Do Branhamites?...

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Here's a thread for those who want quick questions on Branhamism, starting their questions with the words, "Do Branhamites..." Maybe Dr. Vaugn can provide the answers to further educate us.

Do Branhamites allow formal education, or education at all? Past 8th grade? Past high school?

I only ask because I was hearing a former Branhamite speak, and he was saying how he wasn't allowed to get a formal education, and when he wanted to further his studies and whatnot, he had to leave his house at the age of 16.

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

[Dr. Vaughn]

Bro. Alex

Some of the most educated folks you will ever meet follow the teachings of Bro. Branham.. I myself graduated High School and College... so did my wife.... these types of rumors are very sad indeed

[W. Layton]

As one who follows the teaching of the Bible according the Bro Branham, I will say that what you have heard is wrong Brother Alex. and what Dr Vaughn said is true.
We are (most of us) Bible believers, we practice holiness, we believe in receiving the holy ghost. we believe in the gifts of the spirit. Most of what I believe I was taught as a child in the Jesus Name Pentecostal church I grew up in.
Some things Bro Branham taught are different from that but not much.

I will say like most (if not all) beliefs, there are some strange doctrines that have come out of what Bro Branham taught, but that don't mean he taught it. It's just peoples interpretation of things. After all Jesus Christ came preaching a message and then sent Paul to the gentiles...from the day of pentecost until today look what has happened to the word of God....one message has been interpreted into how many denominations?

A long answer to a short question...:))

[MissBrattified]

And, of course, we have Dr. Vaughn's sterling example of what Branhamism is all about. :thumbsup

[x588290]

Ok here goes

I only registered just so i can answer you question. I am an exbranhamite i grew up in their teachings. I am now 24 still very young. Your question was about what branhamites think of education. Well let me say this, Satan gets to the people by telling them a lie right. A lie that is part of a truth. Branhamites will not say DONT EDUCATE YOUR SELF or YOU CAN NOT GO TO SCHOOL they will preach to you that too much education will put reasoning into your life and you will sooner or later stray away from beliving in miracles and will stop having faith and will start looking for logic reasons to everything. All though william branham did not finish school he was a very educated man read a lot and was very well informed. Now these 'branhamites' will teach that education is BAD for you. I had to stop going to school when i was 13 and couldnt work or go to school. I know complete families and churches that have children who have never been in schools that barley know how to read and write. This is not a lie please contact me and i will proof to you of these things I had to run away from home because of this. Yes this is very sad indeed. I was congregating at a branhamite church when the pastor decided that everyone had to now stop going to church and start praying in basements and in their own homes but he would go every monday to collect his tithings.... ???? uhhh yeah. Also there is a group that doesnt believe in sports because william branham said that men would make a god out of a ball, so there for this pastor scolds everyone who would play a sport. I believe william branham was a good man and believe he had the gift of healing. I absolutely detest these branhamites and think its just disgusting to see what these people are doing these people who have made a GOd off of this man. And do what they wish to do to ignorant people and put GODs name upfront

[EyeamOK]

I am a strong believer in Bro. Branham! 2 of my 3 children have college degrees. Bro. Branham's children were not made to quit school.

[Monterrey]

Just curious,

How many Branhamites have ended up in that Homestead place in waco?

[DeepThinker]

Bro. Alex

Some of the most educated folks you will ever meet follow the teachings of Bro. Branham.. I myself graduated High School and College... so did my wife.... these types of rumors are very sad indeed

Didn't he conjure up that Serpent Seed doctrine?

[Pastor Keith]

Bro. Alex

Some of the most educated folks you will ever meet follow the teachings of Bro. Branham.. I myself graduated High School and College... so did my wife.... these types of rumors are very sad indeed

Good Dr. How is that education working for you?

[EyeamOK]

Did he conjure up the Serpent Seed Doctrine? You might want to read Genesis 3:14-15.
(The Lord God said unto the Serpent......Thy seed)

Even if you would disagree with Bro. Branham on what the Serpent Seed is, I don't think you could say he conjured it up. Whatever it is, there is such a thing.

[MissBrattified]

Did he conjure up the Serpent Seed Doctrine? You might want to read Genesis 3:14-15.
(The Lord God said unto the Serpent......Thy seed)

Even if you would disagree with Bro. Branham on what the Serpent Seed is, I don't think you could say he conjured it up. Whatever it is, there is such a thing.

Serpent Seed Doctrine refers to the belief that Cain was a result of a sexual relationship between Eve and the Serpent.

The doctrine ignores (or contradicts) this scripture:

Genesis 4:1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."

From Wikipedia's article:

"William Branham taught that the fall of mankind resulted from Eve having sexual intercourse with an upright Beast whom Adam had named 'Serpent'"

[NotforSale]

Serpent Seed Doctrine refers to the belief that Cain was a result of a sexual relationship between Eve and the Serpent.

The doctrine ignores (or contradicts) this scripture:

Genesis 4:1 "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD."

From Wikipedia's article:

"William Branham taught that the fall of mankind resulted from Eve having sexual intercourse with an upright Beast whom Adam had named 'Serpent'"

Wow, this is crazy stuff! Now I've heard everything! I've never looked into this before and can only imagine where it might lead.

Thanks for bringing some sensible Scripture into this to help ice the fire.

Seriously, I'm stunned people believe in such bizzare doctrinal antidotes.

I did look at the Branham Web Site, and the beginning of this man is very twisted, and his apparent "Halo" or "Angel" that followed him from birth seemed intoxicated with dopey religiosity, leaving me with a "Yeah, right...Suuure, Uh Huh, HA!".

Sorry, I don't go for it, and I think the guy was a little too into himself.

[MissBrattified]

Wow, this is crazy stuff! Now I've heard everything! I've never looked into this before and can only imagine where it might lead.

Thanks for bringing some sensible Scripture into this to help ice the fire.

Seriously, I'm stunned people believe in such bizzare doctrinal antidotes.

I did look at the Branham Web Site, and the beginning of this man is very twisted, and his apparent "Halo" or "Angel" that followed him from birth seemed intoxicated with dopey religiosity, leaving me with a "Yeah, right...Suuure, Uh Huh, HA!".

Sorry, I don't go for it, and I think the guy was a little too into himself.

Where the Serpent Seed Doctrine led, in particular, (or at least, of concern to me) was to a general disrespect for women that permeates many of WB's sermons. Those who argue against that fact simply haven't listened to his recorded sermons.

If you want to be disgusted and get really mad, look up some of WB's sermons online and listen to them all the way through! It's time consuming, but morbidly fascinating. It's no wonder people come away twisted and confused. The sermons about women and marriage are particularly irksome. (I don't remember the specific titles.)

Bro. Epley has a lot of info and insight into Branhamism--too bad he's not here. I'm sure you can go back and find some of the older conversations if you're interested.

[snowwhitedove]

Hello everyone and God bless. I am a former follower of "The Message" of William Branham. I left the church about 4 years ago after being in it for roughly 12 years. I was looking for a nice apostolic women's message board to join through google when for some reason this message board came up and all of the Branham talk...and it caught my eye so I registered so that I could post because I have something to say. First of all, I am a female *gasp* and I CAN have my own opinions about things, believe it or not! One thing I would like to remind everyone here, and that is our ultimate goal is to make heaven our home...message believers DO love God! At least I would like to think that most of them do anyway. I have also felt, even when I was in the message church that we are ALL brothers and sisters in christ and should not put one another down but should lift one another up and encourage each other to the best of our ability, even though most message churches preach otherwise. I feel that this is pleasing to the Lord, don't you? I left the church for personal reasons...and as to questions about Brother Branham being a prophet, I have left THAT in God's hands. If he was...then so be it. If he was NOT...then God will deal with that as well. My goal is to make heaven MY home, and help someone else along the way if I can. BUT I will say THIS: we still have family in the church...if you people here are genuine Christians would you please PRAY for them instead of knocking them down for being what you call "branhamites?" they are still supposed to be your brother/sister in Christ remember that. You should be lifting people up instead of on message boards slandering and debating about it. Please check yourselves to make absolutely SURE that your every thought and action is pleasing to the LORD. IF and I say IF these Message people ARE in the wrong then they do need prayer...not to be made fun of, or condemned. We, as Christians need to stand in the gap for them and reach out to Christ Jesus on their behalf. When I left the church I was so scared that God would send me straight to hell, because of what was preached to me all of those years...we are told that if we left the church then there is nothing left for us...I am just now getting myself straightened out...and I still have some very bad days. if you people are very strong in the Lord then please pray for me too!!! Time is too short to debate...to hate...thank you for listening to me...I did not come here to cause any kind of trouble at all please believe me. In every denomination, in every walk of christian life you will find something that you do not agree with...but still we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we NEED each other to pray for one another and love one another...God bless you all and through HIS mercy and grace I will see you on the other side!!!!

[Praxeas]

Hello everyone and God bless. I am a former follower of "The Message" of William Branham. I left the church about 4 years ago after being in it for roughly 12 years. I was looking for a nice apostolic women's message board to join through google when for some reason this message board came up and all of the Branham talk...and it caught my eye so I registered so that I could post because I have something to say. First of all, I am a female *gasp* and I CAN have my own opinions about things, believe it or not!
Was there something about the Branham church that you could not speak your mind being a woman?

One thing I would like to remind everyone here, and that is our ultimate goal is to make heaven our home...message believers DO love God! At least I would like to think that most of them do anyway. I have also felt, even when I was in the message church that we are ALL brothers and sisters in christ and should not put one another down but should lift one another up and encourage each other to the best of our ability, even though most message churches preach otherwise. I feel that this is pleasing to the Lord, don't you? I left the church for personal reasons...and as to questions about Brother Branham being a prophet, I have left THAT in God's hands. If he was...then so be it. If he was NOT...then God will deal with that as well. My goal is to make heaven MY home, and help someone else along the way if I can. BUT I will say THIS: we still have family in the church...if you people here are genuine Christians would you please PRAY for them instead of knocking them down for being what you call "branhamites?" they are still supposed to be your brother/sister in Christ remember that.
We don't use the term "Branhamites" as a slur, but simply to designate that these are followers of William Branham's message. We don't knock them down, we do however disagree with their doctrinal views

You should be lifting people up instead of on message boards slandering and debating about it. Please check yourselves to make absolutely SURE that your every thought and action is pleasing to the LORD. IF and I say IF these Message people ARE in the wrong then they do need prayer...not to be made fun of, or condemned.
If they are they need prayer AND they need to be informed.

We, as Christians need to stand in the gap for them and reach out to Christ Jesus on their behalf. When I left the church I was so scared that God would send me straight to hell, because of what was preached to me all of those years...we are told that if we left the church then there is nothing left for us...I am just now getting myself straightened out...and I still have some very bad days.
A lot of Oneness churches, UPCs, are like that. That is a cultish practice. I don't know if all "Message" churches do that. Not all OP churches do. It's often just that pastor

if you people are very strong in the Lord then please pray for me too!!! Time is too short to debate...to hate...thank you for listening to me...I did not come here to cause any kind of trouble at all please believe me. In every denomination, in every walk of christian life you will find something that you do not agree with...but still we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we NEED each other to pray for one another and love one another...God bless you all and through HIS mercy and grace I will see you on the other side!!!!


where are you going to church now?

[BeenThinkin]

Hello everyone and God bless. I am a former follower of "The Message" of William Branham. I left the church about 4 years ago after being in it for roughly 12 years. I was looking for a nice apostolic women's message board to join through google when for some reason this message board came up and all of the Branham talk...and it caught my eye so I registered so that I could post because I have something to say. First of all, I am a female *gasp* and I CAN have my own opinions about things, believe it or not! One thing I would like to remind everyone here, and that is our ultimate goal is to make heaven our home...message believers DO love God! At least I would like to think that most of them do anyway. I have also felt, even when I was in the message church that we are ALL brothers and sisters in christ and should not put one another down but should lift one another up and encourage each other to the best of our ability, even though most message churches preach otherwise. I feel that this is pleasing to the Lord, don't you? I left the church for personal reasons...and as to questions about Brother Branham being a prophet, I have left THAT in God's hands. If he was...then so be it. If he was NOT...then God will deal with that as well. My goal is to make heaven MY home, and help someone else along the way if I can. BUT I will say THIS: we still have family in the church...if you people here are genuine Christians would you please PRAY for them instead of knocking them down for being what you call "branhamites?" they are still supposed to be your brother/sister in Christ remember that. You should be lifting people up instead of on message boards slandering and debating about it. Please check yourselves to make absolutely SURE that your every thought and action is pleasing to the LORD. IF and I say IF these Message people ARE in the wrong then they do need prayer...not to be made fun of, or condemned. We, as Christians need to stand in the gap for them and reach out to Christ Jesus on their behalf. When I left the church I was so scared that God would send me straight to hell, because of what was preached to me all of those years...we are told that if we left the church then there is nothing left for us...I am just now getting myself straightened out...and I still have some very bad days. if you people are very strong in the Lord then please pray for me too!!! Time is too short to debate...to hate...thank you for listening to me...I did not come here to cause any kind of trouble at all please believe me. In every denomination, in every walk of christian life you will find something that you do not agree with...but still we are brothers and sisters in Christ and we NEED each other to pray for one another and love one another...God bless you all and through HIS mercy and grace I will see you on the other side!!!!


God bless you! Love your spirit! Saw Bro, Branham in Dallas, in the early 60's, at Soul's Harbor Church where W. V. Grant was Pastor. Made a picture of Bro. Branham back stage. Do not have any stones to throw! Praying for you!

BeenThinkin

[UraniumGlow]

Sister:
I too grew up in the Branham churches, my father was leader of one of the larger Branham fellowships in the US and Canada. I too have purposed in my heart to be saved and make it to the other side, and I have found that the best way to do that is to put nothing between myself and Jesus. God bless you and your sweet spirit.

[EyeamOK]

Ms.Brattified ignores Genesis 4:2 Adam knew his wife once. Two sons born.

I wonder which doctrine appears to make more sense?

The fall was the result of a contamination of the original purpose as believed by the Branhamites or Eve ate an apple. Yeah, Eve ate an apple! That would explain why Jesus (As a man) was a creation of God, as was the first man Adam.

It's not something, I care to argue at all, but I want to emphasize that sometimes, things we accept at true, may seem weird to others.

[TJJJ]

Ms.Brattified ignores Genesis 4:2 Adam knew his wife once. Two sons born.

I wonder which doctrine appears to make more sense?

The fall was the result of a contamination of the original purpose as believed by the Branhamites or Eve ate an apple. Yeah, Eve ate an apple! That would explain why Jesus (As a man) was a creation of God, as was the first man Adam.

It's not something, I care to argue at all, but I want to emphasize that sometimes, things we accept at true, may seem weird to others.

Yo EYEAM

We call those TWINS!

Sorry, your argument does not hold water!

Try again!

The Bible says Eve ate of the fruit! Again, your little branhamite doctrine is twisting the word!

[Praxeas]

Yo EYEAM

We call those TWINS!

Sorry, your argument does not hold water!

Try again!

The Bible says Eve ate of the fruit! Again, your little branhamite doctrine is twisting the word!
Also If the serpent "knew" Eve then she was already pregnant before Adam knew Eve and bore Cain....hmmmm, yet Cain is not supposed to be the son of Adam but of the serpent? huh? Did someone flunk biology?

Adam is the father of Cain
Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife. And she conceived and bore Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from Jehovah.

Not to mention, either Eve was on dope or this theology is a lie...she said she has gotten a man (Cain) from Jehovah!

[Timmy]

Ms.Brattified ignores Genesis 4:2 Adam knew his wife once. Two sons born.

I wonder which doctrine appears to make more sense?

The fall was the result of a contamination of the original purpose as believed by the Branhamites or Eve ate an apple. Yeah, Eve ate an apple! That would explain why Jesus (As a man) was a creation of God, as was the first man Adam.

It's not something, I care to argue at all, but I want to emphasize that sometimes, things we accept at true, may seem weird to others.

:spit

[MissBrattified]

Ms.Brattified ignores Genesis 4:2 Adam knew his wife once. Two sons born.

I wonder which doctrine appears to make more sense?

Not yours. Using your [faulty] logic, ABEL would have been the son of the serpent, because scripture plainly says that ADAM knew his wife and she bare Cain. :)

Gen 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Gen 4:21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Gen 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

Notice that scripture doesn't specify each time a woman bore a child that she "knew" her husband. I don't think that means there was another man (or in this case, creature) involved.

[MaLu4:4]

sssss subtile serpent seed doctrine is most dangerous doctrine imaginable, it seeks to place satan as an equal with God as a giver of life .this caused his fall (I will be like the most high) if this is not a doctrine of endless genealogies then what is?
1Ti 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

[Praxeas]

Logically it also makes humans NOT human at all but a hybrid of a demon and a human

[mfblume]

Ms.Brattified ignores Genesis 4:2 Adam knew his wife once. Two sons born.

That faulty reasoning is similar to the same faulty reasoning Branham used when saying Seth was said to be in Adam's image but Cain was not. The fact is ABEL WAS NOT SAID TO BE IN ADAM'S IMAGE EITHER. Does that make Abel someone other than Adam's son simply because it was not MENTIONED that he was?

Genesis 5:3 KJV And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:


It is arguing from silence to say that Adam knew Eve once and she bore two sons. Just because it does not say Adam knew Eve again and she bore Abel, or it does not say that Cain and Abel were TWINS, does not mean Cain is not Adam's son, any more than just because we do not read Cain was in Adam's image doesn't mean he was not in Adam's image.

I wonder which doctrine appears to make more sense?

The fall was the result of a contamination of the original purpose as believed by the Branhamites or Eve ate an apple. Yeah, Eve ate an apple! That would explain why Jesus (As a man) was a creation of God, as was the first man Adam.

It's not something, I care to argue at all, but I want to emphasize that sometimes, things we accept at true, may seem weird to others.

Eve ate no apple, and that is a distortion of what is believed by those who deny serpent seed. She ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Branham at least said the ORIGINAL SEED IS THE WORD. He should have recognized that THE SEED of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was ALSO A WORD< but a FALSE WORD, or LIE. It seems Branham got into the flesh with his thoughts that BEGAN correct in recognizing the SEED as the WORD, and he should have remained SPIRITUAL about this and realized the FALSE SEED was a LIE, not semen.

[snowwhitedove]

Hi everyone, sorry it took me so long to get back. God bless you for your replies and for being so nice. To answer some of the questions asked here...in the Message churches women are not permitted to say a lot. We are told to "stay in our kitchens." in church we cannot testify and supposed to be "shamefaced" We're not really supposed to be educated although more women are stepping out and going on to college which I think is GREAT!
The term, "Branhamite" is offensive to a Message believer. It is likened to calling a Pentecostal or a Holiness person a "Holy Roller" and meaning it in a BAD way if you know what I mean? They prefer to be known as "Message Believers"
May I ask what you do not agree with as far as their doctrine? I am just curious.
I have been going to an Apostolic church for about 2 months now. LOVE it. BIG difference in the freedom to worship...there is liberty there!!! I got the HOLY GHOST a couple of weeks ago in revival service!!! Praise GOD!!! The saints are AWESOME!!! Wonderful Pastor!!! God has truly blessed me!!! I am so glad HE brought me out!!!

[mfblume]

May I ask what you do not agree with as far as their doctrine? I am just curious.

You mean the Message doctrine?

I disagree with the entire concept of serpent seed, since it is based upon Calvinism which teaches certain people just have no choice to be saved or not, and will be lost.

Also, Branham was in error about thinking he was the seventh angel in Revelation. It seemed to be a MAN-focused church. That tends to make people think no one can do what he did, and God is no respector of persons. I sincerely believe God used Branham, despite his errors, but do not believe no one else can operate like that.

[Petrus50]

The Serpentseed being a literal union is a very old doctrine, coming from the jewish kabalah.It's Eve the mother of humanty downgrading to an animal. It's occult through and through. Also learned by Blavatsky and believed by Adolf Hitler. All in different variables . In the message there also are a lot of different views. There are also a lot of signs of the occult in his ministry. The greens star he saw so many times ,the vibrating and hot hand, the masonic influence .....People are so focused on the miracles that they don't notice what's going on. Men that are much inspired by him have the same identical mysterious experiences and miracles, healings .... Like Paul Cain, Bob Jones, Tod Bentley, Benny Hinn.

[samuelofisrael]

The Serpentseed being a literal union is a very old doctrine, coming from the jewish kabalah.It's Eve the mother of humanty downgrading to an animal. It's occult through and through. Also learned by Blavatsky and believed by Adolf Hitler. All in different variables . In the message there also are a lot of different views. There are also a lot of signs of the occult in his ministry. The greens star he saw so many times ,the vibrating and hot hand, the masonic influence .....People are so focused on the miracles that they don't notice what's going on. Men that are much inspired by him have the same identical mysterious experiences and miracles, healings .... Like Paul Cain, Bob Jones, Tod Bentley, Benny Hinn.

I became acquainted with the Message Cult 44 years ago through a very good friend [now deceased] seeing the inner workings of the various splinter groups. I am not sure there actually were miracles in the degree or the number alleged. As for healings, that too is suspect. Not that healings did not occur but that thy were nowhere as many or as dramatic as claimed. It well may be that AA Allen or Jack Coe, Oral Roberts or others had as many claimed as the Branham party. What was simply taken as truth Pre Internet came to be intensely examined Post Internet and then the curtain was pulled back. The old saying, "don't believe everything you hear and only half of what [you think] you see." Sincereity does not always equate to truth.

The Message failed in no uncertain terms.

False predictions.
False alleged "thus saith the Lord."
False visions.
False discernments.
False expectations.
False doctrines.

One of Branham's chief advisors and confidante's confessed that William Branham "made a mess of it."

WMB was a Pentecostal evangelist who came to hammer the Pentecostals after the demise of the Post WW2 revival.

The church age "messengers" [angels] was borrowed from C. T. Russell, founder of the JW's.

The dates for the ages was lifted from the works of Clarence Larkin.

The "seals" and all was also drawn from both JW and Adventist literature.

The African and the India visits that were to be great revivals declared to be:

"Thus Saith the Lord."

.... never came to pass.

Several visions also claimed to be as "never failed" also fell to the ground.

The myth that William Branham will rise from the dead in the First Resurrection and then fulfill the remaining visions and utterances are the stuff of desperate men caught in the web of deceit. There they remain to this hour, spinning on their own pivot going nowhere in terms of their former expectations.

The Message Cult is characteristic of other cults that had a moment of excitement and expectation, false dreams, false prophecies, false prophets, false doctrines, then the real world entered the tea party and everyone was left high and dry. But like the other cults it swept in the deceived, the weak, the fearful, the ignorant and not last or least, the very clever "snake oil" salesman. The Message today is profitable, it is generating generous amounts of Yankee Green Back Dollar Bills. It will NOT be corrected. Those who rule do NOT wish for it to be corrected. It CANNOT be corrected having been given over to delusion and SIN. A few will exit the cult but the cult itself is here to stay to the consummation.

Shalom.

[samuelofisrael]

You mean the Message doctrine?

I disagree with the entire concept of serpent seed, since it is based upon Calvinism which teaches certain people just have no choice to be saved or not, and will be lost.

Also, Branham was in error about thinking he was the seventh angel in Revelation. It seemed to be a MAN-focused church. That tends to make people think no one can do what he did, and God is no respector of persons. I sincerely believe God used Branham, despite his errors, but do not believe no one else can operate like that.

Correction: Branham's serpentMAN seed doctrine is NOT based on Calvinism.

Everyone who is ever saved WANTED to be saved. The choice of those who were given to the SON is a matter of the Mystery of His Will. The doctrinal exposition of Calvin had nothing to do with the choice of Israel as the nation elected to receive the oracles of God. Moses did not volunteer. Paul certainly did not volunteer. No man living or dead had part of the counsel arranging the universe as it is presently constructed. Nor were any of us consulted concerning the year of our conception, our parents, our nation of birth, our eventual height, color of eyes, hair [if still existing], state, city, street, house, relations. If we cannot do the least how is it we can move God to chose us in terms of election and PREdestination?

Actually it was the Apostle Paul who is to be charged with the teaching many declare to be, "Calvinism." But they forebear on that one as not to seem UnBiblical. It is Paul's teaching, not Calvin who made us very aware of the absolute SOVEREIGNTY of God as opposed to the very present and very popular "free will" myth beloved of today's greater Body of Christians.

Dead men choosing themselves. Dead men believing. Dead men being born again.

First one must be ALIVE. Paul said we in our first birth are dead in trespasses and sins. But we didn't like that sort of teaching because it "disses" us to the level of helplessness and that is unbearable. We are strong in our own skins, we believe we are well able to carry out any demands made on us by God if only we exert our wills. Like Israel we chose Law over GRACE and like Israel, are proven incapable.

No man ever "willed" himself into the Kingdom, it is not only difficult, rare but IMPOSSIBLE.

It is NOT he that willeth or he that runneth but GOD that showeth mercy.

The "me" generation has been with us since man was created, sin saw to that error. And like the utter destruction in the Days of Noah, the world is again ripe for an encore.

Every man, woman, boy or girl who will ever be eternally redeemed were chosen IN Him ere the world began.

The rereading and believing of Ephesians and certain passages in Romans is recommended. All of us need to reacquaint ourselves with the Majesty and Power of God as opposed to our imagined strength of will. Dead men never repent and believe the Gospel.

Shalom.

[thephnxman]

Genesis 5:3 KJV And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:


Eve ate no apple, and that is a distortion of what is believed by those who deny serpent seed. She ate the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Branham at least said the ORIGINAL SEED IS THE WORD. He should have recognized that THE SEED of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil was ALSO A WORD< but a FALSE WORD, or LIE. It seems Branham got into the flesh with his thoughts that BEGAN correct in recognizing the SEED as the WORD, and he should have remained SPIRITUAL about this and realized the FALSE SEED was a LIE, not semen.

Brother Blume has brought sound reasoning..

Adam was created "...in the image and likeness of God..."; a spirit (image) with the qualities (likeness) of God. Seth was not created, but begotten in the likeness (propensity to sin) and image (flesh) of Adam.

God created creation with His SPOKEN word, then He created man. But in creation, God introduced Laws that cannot be altered or broken and man was created subject to those Laws. Satan saw the work of God, and presented his lies based on the Laws of God. Satan will say a truth, to introduce a lie. Now this.

Spirits (demons) do not have the capacity to procreate with humans (or each other). They, too, are subject to the Laws of Creation.