“Salvation”
William Branham's teachings on salvation varied considerably over time and include many false claims that are unfounded and contrary to the Bible.
In particular, he claimed that salvation cannot be attained solely through the atonement of Jesus Christ, but that salvation needs to be attained through him in his role as “Elijah the prophet” of Malachi 4, as is evident by his statements below, which include clear references to himself as the “Elijah” (i.e. as a hater of woman and denominations, and a man of the wilderness),
“But somewhere, some place God's got a humble prophet waiting for the hour. He's the sign. He's the sign that will condemn the world and will save the church: the prophet.
. . .When atomic bombs, and people are scared in the Pentagon, they don't know what to do, and mystic signs in the skies of flying saucers, and everything that God predicted,
it's time for that Elijah —he's somewhere—to rise on the scene. . . .
Are you ready? The last book in the Bible, Revelation, shows us that there will be a return of him in the last days to the Gentile church. Signs, how they miss it. He's prophesied to come again just before the great and the second coming of the Lord. In Malachi the fourth chapter and Revelation, also, the third chapter, tells us that he will be here in the last days, that same one that'll stand in the breach for the people with a little flock that God will give him. He'll come in the last days. God said so. He'll be a sign to this Gentile nation that her time is no more.” “A True Sign That's Overlooked” (61-1112).
“But the Elijah of this day is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is to come according to Matthew the seventeen... Luke 17:30, says the Son of man is to reveal Himself among His people. Not a man, God! But it'll come through a prophet. Now, He never had two major prophets at the same time. Never in the world.” “Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will” (65-1127B).
“I was reading there, and the Holy Spirit told me to go up to a certain tree and stand there. . . .Then He showed me, when He opened up Malachi, the 4th chapter. . . And remember, when this Elijah comes… I’ll give you some of his description.… I’ll give you some of the descriptions of this man. He will be a woman hater. He sure will. Look at—look what he was on Elijah: Jezebel. Look on John: Herodias. See? Another thing, he will be firmly against denominations. Look at Elijah; look at John. “Don’t think to say within yourself we have Abraham to our father. God’s able of these stones to rise children to Abraham.” He will hate denominations; he will hate immoral women. He will be a man in the wilderness, that lives in the wilderness, coming forth with his Message.” “The Messiah” (61-0117).
William Branham's claim above that Elijah the prophet “will save the church” is clearly unfounded because no part of the Bible states that “Elijah the prophet” will have such a purpose. In fact, the entire premise of “Elijah the prophet” being sent to the Gentiles to fulfill Malachi 4 is a completely flawed and erroneous one.
From a plain reading of Malachi in the Old Testament, it is evident that the entire book was written to the Jews and is intended for the Jews. Its first verse, “The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi” clearly establishes the book's audience to be the Jews. In the verses and chapters that follow in the book, there is also no change in audience from “you” Israel to “you” the Gentiles. Thus, it is apparent that every reference to “you” or “ye” in Malachi is made only to and about Israel, including the “you” in Malachi 4:5-6,
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
Because the Malachi 4 prophecy is about “Elijah the prophet” being sent to the Jews and William Branham never went to Israel or ministered to the Jews, he could not have been that prophet. He also could not have been “Elijah the prophet” for all the reasons provided here.
In addition, William Branham's claim that “the Elijah of this day is the Lord Jesus Christ” is unfounded and contrary to all Biblical principles because no prophet in the Scriptures is ever likened unto or compared to Jesus Christ himself; let alone identified as being synonymous with Him. John the Baptist who was, in fact, the Elias (i.e. Elijah) of his day certainly never alleged or led people to believe that he was the Lord Jesus Christ himself.[1] In addition, none of the apostles in the Bible, including Apostle Paul, ever identified themselves as being synonymous with Jesus Christ regardless of how significant of a role they played in ministering God's Word to the people.
William Branham's claim above about God never having two major prophets at the same time is also clearly false because three of the four major prophets (Daniel, Jeremiah and Ezekiel) were all contemporaries during the years 595-587 B.C. (Jeremiah: c. 627 - 580 B.C., Daniel: c. 605 - 530 B.C. and Ezekiel c. 593 - 570 B.C.).
William Branham also falsely led people to believe that his “message” was necessary for “Eternal Life” and superseded the gospel of Christ that was preached by the apostles.
Galatians 1:6–9 clearly establishes that there is only one gospel and that is the gospel of Christ that the apostles preached,
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Despite those grave admonitions, William Branham decided to preach another gospel, as is evident by his statements below in which he outright declared the apostles' gospel message to be null and void and led people to believe that they instead need to receive his “message of the hour” to have Eternal Life,
“The Word, the Word in the days of the apostles does not work in this day.” “Shalom” (64-0112).
“The same thing is today, it's God manifested in flesh, the Message of the hour, the Light of the day. We can't have them other messages back there; they've done been lived up; we live in a glare of a light.” “The Identified Christ Of All Ages” (64-0617).
“The Word that fell on the Day of Pentecost will not work this day. No, sir. That was for Pentecost. This is for the Bride, going Home of the Bride. We got something different.” “The Invisible Union Of The Bride Of Christ” (65-1125).
“You've got to take the Message of the hour... Then you either receive That or reject It. That's Eternal Life, leadership of the Holy Spirit, leading His Church.” “Leadership” (65-1207).
“Oh, Word believers, give in to my message!” “Birth Pains” (65-0124).
“You must believe God and believe Christ, and believe the Holy Ghost. Then after believing all of them, God wants you to believe me.” “Gifts And Callings Are Without Repentance” (50-0300).
All of the above teachings of William Branham that lead people away from salvation through the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ are patently false and anti-Scriptural.
The Bible clearly establishes that salvation is through Christ's atonement and resurrection, as follows,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:10)
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:10-14)
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
In addition to falsely leading people to believe that salvation can only be attained through his “message” as “Elijah the prophet”, William Branham also falsely led people to believe that the only way to be baptized with the Holy Ghost is to receive his “Word of the hour”, as follows,
“There’s only one evidence of the Holy Spirit that I know of, and that is a genuine faith in the promised Word of the hour.” “Questions And Answers #2” (64-0823E).
“Now we have been constantly saying that the true evidence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost is for the believer to receive the Word for the age in which he lives.” Seven Church Age Book, p. 155.
“The evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost today is just the same as it was back in the day of our Lord. It is receiving the Word of truth for the day in which you live.” Seven Church Age Book, p. 169.
However, those claims of his are also clearly contrary to the Bible because Acts 2:38-39 clearly establishes that all that is needed to receive the Holy Ghost is to,
“...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Footnotes:
[1] Jesus Christ identified John the Baptist to be Elias the prophet as follows, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” (Matthew 11:14)