Spoken Word - William Branham Codewords
- 2 years ago
When leaders of William Branham’s “Message” cult of personality refer to the "Word of God", they are not simply referring to the Christian Bible. While the term "Word of God" is almost universally describing the Bible Canon in Christian churches around the globe, this phrase has overloaded meaning within the cult following of William Branham. It is used interchangeably to describe the Bible, William Branham's sermons, and sometimes statements made by Branham that were not recorded. In splinter groups and even some movements with the New Apostolic Reformation, it can also refer to the new leader’s statements.
"Word of God" for Branham's "Message" cult also includes the "Spoken Word", the name used by William Branham to describe his sermons, and the business entity under which those sermons were sold until transitioning to "Voice of God Recordings". Branham trained his followers to believe that modern-day prophets, of which he was chief, spoke the "Word of God" into existence, a new "Spoken Word" that was either a continuation or replacement of the written Biblical text. Using Clarence Larkin's Dispensational Truth diagram of the Church Ages, Branham appointed "Messengers", or "prophets", for each of Larkin's "ages". According to Branham's blended theology, only the chief "prophet" for the dispensational "age" could create the new "Word of God."
Though he never explicitly stated in public that he was this "prophet" for the "age" with "God's Message", Wiliam Branham often asked his listeners if he was the one that he so frequently referred to in his sermons. When his listeners agreed, Branham offered no denial, silently acknowledging the claim.
The effects Branham’s claim to be the "messenger" were wide-reaching, used as the basis for many of William Branham's doctrines and themes used for multiple versions of his stage persona. According to Branham, this "Spoken Word", or "Word of God", must be given back to the Holy Spirit. If not "given back", the result was death.
Word of God:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/word_of_god
"Word of God" for Branham's "Message" cult also includes the "Spoken Word", the name used by William Branham to describe his sermons, and the business entity under which those sermons were sold until transitioning to "Voice of God Recordings". Branham trained his followers to believe that modern-day prophets, of which he was chief, spoke the "Word of God" into existence, a new "Spoken Word" that was either a continuation or replacement of the written Biblical text. Using Clarence Larkin's Dispensational Truth diagram of the Church Ages, Branham appointed "Messengers", or "prophets", for each of Larkin's "ages". According to Branham's blended theology, only the chief "prophet" for the dispensational "age" could create the new "Word of God."
Though he never explicitly stated in public that he was this "prophet" for the "age" with "God's Message", Wiliam Branham often asked his listeners if he was the one that he so frequently referred to in his sermons. When his listeners agreed, Branham offered no denial, silently acknowledging the claim.
The effects Branham’s claim to be the "messenger" were wide-reaching, used as the basis for many of William Branham's doctrines and themes used for multiple versions of his stage persona. According to Branham, this "Spoken Word", or "Word of God", must be given back to the Holy Spirit. If not "given back", the result was death.
Word of God:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/word_of_god