachers and false teaching must be taken seriously.
We must realize that to truly love these people, and to love those who are under their teaching, is to confront them with the Truth! (Source)
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I think the Bible also implies and speaks much about ministries that have no signs and wonders. It seems in the zeal to condemn those who desire to see them we are quick to omit exposing the false teachers who do not have any. Here is some of the Biblical view of that side of the coin. William Branham wasn’t heretical because he was used of God in healings, signs and wonders but because he doctrinally strayed. he was a poorly educated man who missed something.
“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. (Mark 16:20A, NASB95)
Jesus Himself told us to watch for a sign…(so we would not be decieved)
““And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30, NASB95)
Signs are a hallmark of the believer, well disciple or true apostle might fit the context better.
““These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;” (Mark 16:17, NASB95)
Further testimony that the believer will have signs following them,
“EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy. ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.” (Acts 2:18–19, NASB95)
(notice that they prophesy and THEN God releases the signs and wonders in the heavens.)
Here is a demonstration of what a deacons ministry should have
“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8, NASB95)
Here is an example, the only biblical one I can think of, of what a true evangelists’s, or apostle depending on who you think Philip is, ministry looks like, “The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.” (Acts 8:6, NASB95)
“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico.” (Acts 5:12, NASB95)
I could go on but I think thats enough. Paul spoke to us and said beware of those whose words have no power. Power in context is a demonstration of the gospel that Jesus taught. The one where he began to do AND teach.
“The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.” (2 Corinthians 12:12, NASB95)
“God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” (Hebrews 2:4, NASB95)
THIS IS WHO HE REALLY IS.
I am the Lord who healeth thee cannot change. Ever.
Earl,
Thanks for your comment… I don’t entirely disagree with your statement, but we must take the “Whole Counsel of God” (Acts 20:7).
Jesus said, Just a bit further up from your quote Matthew. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24 The “if” in the Greek here is implies terms of condition to denotes “if therefore,” “if accordingly” (i.e., if in these circumstances).
Please read over the entire series… He claimed many things that did NOT happen, making him a false prophet. We do not as the article states say he did not do signs & wonders. It is the full body of his teachings which we document.
We are also warned that the enemy would seek to send lying signs & wonders to deceive… Deception by nature is hard to detect. The antichrist system is being assembled to counterfeit God’s people. “Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” 2 Thessalonians 2:8-14
Their are many signs & wonders today. Israel is in the land again, I was saved, many, many things are happening. Stay in the word and recall that Jesus also said about those who seek sign. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” Matthew 16:4
Jesus also addressed those seeking again after miracles for evidence. “Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” John 4:48.
This issue is really not signs & wonders, it’s the attitude…Faith is subject… That is what God wants from us. Too simply take Him at His word. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 It does a work on the inside of the man converting the soul to the things of God. This is a blessing friend.
This was Jesus, (God in the flesh) response to those who want to serve Him.
“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world…” John 6:28-33 Jesus is the very word of God… John 1:1-14
Also Thomas comes to mind… He needed to see “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” John 20:24-31 Needed a sign…. But Jesus said, “blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” vs.29
Truly many things are coming… We must examine all Branham teachings as well as this ministry. Be a Berean Acts 17:11 God bless you Earl.