He specifically claimed that the black mark over the woman in the photo was the “shadow of death” and was proof and confirmation from God that what he told the people was true. He did so by stating,

 

“But we’re so thankful that we have a Heavenly Father Who confirms that Truth with a confirmation. It’s true. So then if this shall be my last day on earth, the…even the scientific research and proofs has proved that I have told the Truth about these things. That’s right. It’s Truth. So it’ll probably be on the bulletin board. Billy, are you in the room there? You got it in your hand, the picture? And if you have, well, bring it out here, then you can set it up here, they’d probably see it. Well, I don’t know. There’d be a light on the—on the board.

And here is the—here is the picture right here. I guess you can’t see it. But right here you can see that hooded shadow of death over that woman’s head. And here is the write-up about it back here, where the lady took the picture, and to see if it actually showed. And there it is, on—on there. It’s a hooded shadow of death.” “Blasphemous Names” (62-1104M).

​

“I’m thoroughly convinced that that shadow of death that I been telling them people, and see that over there… The scientific cameras and things has proved these things. I’m thoroughly convinced that my message comes from God. I’m thoroughly convinced it’s not my own fleshly mind puffed up. It’s the Word of God. I’m thoroughly convinced, absolutely convinced, that it’s Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever. I’m thoroughly convinced that He’s right here now. I’m thoroughly convinced that He’s camped in here.” “Convinced And Then Concerned” (62-1125M).

 

“Right now, those things that had been said a few years ago, a poor, little humble servant, myself, of God. I said, “There is a Light that stood and talked to me, and told me the things to do.” People laughed and said, 'He’s a little bit off at the head.' There’s a picture of It. Science took It. It’s there. It’s the Truth. I said, 'The woman is shadowed to death.'

They said, 'As shadow, now, that’s nonsense. He just makes that up in his mind.'

There’s the picture of it. God will make the rocks cry out. He is able to do what He wants to.” “The Reproach For The Cause Of The Word” (62-1223).

 

To determine whether the photo was actually of God and true, as William Branham claimed, the correct context and background of it needs to be understood.

 

William Branham asserted that the photo was taken at a meeting of his in Southern Pines, North Carolina, as is evident in his statements from four different sermons here.

​

However, when his sermon that was recorded at the Southern Pines meeting on June 10, 1962 is reviewed, it is clear that there is no reference made by him to a woman with cancer being shadowed with death. The only reference to a woman with cancer in the Southern Pines sermon was made by him as follows,

 

“Are you believing? Now, someone appeared before me here; here it is, someone. It's a woman. She's got cancer on the breast. Mrs. Rhodes, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't know the woman. God knows her. "If thou canst believe, all things are possible." That's right.” “Concerned and convinced”, Southern Pines, North Carolina (62-0610E).

 

William Branham evidently referred to the wrong meeting. The meeting in which he identified a woman with cancer as being shadowed with death was the meeting the day before on June 9, 1962 in Aberdeen, North Carolina.

 

“Little lady, you’re just as conscious as you can be that something happened. I’m looking right at It. That Light settled right over you. I’m looking at It. I never seen you before. I guess we’re strangers to one another. If that’s right, raise up your hand. There’s a dark shadow around you. It’s a shadow of death. You’re suffering with a—a tumors, and that tumors is on your breast, both breasts. A great percent of your breasts are covered with tumor. You have one hope, if you have faith enough to touch Him to do a thing like that… You’re a fine person. I have a good contact of the Spirit with you. You believe me to be His prophet? You know I don’t know you, and you know there’s… You’re conscious that a real sweet feeling’s all around you. That’s that Light, that glow of Light.

You’re not from here. You’re from away from here: Birmingham. I see that banana market there. Your name is Miss Vincent. That is true. Have faith in God. Now, at this time, lady, it’s gone from you. That shadow that was over you has left. Now, don’t you doubt and you’ll get well.

I ask anybody to come question the woman. Find out. If there would be a doctor present, why not come ask, and examine, if you’re a little skeptic? Which, I know it’s present, so why not say it? I used to call that out, but it hurts too many feelings.” “Letting Off The Pressure”, Aberdeen, North Carolina (62-0609E).

 

Lee Vayle, confirmed that the photo was captured during the Aberdeen, N.C. meeting, as follows,

 

“This picture taken at Aberdeen, N.C. in June of 1962 is no less amazing than that taken in Houston, Texas wherein the Spirit of Life is seen photographed above the head of William Branham. Rev. Branham had just pointed to the woman and told her that she was shadowed by death due to cancer, and had but a short time to live unless God undertook for her. A lady, upon hearing Brother Branham say this, felt so impelled in her spirit to take a picture of this dying woman that she did so. When the film was developed the black mask of death was clearly seen over this woman's head. It is absolutely amazing but this 'hood of death' looks exactly like the hood that the executioner would place on his head before he took the life of his victim. Later when another picture was taken there was no death mask upon the sister's face. Today that lady is well and without a sign of cancer. How startling to realize that the camera has caught for all to see the Light of Life and the Shadow of Death.”[1]

 

 

Footnote:

[1]  Source: Lee Vayle, Twentieth Century Prophet: The Messenger to the Laodicean Church Age (Jeffersonville IN: Spoken Word Publications, 1965) page 73. http://messagedoctrine.com/LeeVayle/20thcentury/20th%20Century%20Prophet.PDF, http://www.williambranhamstorehouse.com/pdf_downloads/twentieth%20century%20prophet.pdf

 

 

Was the “Shadow of Death” actually captured over the woman, as William Branham led people like Lee Vayle to believe?

 

Apparently not.

 

William Branham specifically stated that the photo was captured when he told the woman “who she was”, “where she come from” and that she had cancer, as follows,

 

“The lady that come to a sister and had told her, in the meeting in—in Carolina, where we had such a wonderful meeting at Southern Pines. And there, the lady was dying with cancer on both breasts. And the doctors had give her up to die. And the lady just reached down and took her picture, just as I told her who she was, and where she come from. And I said, 'There is a dark shadow over you. You’re shadowed to death.' And the lady just snaps the picture of this. And there it is on the mechanical eye of the camera, gets the shadow of death.” “Blasphemous Names” (62-1104M).

 

“And I said to a lady sitting out there, a stranger…I was in—in Southern Pines. I said, “There is a shadow over this Miss So-and-so.” A lady that I never seen in my life. 'You just come from the doctor; and two cancers, one on each breast, and you’re given up. You are shadowed with a black hood, to death.'

And Something said to a sister sitting by, who had a flash camera, said, 'Take the picture.' And she didn’t want to do it. Yet, 'Take the picture,' and she still refrained. And then again it come, and she grabbed the picture…and shot the picture. And there it is, scientifically. It’s on the bulletin board; black-hooded shadow.

Then, when the woman believed and prayer was made, a picture shot right straight back behind it, clear. I said, 'The shadow has gone'” See? The lady lives, by the grace of God.” “Is This The Sign Of The End, Sir?” (62-1230E).

 

“And now, and saying the people were 'shadowed.' Now, here was a woman, a photograph. There it is, regular, just like any other photograph; like one taking this one, a machine. I said…A person was wondering about that. And said to the woman, 'You are shadowed to death, with cancer. There is a dark shadow.' She turned and took the picture. The woman has been here to testify, and may be here yet tonight, for all I know. See? Now, there is the woman with like a black hood over her. All right, now, there is the scientific proof that that is the truth. And immediately after the woman was pronounced 'well,' they took the picture, and it wasn’t there. What struck the lens then? And what left, that didn’t—wasn’t on the lens when it was pronounced that she was healed? See? Now, standing here, told you that the Angels was coming.” “He That Is In You” (63-1110E).

 

It is evident from the sermon he preached in Aberdeen, NC here that he actually identified the specifics about the woman during the prayer service at the end. However, the photo with the “shadow” over the woman's head was apparently not captured then, but likely before the meeting ever began.

In the photo, it is clear that a woman was laughing, people were standing and numerous people were not even facing or looking toward the pulpit where William Branham would have made the serious condition known about the woman. (Those details are even more evident when the photo is enlarged by left-clicking on it.)

​

Had the photo been captured during the prayer service, as William Branham led people to believe, the people present certainly would have been in a reverent, prayerful state and not in the relaxed, inattentive state, as the photo reflects. (Clearly, no one would have been laughing when he made such a serous edict known about the woman.)

​

Because the photo was not captured during the prayer service, William Branham's claims are false that it was captured over the woman's head when he identified the specifics about her. Consequently, his claims that a sister took the photo at that time are also false.

​

​Based on the unfounded and false nature of his claims, the photo cannot rightly be viewed as  “proofs” or “vindication” from a “Heavenly Father”, as he alleged. And based on the fact that the photo was likely taken before he was ever present, no legitimate connection or link between it and his ministry can be made.

​