Introduction

On my lecture tours I have been asked again and again to publish something about William M. Branham. I knew him personally for exactly 10 years (1955-1965) and was with him in Europe and the U.S.A. We ate at the same table and rode in the same car. I experienced him as a man and as a man of God. I have been privileged to be an eye and ear witness to the extraordinary ministry given to him by God. Thus, I can speak and write from my own thorough knowledge. I am also in possession of over 300 sermons that he preached and can thus form a comprehensive assessment of his preaching of the Word, his special mission and message.

During his lifetime and also after his death in December 1965, he was held in high esteem by some, but strictly rejected by others. In Christian journals, he was predominantly judged negatively by authors who did not know him and his ministry personally. In contrast, the secular press has generally reported positively on him. It is well known that the assessment of personalities who appear in public varies greatly. It is particularly bad for those who deviate from traditional traditions.

The terms "prophets" and "prophetesses" have always been used for men and women who have come forward with revelations. We already find these terms in the Holy Scriptures. Abraham, Moses, Elijah and many others were prophets confirmed by God. This term is meant to express that it is not a human being, but God Himself who speaks through man. As the mouth of God on earth there have been mouthpieces, therefore in such men sent by God, who really spoke in the name of the LORD, we find Thus saith the LORD. Only after God the Lord had spoken to them, and that happened from mouth to ear, thus audibly, could such men say: Thus hath the Lord spoken! In addition, they saw certain events in visions and were therefore called "seers". In addition to the seeing in the spirit, the inspiration of the spirit came, and thus what was seen and revealed was spoken and written down as a word.

The most famous prophet of the Old Testament is Moses. To him the invisible revealed himself visibly in the form of a man and spoke with him face to face. The most famous seer and prophet of the New Testament is the apostle John. He reports in the last book of the Bible what he saw and heard. He saw the course of human history according to the divine plan of salvation to the end. He even saw the new heaven and the new earth, that is, the new beginning. "God the Lord does nothing without first revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

It is rightly asked how one can know whether they are true or false prophets, because many claim to be sent by God. There have always been true and false prophets. The Lord Himself warned us that there would be many false prophets, but He also promised that He would send a prophet like Elijah before the great and terrible day (Mal. 3:23; Matth. 17:11).

However, there is a reliable criterion, a standard that must be used for testing: The infallible Word that remains valid for eternity. The Old and New Testaments contain the plan of salvation fully and finally revealed by God Himself. Whoever appears as a prophet or prophetess must accept that the doctrines and revelations proclaimed and the practice practised are subjected to the overall testimony of Holy Scripture. The slightest deviation, addition, removal or alteration from the original Word disqualifies the person concerned at once on the spot. Whoever speaks from God, or through whom God speaks, can only say what has already been said. Both Old and New Testaments contain all doctrines, knowledge and revelations, and therefore the threat of final punishment in the last chapter of the Bible is laid upon the adding and taking away from the written Word. God, however, remains sovereign in His actions. HE says: "Behold, I accomplish a new thing…" (Is. 43, 19). He does what He pleases without announcing the details beforehand.

William Branham did not appear with new revelations, his ministry clearly consisted in putting anew on the lampstand what had already been documented in the Word and handed down to us by the prophets and apostles. Through the ministry entrusted to him, God did something new in part and also what had already happened before. Whoever receives such a prophet sent by God will receive the reward of a prophet (Matth. 10, 41).

It is true that with his absolutely biblical preaching he stood in contrast to the traditional traditions found in churches and free churches. But the overwhelming conformity of his teachings and practice to the Scriptures compels every honest person, whether clergy or lay, to examine his own preaching and practice. All sincere seekers of truth have no choice but to face the sole valid testimony of Scripture. It is on this unshakeable foundation, on which the early church was founded, that the judgement must be made.