CONDUCT ORDER DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH Volume 1 by Branham, William Marrion 1974.

William Marrion Branham (from Wikipedia)

April 6, 1909 – December 24, 1965

American Christian minister and faith healer who initiated the post–World War II healing revival, and claimed to be a prophet with the anointing of Elijah, who had come to herald Christ's second coming; his followers have been labeled a "doomsday cult".[1][2][3] He had a lasting influence on televangelism and the modern charismatic movement and is credited as "a principal architect of restorationist thought" for charismatics by some Christian historians,[4][5] and has been called the "leading individual in the Second Wave of Pentecostalism."[6] At the time they were held, his inter-denominational meetings were the largest religious meetings ever held in some American cities. Branham was the first American deliverance minister to successfully campaign in Europe; his ministry reached global audiences with major campaigns held in North America, Europe, Africa, and India.

Branham claimed that he had received an angelic visitation on May 7, 1946, commissioning his worldwide ministry and launching his campaigning career in mid-1946. His fame rapidly spread as crowds were drawn to his stories of angelic visitations and reports of miracles happening at his meetings. His ministry spawned many emulators and set the broader healing revival that later became the modern charismatic movement in motion. At the peak of his popularity in the 1950s, Branham was widely adored and "the neo-Pentecostal world believed Branham to be a prophet to their generation".[7] From 1955, Branham's campaigning and popularity began to decline as the Pentecostal churches began to withdraw their support from the healing campaigns for primarily financial reasons. By 1960, Branham transitioned into a teaching ministry.

Unlike his contemporaries, who followed doctrinal teachings which are known as the Full Gospel tradition, Branham developed an alternative theology which was primarily a mixture of Calvinist and Arminian doctrines, and had a heavy focus on dispensationalism and Branham's own unique eschatological views. While widely accepting the restoration doctrine he espoused during the healing revival, his divergent post-revival teachings were deemed increasingly controversial by his charismatic and Pentecostal contemporaries, who subsequently disavowed many of the doctrines as "revelatory madness".[8] His racial teachings on serpent seed and his belief that membership in a Christian denomination was connected to the mark of the beast alienated many of his former supporters. His closest followers, however, accepted his sermons as oral scripture and refer to his teachings as The Message. Despite Branham's objections, some followers of his teachings placed him at the center of a cult of personality during his final years. Branham claimed that he had converted over one million people during his career. His teachings continue to be promoted by the William Branham Evangelistic Association, which reported that about 2 million people received its material in 2018. Branham died following a car accident in 1965.

Throughout his healing revivals, Branham was accused of committing fraud by news reporters, fellow ministers, host churches, and governmental agencies; numerous people pronounced healed died shortly thereafter, investigators discovered evidence suggesting miracles may have been staged, and Branham was found to have significantly embellished and falsified numerous stories he presented to his audiences as fact. Branham faced legal problems as a result of his practices. The governments of South Africa and Norway intervened in order to stop his healing campaigns in their countries. In the United States, Branham was charged with tax evasion for failing to account for the donations received through his ministry; admitting his liability, he settled the case out of court. Branham has been linked by the news media to multiple notorious figures; Branham helped launch and popularize the ministry of Jim Jones. Branham was baptized and ordained a minister by Roy Davis, the National Imperial Wizard (leader) of the Ku Klux Klan; the two men maintained a lifelong relationship. Paul Schäfer, Robert Martin Gumbura and other followers of William Branham's teachings have regularly been mentioned in the news due to the serious crimes which they committed. Followers of Branham's teachings in Colonia Dignidad were portrayed in the 2015 film Colonia.

LEGACY & INFLUENCE

Branham was the "initiator of the post-World War II healing revival"[59] and, along with Oral Roberts, was one of its most revered leaders.[245][246] Branham is most remembered for his use of the "sign-gifts" that awed the Pentecostal world.[85] According to writer and researcher Patsy Sims, "the power of a Branham service and his stage presence remains a legend unparalleled in the history of the Charismatic movement."[115] The many revivalists who attempted to emulate Branham during the 1950s spawned a generation of prominent Charismatic ministries.[154]

Branham has been called the "principal architect of restorationist thought" of the Charismatic movement that emerged out of the healing revival.[4] The Charismatic view that the Christian church should return to a form like that of the early church has its roots in Branham's teachings during the healing revival period.[4] The belief is widely held in the modern Charismatic movement,[4] and the legacy of his restorationist teaching and ministering style is evident throughout televangelism and the Charismatic movement.[247]

The more controversial doctrines Branham espoused in the closing years of his ministry were rejected by the Charismatic movement, which viewed them as "revelatory madness".[l] Charismatics are apologetic towards Branham's early ministry and embrace his use of the "sign-gifts". Charismatic author John Crowder wrote that his ministry should not be judged by "the small sliver of his later life", but by the fact that he indirectly "lit a fire" that began the modern Charismatic movement.[164] Non-Charismatic Christianity completely rejected Branham.[m]

Crowder said Branham was a victim of "the adoration of man" because his followers began to idolize him in the later part of his ministry.[250] Harrell took a similar view, attributing Branham's teachings in his later career to his close friends, who manipulated him and took advantage of his lack of theological training.[169] Weaver also attributed Branham's eschatological teachings to the influence of a small group of his closest followers, who encouraged his desire for a unique ministry.[219] According to Weaver, to Branham's dismay,[174] his followers had placed him at the "center of a Pentecostal personality cult" in the final years of his ministry.[251]

Edward Babinski describes Branham's followers as "odd in their beliefs, but for the most part honest hard-working citizens", and wrote that calling them a cult "seems unfair".[200] While rejecting Branham's teachings, Duyzer offered a glowing review of Branham's followers, stating he "had never experienced friendship, or love like we did there".[252] Though Branham is no longer widely known outside Pentecostalism,[251] his legacy continues today.[216] Summarizing the contrasting views held of Branham, Kydd stated, "Some thought he was God. Some thought he was a dupe of the devil. Some thought he was an end-time messenger sent from God, and some still do.