Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Traveling back from East Conference my wife and I met some followers of William Branham at a Restraunt. Had a very interesting discussion about the essential ity of Jesus name baptism, Holy Ghost infilling, and serpent seed doctrine. The man was a pastor and while we did not agree on the doctrine of initial evidence, he did say that he had spoken in tongues at times in private prayer. I have always wondered how many followers of William Branham actually do speak in tongues.

We both werecourteous but firm in our positions and affirmed our agreement and appreciation each other's stance on Jesus Name baptism and Holiness. I was clear at one point that I believed William Branham to have been in error and believed that one had not been truly born again unless they had spoken in tongues.

For my first encounter with Branham believers I was impressed with their sincerity and congeniality. I'm praying they come to truth and I have a feeling they are praying the same for me! Lol :happydance

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

If you think they were sincere and congenial you should meet some of the Mormons I have met!

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Don't forget Hindus! :nod

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

LOL!!!

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Ehh...yeah I have met some Mormons. Had bible studies with some.i hate Mormon theology almost more than any other heresy in Christendom.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

me too, but i note that nowhere in Scripture is God said to judge one's dogma, but rather their heart. Seems strange to me, too though.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Depends on their roots many come out of Pentecostal roots thus their feelings about tongues is favorable. However others who have not are antagonistic towards tongues or any demonstrative worship.
It is a marvel that here we are 50 years after his death and their movement is yet strong. Some of the latest defectors have really exposed so many of the so-called vindications of his ministry as frauds. Very interesting.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Haiti also has a lot of Branhamites....

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Haiti has this group that calls it self Apostolic baptizes in Jesus name, and believes that Jesus wasn't GOD, and but believes in tongues. I also met some of them in upstate New York.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I have heard of Branhamites who baptize in Branham's name. I thought all of them believed in the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in tongues. I was not aware that some don't believe it that way. I know they are a strict group of people.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I have heard that also, but I have never met a Branhamite who has seen it, or any of them tell me that they did it. I have heard stories, but they were never proven.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Branhamites believe they have the Holy Spirit "by faith".

They believe that they received the Holy Spirit when they were baptized,
for: "...and you SHALL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit..." They surmise,
if it is promised, then they must have it WITHOUT speaking "...in tongues,
as the Spirit gave utterance."

Solely being baptized in the NAME of Jesus is not proof of "Pentecost": there
are other denoms that believe the same. Some trinitarians will "baptize" in
"ANY NAME", and most believe they automatically have the Holy Spirit!

I believe many "Oneness" here also fit that bill...

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

acts 8 disproves that. If the Spirit comes by faith, then there'd be no way Peter and John would know the Samaritans did not have the Spirit after they were baptized to proceed and lay hands on them for it.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

WHOA, Nellie!

I hope you're not thinking that I believe as the Branham-ites! I have stated
what they have told me, nothing more, as I disputed their doctrine. But if
you are refuting what they believe, then I will agree with you.

Incidentally, the scripture(s) I used to refute the "serpent-seed doctrine" are
found on the third day of creation: "...And God said, Let the earth bring
forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after
his kind, whose seed is in itself...And the earth brought forth grass, the
herb that yields seed according to its kind..."

The Brajhamites speak of a physical seed, through sexual intercourse with
the woman (Eve). Of course we know that that is not possible, since spirit
beings were created to be eternal, and have no need to procreate...but I digress.


Essentially, to me, Branhamites deny the gospel that saves.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I recall reading in An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages by William Branham that he wrote the true church of the Lord would be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues.

It's weird to me that so many of his followers are against speaking in tongues, at least for their own personal lives. I had a Branhamite try to convince me speaking in tongues was okay, but wasn't evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit, even giving me a printout of one of Will's sermons.

I wonder if that one sermon turned off a good portion of his followers?

And strangely enough, in William Branham, A Prophet Visits South Africa by Julius Stadsklev, William gives a first person narrative account of how HE THOUGHT God had led him to join up with other Oneness Pentecostals, only for him to reject their fellowship, only to have God kill his wife and one of his children for abandoning Oneness Pentecostals as God's true people.

Seems he never really repented of that. He claimed it was years before God ever visited him again, and when he did, that was when the "angel" showed up and the sign of the angel in his hand appeared. Makes me wonder what kind of "angel" it was?

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

This gentleman claimed to believe that all "Spirit Filled" believers had the ability to speak with tongues but few did because they did not get into a deeper place of prayer. Their view on the operation in the church was unique as well. He said that if someone felt they had tongues and interpretation they were taken into a room where they would give it then it would be brought before the church, and if at any point it was "wrong" then it was of the devil and not permitted again.

He was also very stout against the belief of some that Branham was a God/man. He believed he was the last prophet to the Church. No more, no less.

I noticed that some of Happy Valley Church's worship was more demonstrative than some. I wonder if certain congregations are have more Pentecostal influences than others?

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Branham taught you may or may not speak with tongues influenced by F. F. Bosworth. He was against speaking in tongues in an open assembly.
Happy Valley was a Pentecostal church that went into this heresy.
I have known many of the leaders of this movement including the Branham family. Many of them believed Branham was God, others believed he would privately raise from the dead and have a tent ministry. Truthfully Branham was a false prophet that predicted stuff that never happened, lied about stuff he claimed that happened and preached false doctrine. Many of his doctrines were borrowed and modified from William Sowders.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I think some of our relatives followed his ministry UNTIL he got in error. I have heard he had a great healing ministry. I know he has been dead many years. I can't understand people following a ministry like that after the preacher gets in error. I have ministers that I like today but NEVER get to the place where if they fall or get in error would I follow them.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Was Donny Reagan an Apostolic preacher at one point??

I know a lot of Branham followers used to be Apostolic. So sad.

The man I talked the other day spoke of people he knew that said Branham would one day resurrect. He thought it was nonsense. I have no doubt that Branham was at one point used by God but went into error.

I need to do some study on Serpent Seed doctrine. I was not at all prepared to answer the man when he started discussing it.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I wrote an article entitled the Error of Branhamism you can find it online.
I forget the pastor's name who was pastoring Happy Valley when they went into this heresy? I met him years ago. But I think the Reagan family were members. The Branham family and several leaders taught he would resurrect.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I will look it up. Thank you Elder.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I knew you did not agree with them. Just pointing out how they're wrong with proof.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

I preached a funeral for a wonderful Apostolic lady in Guyana SA years ago.
Half her family were Branhamites. the other minister there that day was their pastor.

quite an interesting gathering.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

man I wish that thread where you and I debated those Branhamites was still alive.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Is it anywhere in the archives?

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

no it was deleted. unfortunate happenstance.

there was a huge amount of information.

Re: Met some "Message Believers" today
 

Yes Ferd and myself debated two Branhamites. It was sad it was deleted by accident. We had fun I don't think they enjoyed it that much. The new defectors of the Branham movement have in great detail have examined the claimed of his prophecies and stories and proved them as lies. I think the site is called believe the sign. Very interesting. These folks do not believe truth by the way.