[87] On the night of January 24, 1950, Branham was photographed during a debate between Bosworth and local Baptist minister W.E. Best regarding the theology of divine healing. Brennan was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1906. He claimed to be a minister from God, a prophet even. [228], According to Weaver, the sermons were primarily "a restatement of the dispensationalism espoused in the sermons on the seven church ages". Some of his followers believed he was claiming divinity and were prepared to accept his claims. Shortly after Branham's death, his followers divided in multiple feuding groups. [173], At first, Branham taught his doctrines only within his own church at Jeffersonville, but beginning in the 1960s he began to preach them at other churches he visited. William Graham Tullian Tchividjian (pronounced cha-vi-jin) is the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Profile Report Name: Branhamism/The Message Founder: William Marion Branham Date of Birth/Death: April 6, 1909 - December 24, 1965 Birth Place: Burksville, Kentucky Year Found: May 1946 Brief History: William Branham had been hearing voices since he was seven years old. [169] Gordon Lindsay's eulogy stated that Branham's death was the will of God and privately he accepted the interpretation of Kenneth E. Hagin, who claimed to have prophesied Branham's death two years before it happened. [8][150] Even after he became famous, Branham continued to wear inexpensive suits and refused large salaries; he was not interested in amassing wealth as part of his ministry[12] and was reluctant to solicit donations during his meetings. Dyck reported that people who published material critical of Branham's teachings have been threatened by his followers and warned they may be killed. [68] By August his fame had spread widely. [172], Branham came to believe that trinitarianism was tritheism and insisted members of his congregation be re-baptized in Jesus's name in imitation of Paul the Apostle. [182], Branham issued a series of prophecies during his lifetime. [252] The expectation of his resurrection remained strong into the 1970s, in part based on Branham's prediction that the rapture could occur by 1977. [184] Unlike his views on the Godhead and Annihilationism, there was no precedent within Pentecostalism for his views on predestination, and opened him to widespread criticism. "[195] Some of Branham's contemporaries accused him of being a "woman hater", but he insisted he only hated immorality. As late as 1963, Branham continued to speak highly of the them saying, "the Ku Klux Klan, paid the hospital bill for me, Masons. Branham thought the decline was temporary. [85][77], The first meetings organized by Lindsay were held in northwestern North America during late 1947. [282], In 2002, Ralph G. Stair, a leader of a Branham's followers in United States, was arrested and convicted of molesting minors, raping multiple women in his church, and financial crimes. [174] Branham argued that his entire ministry was divinely inspired and could not be selectively rejected or accepted, saying, "It's either all of God, or none of God". He required supplicants to claim to be healed to demonstrate their faith, even if they were still experiencing symptoms. [98][7] According to Lindsay, the altar call at his Durban meeting received 30,000 converts. [142], Serious allegations also were made following Branham's meetings in South Africa during 1952 and complaints were lodged with government authorities. [60] By February 1937, the floodwaters had receded, his church survived intact and Branham resumed holding services at the Pentecostal Tabernacle. [10][11] According to Branham, that year his family moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana. [66] The fascination of most of American Christianity with divine healing played a significant role in the popularity and inter-denominational nature of the revival movement. The tribe filed a racketeering case against them to recover their money. Several news outlets labeled Reagan as the "most racist pastor in America. Branham reported that in his visions he saw seven major events would occur before the Second Coming of Christ, including the prediction of the rise of Adolf Hitler, the Second World War, the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, and the rise of communism. William Brennan, Counselor, Maitland, FL, 32751, (386) 753-3186, Your first one half hour phone consultation with me is free. He was on his way to Jeffersonville, Indiana to preach on the "Trail of the serpent." But God did not allow him to preach this last sermon. [228] According to Weaver, to Branham's dismay,[177] his followers had placed him at the "center of a Pentecostal personality cult" in the final years of his ministry. [57] In September 1936, the local news reported that Branham held a multi-week healing revival at the Pentecostal Tabernacle in which he reported eight healings. [185], Branham believed that all sickness was a result of demonic activity and could be overcome by the faith of the person desiring healing. [81] William Hawtin, a Canadian Pentecostal minister, attended one of Branham's Vancouver meetings in November 1947 and was impressed by Branham's healings. [6] The belief is widely held in the modern Charismatic movement,[6] and the legacy of his restorationist teaching and ministering style is evident throughout televangelism and the Charismatic movement. [236][207] Weaver believed Branham desired to be the eschatological prophet he was preaching about,[236] but had self-doubt. [65], Divine healing is a tradition and belief that was historically held by a majority of Christians but it became increasingly associated with Evangelical Protestantism. W. E. Kidston, was editor of The Apostolic Herald and had many contacts in the Pentecostal movement. Reverend Monsignor . He investigated the phenomena and discovered that the cloud had been created by an exploded Thor rocket carrying a classified spy satellite launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base that failed to make orbit. The oldest of five children, Bishop Brennan has two brothers and two sisters, 14 nieces and nephews, and three great-nephews and niece. - Advertisement - [95], He refused to discuss controversial doctrinal issues during the healing campaigns,[96][97] and issued a policy statement that he would only minister on the "great evangelical truths". Weaver based his estimate on numbers reported by Branham's son. [168] Weaver also believed that "fraud and chicanary" by the revivals evangelists also played a major role in the decline. Mercer would punish girls by cutting their hair, and force boys to wear girls' clothing. He studied at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington, N.J. Goodreads Author. [68], Branham held his first large meetings as a faith healer in 1946. [180][179], Most of Branham's teachings have precedents within sects of the Pentecostal movement or in other non-Pentecostal denominations. [157] In 1956, the healing revival reached its peak, as 49 separate evangelists held major meetings. [181] The doctrines Branham imported from non-Pentecostal theology and the unique combination of doctrines that he created as a result led to widespread criticism from Pentecostal churches and the Charismatic movement. "[215] Weaver called Serpent Seed Branham's "most disreputable" doctrine. Following a personal healing as a young man, he felt a call to preach and became an independent Baptist pastor. [200][95], Branham's opposition to modern culture emerged most strongly in his condemnation of the "immorality of modern women". [3][307], Pearry Green was a defendant in multiple criminal cases concerning his financial dealings. Paul Cain, Bill Hamon, Kenneth Hagin, and other restoration prophets cite Branham as a major influence. [195] Weaver wrote that Branham held a "Christ against Culture" opinion,[195] according to which loyalty to Christ requires rejection of non-Christian culture. He was buried at burial place. [171] By the 1960s, Branham's contemporaries and the Pentecostal denominations that had supported his campaigns regarded him as an extremely controversial teacher. [212], Branham's followers consider the serpent seed doctrine one of his greatest revelations, and his most original; despite its racial nature, most are unaware of the origins of the teaching within the white supremacy movement. [87], Branham partially recovered from his illness and resumed holding meetings in October 1948; in that month he held a series of meetings around the United States without Lindsay's support. [8][156], By the mid-1950s, dozens of the ministers associated with Branham and his campaigns had launched similar healing campaigns. His fame rapidly spread as crowds were drawn to his stories of angelic visitations and reports of miracles happening at his meetings. He was ordained a priest in Camden on May 25, 1963. [182] Many different followers of Branham's teachings have claimed to be his immediate successor, or an Elisha to his Elijah. Finally, in May of 1946, Branham was commissioned by an angel from God to be the forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ. [89], In the first part of his meetings, one of Branham's companion evangelists would preach a sermon. He is to come according to Luke 17:30. Two of his brothers also suffered life-threatening injuries at the same time. [308], In 2014, Pastor Donny Reagan made news in the United States for promoting Branham's racial teachings. [230][177][231], The United States Air Force later declassified the launch records and acknowledged the manmade origin of the cloud. Branham later claimed he saw a car in 1960 that fulfilled his vision. [253] After 1977, some of his followers abandoned his teachings. Mother York : I ain't a-takin' nothin' hard Pastor. [203] Branham was deeply anti-Catholic, and viewed the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church as the agents of Satan who would bring about the end of the world. [79] According to Steven Hassan, KKK recruitment was covertly conducted through Branham's ministry. [200] He taught that women with short hair were breaking God's commandments and "ridiculed women's desire to artificially beautify themselves with makeup". The Son of Man is to reveal Himself among His people. Court records indicate Frank was a key figure in helping Colonia establish its weapons factories by contracting with German arms producers to assist the colony in setting up their operations. [181] He believed that the story of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden is allegorical and interpreted it to mean that the serpent had sexual intercourse with Eve, and their offspring was Cain. Crowder suggested Branham's gradual separation from Gordon Lindsay played a major part in the decline. Some seemed to experience a momentary relief from pain, but all too many would discover no lasting benefit. [242] He argued that continued allegiance to any denomination would lead to an acceptance of the mark of the beast, which would mean missing the rapture. Rev. [193] Branham shifted his theological position on the Godhead during his ministry. [246] Critics of Branham investigated his prophecies. [93], Branham also began to criticize other leading contemporaries in the healing revival leading to open hostilities between the evangelists. [128][148], Their expectations had been raised so high, only to be dashed after all the excitement was over. Some groups prohibit their members from having relationships with outsiders. [241][k] In his later years, he came to believe all denominations were "synagogues of Satan". Attendees reported seeing him "staggering from intense fatigue" during his last meetings. Branham's teachings on the subject caused confusion among his followers who repeatedly asked him to clarify his relationship to Christ. [105][94], Bosworth argued in favor, while Best argued against. Born: April 25, 1906, in Newark, N.J., the second of eight children of William Brennan and the former Agnes McDermott. [252] One common theme among all groups is the belief that Branham was the return of Elijah the prophet and receiving his prophetic revelations is necessary to escape the impending destruction of the world. Investigators of Branham's claim were unable to identify the woman in the photograph. Bill . Schfer was later arrested in 2006, convicted, and died in prison.[287]. [87] The location of their first meeting was too small to accommodate the approximately 8,000 attendees, and they had to relocate to the Sam Houston Coliseum. [10], Branham told his audiences that he grew up in "deep poverty",[10] often not having adequate clothing, and that his family was involved in criminal activities. [159] He continued expecting something greater, which he said "nobody will be able to imitate". One newspaper reported, "Rev. [106] Upshaw sent a letter describing his healing claim to each member of Congress. Brennan served in the field of Catholic education for a number of years. Related To Sharon Brennan, Amanda Brennan. [96], Branham would often request God to "confirm his message with two-or-three faith inspired miracles". [286] Schfer had a history of child molestation dating to the 1950s. [71], Historians name his June 1946 St. Louis meetings as the inauguration of the healing revival period. [256], 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". Pohl stated that many people Branham pronounced as healed later died and produced witnesses to validate his allegations. He was raised in Lindenhurst . [187] This led to denominationalism, which he viewed as the greatest threat to true Christianity. He could not be reached for comment. Whereas he had once received "a thousand letters a day", by 1956 his mail dropped to 75 letters a day. They had 9 children: Isobel Wigglesworth (born Yeo), Gordon Hamilton Yeo and 7 other children. 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