I went to a couple meetings growing up...listened to hundreds of tapes and read his articles and a few books...I know many close (at one time) friends that fell into that doctrine and their homes were destroyed by the rib message. Long before WB the serpent seed doctrine was in existance... I wrote a booklet in Brazil refuting his teachings on marriage and divorce...
He may at one time been true blue I am not his judge but his teachings make him a false prophet. He may have been a good man....nothing personal...except we must compare his teaching to the REAL word of the LORD...
I personally know as mentioned before many good people that his doctrine ruined their homes and ministries...While I believe in the 5 fold ministry there is NO ONE PROPHET for today like there is NO ONE PASTOR...Gifts were given to men...not just A MAN for a space of time...
I am traveling today and do not have time to spend here or good internet connections...
Sis Alvear, I know you are busy, but when you get the chance, could you summarize his teachings on marriage and divorce. Thanks
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...Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ...(Acts 20:21)
Whoa! Two words...Whack Job! I have found that most men who obsess over issues concerning sex are closet freaks themselves. This is just way too much, you have to either be extremly vulnerable or just plain stupid to follow this kind of teaching.
Branham's big mistake was thinking he could teach the Bible. I believe he was called to preach the gospel but not teach the Bible. He had astounding ministry in the gifts, and Paul explained such gifts do not validtae one's teachings. Unfortunately Branhamites differ. Gordon Lindsay warned him several times to stay away from teaching, but he "liked" to teach. So so so so sad.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Branham's big mistake was thinking he could teach the Bible. I believe he was called to preach the gospel but not teach the Bible. He had astounding ministry in the gifts, and Paul explained such gifts do not validtae one's teachings. Unfortunately Branhamites differ. Gordon Lindsay warned him several times to stay away from teaching, but he "liked" to teach. So so so so sad.
James 3:1 My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Branham's big mistake was thinking he could teach the Bible. I believe he was called to preach the gospel but not teach the Bible. He had astounding ministry in the gifts, and Paul explained such gifts do not validtae one's teachings. Unfortunately Branhamites differ. Gordon Lindsay warned him several times to stay away from teaching, but he "liked" to teach. So so so so sad.
After over 40 years acquainted with the Branhamites, I am not sure WMB "had" an astounding ministry in the "gifts" at all. His mainstay was the alleged discernment which was really a "word of knowledge" which he attributed to his "angel."If push came to shove it might be that AA Allen had as many if not more "claimed" healings, manifestations than Branham. Either way, I agree that the teaching phase of the man's ministry is what unmasked him in the end. Prior to the internet there was little ability to ferret out his claims and doctrine. POST internet a person could discover about anything about any issue. And then it began to come apart. Far too many holes and unanswered questions.
Gifts do not validate doctrine as accurate.
Bottom line in my estimation: why bother with it as a faith issue? Clearly the man was NOT vindicated and he was far from infallible in his prophecy, visions, predictions and certainly not his doctrine. End game is a deceived cult composed of either the fearful, the ignorant, the gullible, the joining because the family is involved or possibly because they find common ground in the fact Bill was a hunter or an outdoorsman or even because he took an apparent hard stand on the woman issue. Personally I never knew any of the Message types who were hard on their wives and a few were henpecked if the truth be known.
As has been said here on the forum and years ago, they are a mixed bag. Some are in the Twilight Zone, some are clearly unbalanced, idolaters, deluded but sincere and the "firebrand" who believes they have discovered the theological end of the rainbow. It takes all types and they have them.
My personal advice is to leave their congregations, free oneself of their influence, find a Bible teaching, careing Christian fellowship with a seasoned pastor and eldership. William Branham was NOT the "restoration of the Word." Far from it. He added to the confusion.
Branham once said "The original seed is the word of God." And I thought of that a lot when considering how I think he went into error with serpent seed. He may have been onto something, but got in the flesh and missed it. If we restrict the SEED to the concept of the WORD, then the SEED OF THE SERPENT would actually be HIS LIES TO THE WOMAN. Not a physical seed nor physical adultery or fornication. She believed his lie and rejected, in the process, the TRUTH from God.
__________________ ...MY THOUGHTS, ANYWAY.
"Many Christians do not try to understand what was written in a verse in the Bible. Instead they approach the passage to prove what they already believe."
Hybrid Mode
