Part I - Dominionism is an umbrella term for a number of related groups (the most extreme faction of the Religious Right) whose goal is to see every area of life (including governments and all other institutions) placed under God's law (See is a theocracy Biblical in Part IV below) Many of them believe that Christ cannot return until this is accomplished thus are willing to use force if necessary. The question being whether the Bible ever says (or even implies) that it falls to humans to make the world ready for Christ's second advent OR does this ideology stem from man's incredible conceit and exaggerated estimate of his own importance - imperialism hiding behind a Christian veneer?  YOU ARE HERE - Part II - History and Spread - Bill Hamon, John Wimber, C Peter Wagner, and The Occult Roots of Dominionism. This movement driven by numerous very deluded "Christian" leaders (a.k.a wolves in sheep's clothing) is influencing thousands of believers who have apparently never compared their teachings with what the Bible says, nor looked into the very dark roots of the movement. Part III A - Dominionism Vs. The Bible I - Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19. God's instruction in Genesis 1:28 was a delegation of responsibility for the stewardship of this earth and its resources (that we have miserably failed at). However, Dominionists have interpreted this verse to mean that Christians were commanded to 'rule' the earth. They also assert that the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19 supports the Dominion mandate - a biased self serving interpretation that has more holes in it than Swiss Cheese. Part III B - Dominionism Vs. The Bible II - Every One Of Their Doctrines Contradicts Scripture. Not only is the Manifest Sons of God teaching based on an extremely shallow understanding of Romans 8:19, the Bible very clearly tells us what conditions exist just prior to Christ's return, that He already has dominion over the earth, and that God himself will destroy all earthly kingdoms (no overcomers involved). Part IV - Is A Theocracy Biblical? The question we need to ask ourselves is whether there is a single scrap of evidence for a theocracy in the Scripture. The short answer is "No! Absolutely not!" - for which there are several compelling and irrefutable reasons straight out of the pages of Scripture. Part V - Joel's Army - Where this diabolical doctrine is likely to take us.
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Three Key Players - Bill Hamon, John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner
All three men had one talent or ability in common - although none of the three exercised any Biblical discernment whatsoever, they managed to turn a small movement (largely confined to Pentecostal and Charismatic churches) into a global phenomena. The Background of Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism can pretty much trace it's beginnings to Charles Fox Parham and William Seymour of Azusa Street. All Azusa Street participants seemed to care about was an ecstatic experience which they attributed to having received the "Holy Ghost" with nary a thought given to serious, exegetical study of the written Scriptures. William Branham and The Latter Rain Events in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Regardless of the fact that many Christians caught up in the Restoration/Dominion movement would deny any involvement with Latter Rain teachings (some of them have probably never even heard of the movement), it is where Kingdom Theology in all it's forms originated. George R. Hawtin, George Warnock and Ern Baxter
Here is what some of the leading figures of the North Battleford movement had to say. The Occult Beginnings - William Branham
In spite of his bizarre doctrines, his false prophecy, lack of verifiable healings, and the fact that he was not only visited many times in his life but was controlled by an unearthly spirit that definitely did not come from God, even today many believe William Branham to be the greatest prophet of this final age . From Saskatchewan To Kansas:
Via Ern Baxter? John Wimber - From The Kansas City Prophets To The Vineyard Churches
Wimber was so convinced of the validity of the beliefs of the Kansas City Prophets (who were then called the Kansas City Fellowship) that he helped introduce into the Vineyard what until then had been a largely fringe movement. Bill Hamon to C. Peter Wagner to The Rest of The World
Although there is conflicting evidence as to when C. Peter Wagner first heard of and adopted the doctrines of the Kansas city prophets, there is little question that he was very influenced by Bill Hamon The Word-Faith Doctrine and Dominionism Not Only Overlap But Both Have Occult Roots. Dominionism In Politics
In recent years there has been a large scale influx of Dominionists into the American political scene. They are not there to govern righteously but with the idea of building the kingdom of God on earth and turning America into a "Christian" nation. Introduction - Three Key Players - Bill Hamon, John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner
Before Wimber's death in 1997, he and C. Peter Wagner worked together for a number of years which including teaching the controversial course, MC510 - The Miraculous and Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. Along with Bill Hamon, the two men had one talent or ability in common - although none of the three exercised any Biblical discernment whatsoever, they managed to turn a small movement that was largely confined to Pentecostal and Charismatic churches into a global phenomena that has spread to churches in virtually every country in the world. Wimber gave shelter to the Kansas city prophets whose beliefs stemmed from the Latter Rain movement (See Below) securely establishing them in the Vineyard group of churches. Dominionism spread even further making inroads into churches unconnected with the Vineyard when C Peter Wagner (one time presiding Apostle of the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders [ICAL]), was drawn into the loop. In fact, it was C. Peter Wagner who coined the name New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). He taught that 2001 A.D. marked the beginning of the "Second Apostolic Age" when the proper church government — headed by living apostles and prophets — was finally restored. For more about C Peter Wagner See Chapter I -
Wagner and The New Apostolic Reformation - Apostles Or Deluded Impostors Also See More About John Wimber’s “Signs and Wonders’ Philosophy Wagner was very influenced by Bill Hamon who claims to be a prophet and an apostle was involved in the New Order of the Latter Rain in the 1950s and went on to found Christian International Ministries Network, now oversees over 600 churches in 19 countries and has authored numerous books - several of which have been profoundly influential in the apostolic-prophetic movement. But we should travel a little further back in time in order to gain an accurate picture of how all this developed. While it is often difficult to precisely unravel the threads of history inasmuch as when, where, and how it all began - who influenced who etc. suffice to say that a number of people who lived and events that occurred in and around the 1940's collectively led to the beliefs so prevalent in the 21st century church.
The Background of Pentecostalism -
The word Pentecostal is derived from Pentecost which is when the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ's followers. Pentecostals are charismatic, that is a type of Christian who emphasizes personal religious experiences and manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as healing, speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Note: Charisma means a gift of grace, an undeserved favor derived from the Greek charis - grace, kindness, good-will, favor etc. It is used of the kindness towards inferiors or servants, especially of God toward men
The roots of Pentecostalism go back to Charles Fox Parham (1873 – 1929), a holiness evangelist who believed in divine healing, taught that the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs after salvation (the second blessing), and that tongues was the scriptural evidence that one had indeed received the Holy Spirit. (This is still a foundational belief among Pentecostals today who still pray for the Baptism if the Holy Spirit) Students in Parham's school near Topeka, Kansas, prayed for and believed they had received the Holy spirit when they began speaking in tongues. See Tongues.. and The "Second Blessing" especially Part V Later when Parham started a Bible training school in Houston William Seymour, the son of a former slave, was one of his students. To cut a long story short, Seymour eventually wound up in Los Angeles where his preaching sparked the three-year-long Azusa Street "revival" in 1906. It was characterized by strange frenetic movements, incoherent babble, people falling over and making strange animal noises, and non-stop hysterical laughter. Sin was never acknowledged, repented of, nor renounced. All participants seemed to care about was the spectacular and an ecstatic experience which they attributed to having received the "Holy Ghost". Nary a thought was given to serious, exegetical study of the written Scriptures. (Unfortunately, the same outlandish behavior is often seen in Evangelical/charismatic gatherings today). The message and the experience of the Azusa Street "revival" was carried to the four corners of the country and Pentecostal missionaries eventually took the "revival "to other nations across the world. Although at times healings and other miraculous phenomena seemed to be declining, the movement was kept alive by four of five 'waves' of revivals - the number depending on who you are speaking to. See Footnote I Although not as well known as some of the others, the one that is of most concern to this article is often known as The "Third Wave", a movement that originated in the Sharon Orphanage and Bible School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. In my opinion it had the most far reaching effect spreading its tentacles much beyond Pentecostalism. Although Latter Rain influence gradually waned (perhaps in part because in 1949 the Assemblies of God officially denounced the excesses of teaching), it never really died but went underground to await the day when sound doctrine would be of little concern to so many. Then, once again, the deception raised it's ugly head branching out in all directions as it went. Latter Rain teachings eventually became the foundation for various offshoots, including Kingdom Now, Manifest Sons of God, Joel's Army, Restoration, Reconstruction, Elijah Company, Overcomers, etc. From its inception the Pentecostal movement has been deeply marred by moral scandals and deception, and nothing has changed. See Recent Pentecostal Scandals by David Cloud here -
www.wayoflife.org/database/recent_pentecostal_scandals.html
The Latter Rain
William Branham and The Events in North Battleford, Saskatchewan
Regardless of the fact that many Christians caught up in the Restoration/Dominion movement would deny any involvement with Latter Rain teachings (some have probably never even heard of the movement), it is where Kingdom Theology in all it's forms originated. Based on Joel 2:23, it was believed that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was the "former rain" that established the Church. The "latter rain" would be when the Lord once again poured out His spirit to usher in the last great harvest at the end of the age.
Although it is true that the movement was born in 1948 in the Sharon Orphanage and School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, many streams had to come together to make it happen chief among which was the 'ministry' of William Branham (April 6, 1909 – December 24, 1965) an American Christian minister and faith healer who believed himself to be the forerunner of the Second Coming of Christ - a prophet with the anointing of Elijah. Branham was a major part of the "Healing Revival" of the late forties and fifties who had a lasting influence on the charismatic movement. Not only were his meetings some of the biggest ever held in American cities, but he held successful campaigns in Europe, Africa, and India as well. As early as 1950, over 1,000 healing evangelists (who themselves filled huge auditoriums and tents) gathered at a Voice of Healing (Branham's magazine) convention to acknowledge the profound influence of Branham on the healing movement. [01].
Very importantly, Branham taught about "God's Seventh Church Age" that immediately preceded the manifestation of God's Kingdom and is credited as "a principal architect of restorationist thought". The Meetings in Vancouver
In the fall of 1947, a man called Gordon Lindsay See Footnote II arranged for William Branham to hold a series of revival meetings in Vancouver, British Columbia. These meetings were attended by the leaders of the Sharon Orphanage and School in in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. The School was founded by Herrick Holt, pastor of the Church of the Foursquare Gospel in North Battleford, and he was joined in the fall of 1947 by George Hawtin and Percy Hunt, formerly pastors with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Hawtin and Hunt brought 70 students from the Bethel Bible Institute where they had formerly taught. [02]
(Note: A very interesting article written by L. Thomas Holdcroft in 1980 delves into the events leading up to the 'revival' that says "The New Order of the Latter Rain was an organizational schism before it was a spiritual cause". (I believe Thomas Holdcroft was President of Western Pentecostal Bible College in North Vancouver, BC) See Strange Fires. The New Order Of The Latter Rain.( https://www.spiritwatch.org/firelatter2.htm) Faced with the fact that the Pentecostal movement as a whole was drying up, the leaders and students at Sharon who were seeking a restoration of end-time miracle power saw Branham's meetings as a possible outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Branham's teaching about the beginning of the seventh age of the church that would prepare the way for Christ's return and his supposed healings convinced the people from Sharon that an apostolic renewal was about to occur. They even had Branham lay hands on them. See William Branham's Bogus Healings by David Cloud.
The article is based an interview with the late Alfred Pohl in February 21, 1990 which was published in O Timothy magazine, Volume 7, Issue 4, 1990. In the interview Alfred Pohl recounted his experiences in a healing campaign with William Branham. At that time, Pohl was a leader in a Pentecostal denomination and a teacher in their Bible college. The duplicity and heresy he witnessed in the Branham healing campaign was a major step toward his leaving Pentecostalism. HERE When they returned to the school they began a period of fasting and prayer. On February 12, 1948 (the day after a female student prophesied that a great worldwide revival was about to begin) the Holy Spirit supposedly fell with "great power". On February 11, 1948, during extended services at the Sharon Orphanage chapel, leaders began laying hands upon the pastors and students to "impart to them" the "spiritual gifts." The entire student body enthusiastically accepted the new beliefs and practices, insomuch that the Chapel services began to take precedence over all other campus activities. As more and more students "received" what was "imparted," and news of their work began to spread, large numbers of visitors were attracted. Eventually, all educational institutions were suspended, and the North Battleford campus began holding revival meetings. These meetings later became known as the "Latter Rain," named after a prophecy from the book of Joel in the Old Testament. [03] The pastors and students believed that the Saskatchewan phenomenon was an indication that the "latter rain" had begun to fall. One of the main tenets was the belief in the restoration of apostles and prophets who were expected to triumph over every aspect of society thus paving the way for Christ's Second Advent. In fact, as said in an earlier chapter, Christ can only return after the Church's work is complete. Note: The people from Sharon were also influenced by Franklin Hall's Atomic Power with God through Fasting and Prayer. Ernest Hawtin (below) testified: "The truth of fasting was one great contributing factor to the revival. One year before this we had read Franklin Hall's book, entitled 'Atomic Power With God Through Fasting and Prayer.' ... The revival would never have been possible without the restoration of this great truth through our good brother Hall" (Richard Riss, The Latter Rain Movement of 1948 and the Mid-twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening, p.89). [04]
In fact, Branham was himself influenced by the book and incorporated many of Hall's ideas into his own ministry. More About Hall in Footnote III Here is what some of the leading figures of the movement in North Battleford had to say.
George R. Hawtin, George Warnock and Ern Baxter
George R. Hawtin, president of Sharon's Global Missions who played a prominent part in the 1948 Latter Rain outpouring claimed that (Emphasis and Italics Added_
If we cannot see how in the very beginning God created man for the specific purpose of ruling the universe. and to have dominion over all the vast sidereal with its infinite space and multi-billion galaxies, then we have missed the heart of God's intention completely and we become doomed to spend our lives in the idle pettifogging of the Romish and Protestant systems, which give neither reason for man's existence nor cause for his humiliation and death. [05]
(The italicized text shows an abysmal lack of understanding of God's long term plan. See The Message of The Bible In his booklet Mystery Babylon Hawtin said that he saw "with clearness that the great and blessed move of God was not two years old before a sectarian spirit began to show its ugly head" (All Emphasis Added) "...There was to be no fellowship with anybody who was not within the confines of our ever narrowing circle. We were the true church. We were the elect. We stood on the foundation and all other men stood on sinking sand. No man must cast out a devil unless he followed us. No teaching was worth the time it took to tell it unless it originated with us. We were the most spiritual people in the world. We were going to reign in the kingdom and even now we were beginning to reign. We had the gifts of the Spirit, and we were going to 'call the shots' in the tribulation. [06]
George Warnock, Baxter's personal secretary was from North Battleford. When the Latter Rain 'revival' broke out he returned home to be a part of it. He was not only one of the North Battleford brethren but, during his four year stint at Sharon Bible College in the capacity of a "deacon", wrote the Feast of Tabernacles in 1951. The book, in which Warnock laid out a specific doctrine for the Latter Rain Movement, became very very influential not only for its view of the feasts but for its approach to the Scriptures. It was one of the main sources for the controversial charismatic teachings about Latter Rain and the Manifest Sons of God. [07] For example, he wrote, And in this Church we have a five-fold ministry, designated as Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. (See Ephesians 4:11). We have already observed how these ministries are simply the overflow of the exalted ministry of the Christ who rules in the heavenly Zion. [08] The Church must yet bring forth a child that shall "rule all nations with a rod of iron" (Rev. 12:5). For it is given unto the overcomer to "rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter, shall they be broken to shivers" (Rev. 2:27). [09]
See The Seven Feasts of Israel
that not only celebrate a historical event in Israel's past, but are also a prophecy of future events, four of which have already come to pass. Ern Baxter (1914-93) traveled with William Branham many years (from 1947 to about 1953) often doing all of the speaking for him. [10] He was considered one of the greatest Christian preachers of the 20th Century and although he was never 'officially' a Latter Rain man nor one of the leaders of the happenings in North Battleford, he was hugely influenced by the movement and, along with others, was responsible for the spreading of their teachings in the early charismatic movement. He became involved with the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement joining Don Basham, Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, etc in Florida. See Footnote IV
The Occult Beginnings - William Branham (1909 – 1965)
I have devoted considerable space to William Branham because he was the person most responsible for the kick off of Latter Rain beliefs and even today, many believe William Branham to be the greatest prophet of this final age.
Branham's Praises Are Sung Even Today In The Pentecostal And Charismatic World.
Dr. Che Ahn, the International Chancellor of Wagner Leadership Institute (now Wagner University) was involved in Todd Bentley's 2008 apostolic alignment ceremony that he and Wagner presided over. Here is what he told Bentley, "There is a Branham anointing on you and a double portion of it!" (Actually he got that right. There definitely was a "Branham anointing" on Bentley)
At the same event Joshua Fowler, Legacy Life Church Senior pastor said "Todd the Lord has made you to be a detonator. I see cables going around the world to different nations. I see Great Britain being set ablaze by the power of the God. I see even as you go into places that God says you will go you even with the glory, like William Branham.
In his book The Day of the Saints published in December 2012 (Destiny Image Publishers), Bill Hamon expressed approval of William Branham on page 161. He also described the "Toronto Blessing" as a spiritual "refreshing" that significantly occurred "just before the Apostolic Movement", just as "the Charismatic Renewal" happened "before the Prophetic Movement" (p.129). The book itself was endorsed by the usual round up of suspects (C Peter Wagner, Tommy Tenney, Earl Paulk, Cindy Jacobs, Oral Roberts etc.). Also by Tony Perkins current President of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council but was at the time the Louisiana State Representative. The Bible Clearly Shows That Not All Signs and Wonder Originate With God
In view of what is at stake and the enormous repercussions of being deceived, the most foolish thing any Christian can do is to blindly believe anyone's word on spiritual matters. Nor can any believer assume all signs and wonders are evidence of God's hand. Before getting carried away by a 'miraculous' happening stop and think of what Jesus said, "for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect (Mark 13:22 NASB).
Quite clearly the false Christs and false prophets had already begun to arise in Paul's time. He wrote, But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4 NASB)
In fact, false prophets and other impostors could demonstrate signs and wonders even in Moses' day causing him to issue a more than one warning - Deuteronomy 18:22 tells us a prophet whose word does not come to pass "has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him". However, Deuteronomy 13:1-5 tells us we shall not listen to the words of prophet whose words do come to pass but contradict what God has already revealed in His word. you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:3 NASB)
In both cases the prophet was to be put to death. As David Guzik says in his commentary (Emphasis Added) Those who are immediately convinced at the sight of supernatural power or reality are in danger of great deception. 2Thessalonians 2:9 reminds us that the coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders. This is why Jesus said and these signs will follow those who believe (Mark 16:17). Signs are to follow believers, instead of believers following signs. [11]
Considering that so much can be laid at the feet of one man and that even today so many believe William Branham to be the greatest prophet in this final age, it behooves us to thoroughly investigate whether his teachings and beliefs actually comply with what the word of God teaches. Bizarre Doctrines
It is beyond belief that supposedly intelligent men who glowingly support Branham as a Divinely inspired prophet fail to take his bizarre doctrines and false prophecy into account. Actually I take that back. The ministries of these Branham supporters are based on a shockingly anti biblical agenda with virtually all their own "prophecies" failing to materialize. So I guess their endorsement of Branham isn't really surprising after all. Here are some examples of Branham's beliefs and teachings Serpent's Seed
Branham's "Serpent's Seed" doctrine which taught that Cain was the result of a sexual encounter between Eve and the serpent in the garden. And the curse of the Serpent's Seed is still in existence today in the form of women's temptation of man. [12] Note: Some white supremacists believe the black race is inferior because they are the offspring of a sexual union between Eve and the serpent. The white or "supreme race" came about through sexual union between Adam and Eve. Although I do not know if Branham subscribed to this theory (Although, considering his blatant racism, I would not be surprised )
Women Were Designed By Satan Himself.
On February 21st, 1965 Branham preached a sermon entitled "Marriage and Divorce" in which he taught that "there is no hog, no dog, or no other animal designed like her or can stoop as low as she can stoop. Now that is true". In the sermon he also preached that "You may question me about Satan being her designer but that's the truth. Satan designed her. He still does it. Branham then went on tell his congregation that because of what women God went on to introduce another covenant - Polygamy. [Preacher Behind the White Hood by John Andrew Collins. Pg 182 - 182] See more about this book written by the grandson of the Rev. Willard Collins, former pastor of William Branham's "Branham Tabernacle" in Jefferson, Indiana. Footnote V The Zodiac and Pyramids
Branham also taught that the Zodiac and the Egyptian pyramids were equal to the Scriptures in the revelation of God's Word. [13] Opening the Seven Seals for God????
Branham's messages were often highly convoluted and rambled all over the place. However, this excerpt from his messages on "The Seven Seal Mysteries" takes the proverbial cake. (Emphasis Added) Well, it happens to be that at least one man is present this morning who was standing there when it happened. It actually shook the rocks off of the mountain. We find out that during that time I saw seven Angels in a form of a pyramid that swept down and picked me up. And I was brought east to open the Seven Seals for God." [14]
Unbelievably, he sees himself doing something the Bible says is Christ's prerogative. Here is what the Bible says about the ONLY being found worthy to open the Seven Seals... I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." (Revelation 5:1-5 NASB) Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." (Revelation 6:1 NASB)
See the many ways Dominionism directly contradicts the Scriptures in Chapter III B Also See Dominionism Vs. The Bible - Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19. False Prophecy
Branham predicted that by 1977 all denominations would be consumed by the World Council of Churches under the control of Rome and the Rapture and the end of the world would take place. [15]. He also said (Emphasis Added. Misspelling in original) Based on these seven visions, along with the rapid changes which have swept the world in the last fifty years, I Predict (I do not prophesy) that these visions will have all come to pass by 1977. And though many may feel that this is an irresponsible statement in view of the fact that Jesus said that 'no man knowth the day nor the hour.’ I still maintain this prediction after thirty years because, Jesus did NOT say no man could know the year, month or week in which His coming was to be completed. So I repeat, I sincerely believe and maintain as a private student of the Word, along with Divine inspiration that 1977 ought to terminate the world systems and usher in the millennium. [16]
And that is far from all. He was not only visited many times in his life but was controlled by an unearthly spirit that definitely did not come from God. Visitations - Angelic or Evil Being?
Branham was born in a tiny one-room cabin on a small farm in Kentucky. It is said that a strange light hovered over his bed shortly after he was born and at a very young age a disembodied voice told him that he was being groomed thus was never to drink, smoke, or defile his body in any way. [17]. It is said that when he was baptizing in the Ohio river in Jeffersonville IN. a strange light suddenly came down and hung over his head. In Branham's words (Emphasis Added) I was baptizing down on the river, my first converts, at the Ohio River ... And just then a whirl come from the heavens above, and here come that Light, shining down. ... And it hung right over where I was at. A Voice spoke from there, and said, "As John the Baptist was sent for the forerunner of the first coming of Christ, you've got a Message that will bring forth the fore running of the Second Coming of Christ.".... He is sending a vindicated prophet. He is sending a prophet after almost two thousand years." Brother Branham, p. 71. [18]
Much later, at the age of 38, he was said to have been once again visited by an angel who told him that not even cancer would stand before his prayers. This was the start of what was believed to be a world-wide healing revival impacting many who became very influential in the Pentecostal world. The problem being that these visitations caused much turmoil, confusion and fear in Branham - to the point he even told his wife that he couldn't go on like that - he was "a prisoner" and he didn't want to fool with it. He was so desperate to get rid of whatever it was that was bothering him that he told Meda (his wife) that he would go to the woods and "never come out" until God promised He would "take that thing away from me and never let it happen again." Unfortunately, there was still another encounter in his cabin. This time it was in the form of a man with long hair who spoke with the same voice that Branham had heard since he was very young. "Branham said that the angel was with him day and night and without him he had no authority in his preaching. In fact, he could not even decide things in his own private life. In his healing, Branham was always told by the angel who to heal and who not to. Once an interpreter asked Branham, 'Do you think your power to heal people comes from the Holy Spirit?’ 'No,' Branham replied, 'my angel does it. [19].
Branham was told by the angel who he could heal and who not to. Additionally he stated that his power to heal came from his angel not the Holy Spirit which brings up an important point - neither Jesus nor any of the apostles in the book of Acts attributed any of their miracles to an angel. Jesus was the Son of God and the apostles performed their miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. See 2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Branham's fear and confusion, his desire to have it taken away from him, the 'angel's control in telling Branham what to say and who to heal, Branham's description of being 'paralyzed" when the angel came near, his exhaustion after leaving the platform, coupled with the fact that he was very certain that it was the angel not the Holy Spirit doing the healing should tell any right thinking Christian that this was NOT of God, but was demonic. This probability is reinforced by something else that Branham said... (Note the use of the word "them" which I have put in bold). Them? Who them? ...after hundreds and hundreds of times of visitations, it paralyzes me when He comes near. It sometimes it even makes me ... I almost completely pass out, just so weak when I leave the platform many times. If I stay too long, I'll go completely out. I've had them ride me around for hours, not even know where I was at. And I can't explain it ... [20].
There is no question that many men were deathly afraid when they first encountered an angel or a supernatural event in the Bible however, none of them had any ongoing fears or turmoil because of the visitations. As the Bible says, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." (1 Corinthians 14:33). In fact, the Bible records that one vision was so awe-inspiring that Daniel literally fainted however, the magnificent figure he saw was quick to reassure him. both touching and strengthening the prophet. See Daniel Chapter 10. It has been reported that much of what Branham supernaturally revealed about people was true however, one has to bear in mind that there is such a thing as familiar spirits who have supernatural abilities - Branham's angel probably one of them. As shown in the section Branham’s occult beginnings (above) the Bible clearly shows that not all signs and wonders originate with God. The true test is whether or not the person displaying the signs and wonders leads one towards or away from Biblical teachings. I strongly suggest that you read
Preacher Behind the White Hoods: A Critical Examination of William Branham and His Message
This book walks you through the events of William Branham's life story. It was written by John Andrew Collins who was raised in Branham's "Message" as the grandson of the Rev. Willard Collins - one time pastor of Branham's "Branham Tabernacle" in Jefferson Indiana. Read about Branham's politically charged sermons supporting the revival of the Ku Klux Klan and his connection to some recognized public figures including those that made the F.B.I.’s Top Ten Most Wanted List. More than a decade of research led to over a thousand footnotes, resources, and quotes from the transcripts of William Branham, Jim Jones, Roy Davis, Congressman William D. Upshaw, and many others. There is a detailed list of sources at the end of each chapter. Available on Amazon
From Saskatchewan To Kansas:
As early as 1975 Ern Baxter was a speaker at the Shepherds Conference held in Kansas City attended by some 40 to 50,000 men. Part of what he said was (Emphasis Added)
God's people are going to start to exercise rule and they're going to take dominion over the power of Satan. They're going to bring diabolical princes down. The dark powers that hover over the Parliament buildings of the nations are going to be paralysed by the corporate prayer of an authoritative community. As the rod of His strength goes out of Zion, He will change legislation. He'll chase the devil off the face of God's earth as God's people together, doing the will of God, will bring about God's purposes and God's reign in a time/space world. [21]
In fact, he closed the conference preaching what was possibly his most historic message – "Thy Kingdom Come!" . It hardly seems a coincidence that a few years (in 1982) later pastor Mike Bickle founded the Kansas City Fellowship (KCF) after he heard an audible voice in Cairo, Egypt described by Bickle as "the internal audible voice". According to Bickle. "The Lord simply said, "I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the earth in one generation". [22].
"The internal audible voice" then told Bickle to move to Kansas City to begin a global work. The "Kansas City Prophets" were born. (It is well worth noting that what Mike Bickle described is exactly how Islam and many cults flying under the banner of Christianity began. Someone is visited by an angel and "told" that he has been chosen to do this or that which usually involves starting a movement. Bickle had this in common with William Branham, Joseph Smith (Mormonism) and Muhammad The self-proclaimed "prophets" at the Kansas City Fellowship emphasized the laying on of hands to impart spiritual gifts, and the five-fold ministry offices of Ephesians 4:11 - apostles and prophets in particular. In fact, the Church had to be built on a foundation of present-day apostles and prophets. Among others, the leaders of the movement were Paul Cain, the very controversial Bob Jones, and Mike Bickle who later founded the equally controversial International House of Prayer (IHOP). Bickle was a member of the original Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders and led part of Gov. Rick Perry's prayer event in Houston on August 6, 2011. See examples of Bob Jones' Bizarre Experiences And Unscriptural Beliefs Footnote VI
John Wimber - From The Kansas City Prophets To The Vineyard Churches
In January of 1990 Ernie Gruen, a Kansas City pastor who passed away in June 2009 published a report exposing some of the teachings and practices at Bickle's church This report - "Aberrant Practices" at the Kansas City Fellowship/Grace Ministries was distributed nationwide and could very well have spelled the end of the movement
[You can Download Ernie Gruen's Report HERE Also See More About John Wimber’s “Signs and Wonders’ Philosophy] However the death knell was essentially averted by John Wimber Vineyard:
In 1974 Kenn Gulliksen started a church in West LA. with other churches planted in 1975. "Kenn officially gave the name "Vineyard" (from Isaiah 27:2-3; John 15:5) to this association of churches, and led them for about five years. By 1982, there were at least seven "Vineyards" in a loose-knit fellowship of churches". [23] John Wimber who had left Calvary Chapels in 1982 soon emerged as the leader of the growing network that began with one church in Anaheim, California. Vineyard USA's website says Wimber's influence profoundly shaped the theology and practice of Vineyard churches that now number over 2400 around the world. Wimber was so convinced of the validity of the beliefs of the Kansas City Prophets (who were then called the Kansas City Fellowship) that he helped introduce into the Vineyard what had until then been a largely fringe movement. At an August 1989 conference in Denver, Colorado, Wimber called on Vineyard pastors to receive the KCP which then became incorporated into the Vineyard system. This very effectively put a band aid over the whole affair brought up by pastor Gruen. The Latter Rain had found not only a very comfortable home in the Vineyard church, but a huge and influential platform from which to spread their anti-Biblical beliefs. As said by Tricia Tillin of Banner ministries, The whole Vineyard movement became saturated with a prophetic emphasis as a result of this influence. Major and minor decisions now rested upon words of knowledge and prophetic utterance. People even began keeping written books of prophecies with them, which they referred to rather like divination, instead of searching God's word. Staff appointments, leadership decisions, church direction and strategic operations all became dependent upon the prophets. [24]
In fact, it wasn't long after this that the "Toronto Blessing" with all it's strange phenomena was introduced to the world by the Toronto Vineyard church. See The Toronto Deception - The origins, progress and underlying erroneous doctrines of the phenomenon.
Bill Hamon to C. Peter Wagner to The Rest of The World
Bill Hamon
Bill Hamon not only claims to be a prophet and an apostle but was involved in the New Order of the Latter Rain in the 1950s (He founded Christian International School of Theology with hundreds of Cl Extensions established in local churches around the world.) In Hamon's words,
"At the age of eighteen, I was birthed in the restoration teaching that there are still present-day apostles and prophets in the Church. I was ordained and started pastoring when I was 19" [25]
In other words, Hamon's ministry goes all the way back to the early 1950’s shortly after George Warnock published The Feast of Tabernacles. His claims are no different from those made by Warnock. For example rather than taking a plain (non-esoteric) reading of Haggai 2:9 ('The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts ..."), they interpreted the verse to mean the church at the end of the age will be more glorious than the New Testament church. Consider some other examples of Hamon's teaching: "The Holy Spirit is presently taking the Church through a process of transition, preparation and progression toward the Apostolic Movement and final restorational moves of God" [26] "The Earth and all of creation is waiting for THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD, the time when they will come into their maturity and immortalization... When the Church receives its full inheritance and redemption then creation will be redeemed from its cursed condition of decay, change and death... When the Church realizes its full sonship, its bodily redemption will cause a redemptive chain reaction throughout all of creation" [27] God's holy Church apostles and prophets have a co-laboring ministry of bringing about the might fall of Babylon the Great, Their authority will be beyond anything we have seen in our day. [28]
Bill Hamons teachings are scattered through the five chapters of this article
Bill Hamon and C Peter Wagner
Although there is conflicting evidence as to when C. Peter Wagner first heard of and adopted the doctrines of the Kansas city prophets, there is little question that he was very influenced by Hamon. In his foreword to Bill Hamon's book Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Moves of God Wagner said that he felt a sense of awe when he called Bill Hamon a "friend". He added (Emphasis Added)
For years and years he was, for me, a distant Christian celebrity whose name I knew and heard frequently, whom I greatly admired, and whose books had been among the most influential in nurturing me through what I refer to as my "paradigm shift: from traditional Christianity to an openness to the person and to the full ministry of the Holy Spirit.... His book, Prophets and Personal Prophecy, was the only book I could find in the 1980's that, to me, made Biblical and practical sense of the gift and office of prophet in the Church today." [29] With Wagner's endorsement Bill Hamon brought Latter Rain teachings into the NAR. However, it was C Peter Wagner who originally used the name New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) to describe the belief that working in tandem apostles and prophets must take over the church before God's end-time plans can be fulfilled and Christ can return. The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a dominionist movement which asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle. Leading figures in this seemingly loosely organized movement claim that these prophets and apostles alone have the power and authority to execute God's plans and purposes on earth. They believe they are laying the foundation for a global church, governed by them.
They place a greater emphasis on dreams, visions and extra-biblical revelation than they do on the Bible, claiming that their revealed teachings and reported experiences (e.g. trips to heaven, face-to-face conversations with Jesus, visits by angels) can not be proven by the 'old' Scripture. [30] See more about C. Peter Wagner and the organizations he founded and led HERE And how big has this movement become? Holly Pivec of Apologetics Index gives us a glimpse into how far reaching the movement is, ... the movement's growth is staggering. The NAR movement is responsible for much of the explosive church growth occurring in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 2 Leaders of many of the world’s biggest churches promote present-day apostles and prophets, including David Yonggi Cho (Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea with one million people), E.A. Adeboye (Redeemed Christian Church of God in Nigeria with five million people), Sunday Adelaja (Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations in Ukraine with 20,000 people), and César Castellanos (International Charismatic Mission in Columbia with 60,000 people). The NAR movement has its own global television network, founded in 1995, called GOD TV — which broadcasts NAR teachings in more than 200 nations. 6 In addition to GOD TV, Trinity Broadcasting Network — the world's largest religious television network — regularly features the teachings of NAR apostles and prophets. Charisma Media — a Pentecostal-charismatic publishing empire based in the United States — has played a major role in popularizing the teachings of the NAR movement through its book publishing arm, Charisma House, and its flagship magazine, Charisma. [31]
IPS Note: GOD TV runs a nine session 7 Mountain Culture Shapers Master Class. [32]
The Word-Faith Doctrine and Dominionism Not Only Overlap But Both Have Occult Roots.
The Word-Faith teachers hold to the doctrine that Christians are little Christs that have the power to create things with their words. In other words, positive confession has the power to create its own reality. This is no different from New Thought - a New Age doctrine that made its way into the church from several different angles not necessarily independent of each other.
See The Word of Faith Doctrine and New Thought. Kenneth Hagin:
Although there is little question that some of Kenneth Hagin's work was plagiarized from E. W. Kenyon, he is usually held to be the founding father of the Word-of-Faith movement. Virtually all the heavyweights of the Faith movement acknowledge Hagin as their spiritual father and the key to their own personal success. In fact, many of them graduated from Hagin's Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa. And here is where it gets even more alarming. The word of faith doctrines often overlap with Dominion/Manifest Sons of God theology. In Kenneth Hagin's words Yes, sin, sickness and disease, spiritual death, poverty, and everything else that's of the devil once ruled us. But now, bless God, we rule them--for this is the Day of Dominion!" [33].
Fred Price: Now this is the shocker! But God has to be given permission to work in this earth realm on behalf of man. And we give Him permission through prayer You may say that is ridiculous, but it is true. And the reason why can be found in Genesis 1:26:
... What does dominion mean? It means "control, rule, reign, authority, possession." Yes! You are in control! So, if man has control, who no longer has it? God. I know that sounds awesome, but it is true. He did not say, "Let us share dominion with man." He said, "Let them (man) have dominion." ... When God gave Adam dominion, that meant God no longer had dominion. So, God cannot do anything in this earth unless we let Him. [34] Kenneth Copeland, one of the most prominent of the Word-Faith leaders, not only made the following statement, "Can you imagine somebody walking around with the power that Elisha and Elijah had and the power that Peter and Paul had--all at the same time! It's about to happen!" [35]
Dominionism In Politics -
Christian Nationalism - An Ugly Perversion of The Gospel
In recent years there has been a large scale influx of Dominionists into the American political scene. They are not there to govern righteously but with the idea of building the kingdom of God on earth, starting with turning America into a "Christian" nation. by any means necessary. Case in point - Christian nationalists have been willing to ignore and overlook Trump's offensive and distasteful doings (in fact he is the most amoral person to ever be in the White House) in exchange for unprecedented access to the Oval Office. And, considering the January attack on the Capitol, it could and probably will extend to violence in the future. See Joel's Army
Here are a couple of examples which are probably no more than a drop in the bucket but should serve to warn discerning Christians to watch out for these people and their very dangerous beliefs. Raphael Cruz: Ted Cruz's father Raphael Cruz is author of A Time for Action: Empowering the Faithful to Reclaim America is an ordained minister and an ardent believer in the Seven Mountain mandate. He has indicated that his son was among the evangelical Christians who are anointed as "kings" to take control of all sectors of society and "bring the spoils of war to the priests", thus helping to bring about a prophesied "great transfer of wealth", from the "wicked" to righteous gentile believers. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNa5w9js48s&t=205s). In introducing Raphael Cruz to his church audience, Copeland said that he believed that Ted Cruz had been 'Called & Anointed' by God to be the next president (in 2016). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0_KKg6Wh3Q. Josh Hawley: In January 2021 USA Today carried an article that described how Republican senator from Missouri "speaking in his official capacity as attorney general of Missouri in 2017" proclaimed at a "Pastors and Pews" meeting that their charge is to "take the lordship of Christ, that message, into the public realm and to seek the obedience of the nations — of our nation... to influence our society, and even more than that, to transform our society to reflect the gospel truth and lordship of Jesus Christ.” [35b] Incidentally, Hawley gave the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol building a clenched-fist salute as he pulled up to the building. Dutch Sheets and Trump: In early 2018 Christian Dominionists held an event at Trump International Hotel in Washington. Called "The Turnaround: An Appeal to Heaven National Gathering," it was attended by some of the most prominent Dominionist leaders in the country - Dutch Sheets, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle etc. Dutch Sheets claimed that the event would "play a prophetic role in getting the church to function as Christ's Ekklesia, the representatives of His Kingdom government on earth; as such, we will expose the enemies of God, disrupt their plans, enforce Heaven's rule, and reform America." He also said "We must realize that we are God's governing force on the earth, which have been given keys of authority from Him to legislate from the spiritual realm." "Sheets has also maintained that both the Department of Justice and the FBI are trying to destroy Trump's presidency, a belief also recently espoused by the Rev. Franklin Graham. "We will operate in our kingdom authority while there, breaking the back of this attempt to render President Trump ineffective," Sheets wrote in early February on his blog at dutchsheets.org - "We will decree the exposing and failure of all attempts to sabotage his presidency. We will release favor over him, enabling him to accomplish everything for which God sent him to the White House — including the turning of the Supreme Court! President Trump will fulfill all of God's purposes for him." [36]
In 2020 Dutch Sheets also said You're going to see president Trump bow to his knees in front of the whole world on television, raise his hands and cry out in the name of Jesus and ask God to heal this nation. I believe when he sees things happening in America like racism division he's gonna literally say let's pray about this Lord Jesus you're gonna see it happen. God's gonna pour his spirit out all over that white house he's gonna pour his spirit out all over that place it will be dreams in that White House they're gonna be Holy Ghost meetings in the Oval Office I guarantee you that's gonna happen because he's coming after John. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzJdm4C0JRY. Five Minute Mark on)
Note: Sheets and the other seem to believe that an encounter with God will transform Trump into a modern-day John the Revelator. I completely agree with the following assessment of why Dominionists are so taken with Trump. Rob Boston (Americans United for Separation of Church and State's Communications Director) explained, "The great irony of this movement," is that, like other Religious Right groups, it has hitched itself to Donald Trump, perhaps the most amoral, un-Christlike man ever to occupy the White House. Dominionists tend to interpret the most mundane events through the lens of what they consider to be biblical prophecy, and in a desperate ploy to cover their actions, some of them argue that God is using Trump as his instrument." "Many believers would be offended by that notion, and others recognize it for what it is: a convenient excuse.
The fact is, Trump is giving this crowd what it wants, so they are willing to overlook his many moral flaws and reckless behavior. It's a typical political bargain, and whether this crowd cares to acknowledge it or not, it definitely involved the selling of many souls and the shredding of mounds of moral credibility." [37] They seem to have forgotten Hebrews 12:14 that says - "Without Holiness, No Man Shall See God!" See Holiness and Overcoming Sin
Footnote I - The Four Major Pentecostal 'Revivals'
There is some difference of opinion as to how many 'waves' of so called revival occurred in the 20th century.
The First Wave: Revival-library.org lists four major Pentecostal revival waves during the twentieth century - the first being the initial outpouring which began at Azusa Street in Los Angeles. Although the phenomenon that took place at Azusa Street is often considered a "Christian Revival" people who attended it people ran amuck often indulging in shockingly bizarre behavior. See More About Azusa Street and the Demonic Sources It Sprang From HERE Note however that there were accounts of "Fire-Baptized" revivals that predated the Azusa Street revival (1906-1909) For example, the "trance evangelist" Maria Woodworth Etter began her ministry in 1880. She was called so because when people "received the power" as she called it, they usually fell over in trances. See More About Woodworth Etter and her so called “revivals” HERE.
The Second Wave was called the "Healing Revival" which occurred in the late forties and fifties in America. William Branham and Oral Roberts were the most influential figures along with Jack Coe, A. A. Allen, T. L. Osborn, W. V. Grant, Don Stewart, Kathryn Kuhlman and Morris Cerullo. The Third Wave Although not as well known as some of the others, this movement that originated in North Battleford, Canada has, in my opinion, had the most far reaching effect, spreading its tentacles far beyond Pentecostalism. The leaders included Mike Bickle, Paul Cain, Bob Jones etc. The Fourth Wave "was the charismatic renewal movement. led by Dennis Bennett, Michael Harper, Ern Baxter, Derek Prince, John Poole, Bob Mumford, Don Basham and Charles Simpson etc. Although the Bible says "Without Holiness, No Man Shall See God!" (Hebrews 12:14) the sad fact is that many of these people made little effort to live a life of holiness demanded by Scriptures. Kuhlman married a man who left his wife and children to marry her, a marriage that lasted a few years before they divorced. Aimee Semple McPherson was the controversial founder of the Foursquare Gospel denomination. She was not only a divorcee, but was widely believed to have faked her own kidnapping in order to spend time in an adulterous affair. She eventually died of a barbiturate overdose. Bob Jones confessed to sexual misconduct with two women who attend a Vineyard church in the Kansas City area. {PLACE IN TEXT}
Footnote II
Gordon Lindsay (1906-1973) was a Pentecostal pastor, revivalist, and prolific writer who after attending a Branham service in Sacramento perceived Branham to be divinely gifted, but very simple and unassuming, agreed to manage his meetings. His book, William Branham: A Man Sent from God, was a popular title that helped to catapult Branham to international fame. Lindsay was also publisher of The Voice of Healing Magazine as the official organ of Branham’s ministry.
Realizing the power of literature, Gordon along with his friend, Jack Moore began publishing The Voice of Healing Magazine as the official organ of Branham’s ministry... The Voice of Healing evolved into a loose association of ministers with a set of guidelines and regular conferences. As the circulation of the magazine grew, having up to 30,000 monthly subscribers in 1949, it featured many of the most prominent names in the movement, including Oral Roberts, Jack Coe, T.L. Osborn, W.V. Grant, A.A. Allen, and F.F. Bosworth. [38]
{PLACE IN TEXT}
Footnote III - Franklin Hall
Since there doesn't seem to be any reliable way to find out whether Franklin Hall was influenced by any one else, his ministry seems as good a place to start as any. In any case, Hall's book Atomic Power with God through Fasting and Prayer written in 1946 is often considered seminal - something that was both original and influenced the development of future events. It certainly had a major impact on fasting and prayer as a means to revival and restoration of the church.
And that was not all. At about the same time the book was published he also founded Miracle Temple, where he established the Fasting and Prayer Daily Revival Center. Burroughs Waltrip (Kathryn Kuhlman’s husband) was also involved. As said by Albert Dager His teachings on attaining immortality in this life through psycho-spiritual exercises and righteous living were the foundation upon which many in the Latter Rain and subsequent movements based their immortalization theories... Hall's premise is not, however, predicated upon God's promise of immortality for the faithful after their resurrection. This is evidenced by his following words: "Permanent, lasting freedoms from all sickness, harmful accident things and defeat will come about. Freedom from the imprisonment of all gravitational forces will also be brought upon the whole man. This study teaches one the power and secrets of space flight. Space floatation [sic] and hovering ability. It gives the Bible formula for weightlessness, the 'raising up' power of those who come to immortality." (John 6 chapter and Romans 2:7)." (Franklin Hall, 'The Return of Immortality' (Phoenix: Hall Deliverance Foundation, Inc., 1976), p. 3. ) In his book, Hall gives "evidence" of his already having attained a degree of "immortality" (which allegedly affects everything that comes in contact with the immortal person's body): "Brother Hall's light colored jacket is seven years old and has never been pressed or cleaned or aireated (presumably aerated) in 7 years, since new, yet it has been worn repeatedly in many overseas countries and regularly in all crusades everywhere (excepting one). It has been on more than 200 airlines in travels. It has no spots, stains, discoloration or body odors anywhere on it or inside it - similar to the children of Israel's clothes under the Glory, Immortality Cloud of Fire Power." [39] {PLACE IN TEXT}
Footnote IV - Ern Baxter (1914-93)
From Saskatchewan, Canada to Ft. Lauderdale, U.S.
Ern Baxter was considered one of the greatest Christian preachers of the 20th Century and when the low key Warnock wired Baxter that 'this was it' Baxter felt compelled to go. Baxter became Canadian editor of the Voice of Healing Magazine as well as Branham's campaign manager. He taught that God's purpose was to ultimately bring everything under His government and rule the nations through the redeemed community. Although he was never 'officially' a Latter Rain man he was hugely influenced by the movement and along with others was responsible for the spreading of their teachings in the early charismatic movement.
However, after a period of time he began to have serious misgivings about the healing revival in general and about William Branham's ministry in particular. He was concerned about "issues of financial unaccountability and theological immaturity which marred the movement" and "misleading reports, exaggerated statistics of attendance, tent size" etc all fuelled by competitiveness and pride. Baxter also believed that Branham was starting to preach things that were "seriously wrong" and was disturbed with some of the phenomenon that were occurring some of which he described as "borderline psychic". All of which caused him to step down in 1954 from his position as manager and principal teacher in Branham's campaigns. Details here - www.voiceofhealing.info/04_other%20ministries/baxter.html Baxter then became a Bible teacher in various churches in the U.S. becoming friends with Episcopalian Priest Dennis Bennett who in 1960 proclaimed from the pulpit that he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and had started speaking in tongues. Finally Ern Baxter became involved with the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement joining Don Basham, Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, and Charles Simpson. This movement began as "Christian Growth Ministries" in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - the basic idea being submission to authority of their 'shepherd' without (as I understand it) whose permission no decisions (including career and matrimonial) were made. The Shepherding movement began to die out in the 1980s after many of the original leaders admitted it was a mistake.
Footnote V - Preacher Behind the White Hood by John Andrew Collins. (Available on Amazon)
As the back cover of the book says, he was grandson of the Rev. Willard Collins, former pastor of William Branham's "Branham Tabernacle" in Jefferson, Indiana. He was brought up in Branham's "message" from a very young age, to the point Jefferson, Indiana was considered a very sacred place "chosen by God" for the prophet to build his Tabernacle. He was told (and apparently believed0 that "angels" lined the walls of the building.(Pg. 6). In fact, the "prophets' sermons were often referred to a "The Spoken Word of God'.
All that began to come to an end when chinks in the carefully constructed facade began to appear. For someone who would have died rather than walk away from Branham's "Message. the road was painful, eventful and even unbelievable. Many stones that had been carefully laid by those who had much to gain (even some closest to the author) had to be overturned. Collins’ research is supported by over a thousand footnotes, resources and quotes from the transcripts made by William Branham and many others he was involved with. The list includes Jim Jones (Yes! the Jim Jones cult leader who organized the Jonestown Massacre), and Roy Davis who was William Branham's first pastor, introduced him to Pentecostalism and planted the church that became the "Branham Tabernacle". The problem is that Davis was not involved in a number of crimes including bank robbery and bigamy, but that he was a leader and founding member of the 1915 Ku Klux Klan - eventually becoming National Imperial Wizard . Also See Roy Davis and the KKK
Copy and paste https://en.believethesign.com/index.php?title=Roy_Davis_and_the_KKK into your browser
Footnote VI - Examples of Bob Jones' Bizarre and Unscriptural Experiences And Beliefs
1.) 1. GOD HAS MARTYRED YOUR BABY
An excerpt from a testimony letter from a former member of KCF:
"The wife of the worship leader of all KCF churches comes to practice telling us that she has lost her baby (she was only 3 - 4 months along), that she was bleeding heavy. So they call Bob Jones and John Paul over to pray for her. Bob Jones prophesies that God has martyred her baby and that for every drop of blood the baby lost, a soul will be saved in Wichita."
2. VISIT TO HELL MB: "... talk about the guy you saw in hell..." BJ: "...The Lord took me to hell. I had warned a young man...about nine months later, I read in the paper that this young man, all of a sudden, had got a cold and had died. "Two days later, the Lord came and took me out of the body and we went down... it was like black auto smoke. And we went deeper and deeper into the depths and as we came, I began to hear a voice speak, and that voice just said over and over, ‘But the doctor said I'd be okay, and that priest said everything was okay with me.' "And I saw a macrame basket, and it was swinging like this, and the Lord took me in front and that young man's head was in it. That's all he was. He didn't have anything to turn his head.. . and over and over, through all eternity, that young man will say, ‘But that priest said I was okay, and that doctor said it was just a small thing and that I'd be made well right away.'" I MB: "And so he was just swinging in that basket?" BJ: "Yeah. MB: "...swinging in that basket, that guy was accusing the people that lied to him forever and forever and forever..." (F88, ) "Visions & Revelations," Mike Bickle with Bob Jones, Fall 1988, KCMO. p. 16 - 17
3. SLIMED BY THE DEVIL I was watching a horror movie, and all of a sudden slime started crawlin' right up my hands. And that slime was like nasal congestion, and I said, 'Get it off, Lord. I don't want that stuff on me.' Well, that's what the slime. . .I mean, that's how horrible it is. So, you really want to begin to guard what you feed your eyes on. If you feed your eyes on that garbage, then get ready to get possessed by the devil...He was sayin', ‘If they want the devil, then they can have him this year.
I'm goin' to open the pit and if they want to serve the devil and if they want to get possessed, they can... [40] {PLACE IN TEXT} Continue To Chapter III - Dominionism Vs The Bible - Genesis 1:28 and Matthew 28:19-20 HERE
End Notes
[01] Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988, p. 372
[02] David Cloud, Way of Life Literature. Latter Rain and Manifest Sons of God. March 8, 2012.
https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/latter_rain_and_manifest_sons_of_god.html
[03] Latter Rain. https://william-branham.org/site/topics/latter_rain
[04] The Latter Rain Movement https://www.pentecostaltheology.com/the-latter-rain-movement/
[05] George R. Hawtin. Creation, Redemption and the Restitution of All Things. Pg. 7. https://www.pilkingtonandsons.com/hawtin.htm
[06] What Happened 70 Years Ago http://www.servias.org/?p=6112
[07] George Warnock. A Brief Outline of My Life. http://www.georgewarnock.com/bio.html
[08] George Warnock. Chapter 4 - Bethesda, The House Of Mercy. http://www.georgewarnock.com/feed4.html
[09] George Warnock. Chapter 12 - Tabernacles, The Feast Of Glory . http://www.georgewarnock.com/feast12.html
[10] Life On Wings.. A Tribute to Dr. Ern Baxter. http://ern-baxter.blogspot.com/2006/12/happy-christmas-to-one-and-all-i-do.html
[11] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Deu/Deu-13.cfm
[12] Branham, My Life Story, p. 19. As quoted in William Branham’s Bogus Healings by David W. Cloud. 2014
[13] Branham, Adoption, Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word Publications, pp. 31, 104. As quoted in William Branham's Bogus Healings by David W. Cloud. 2014. https://www.wayoflife.org/free_ebooks/downloads/William_Branhams_Bogus_Healings.pdf
[14] William Branham. The Commission. http://www.williambranhamhomepage.org/lcomm5.htm
[15] Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, first edition, p. 96. As quoted in William Branham’s Bogus Healings by David W. Cloud. 2014
[16] William Branham. The Laodicean Church Age. https://www.williambranham.com/the-laodicean-church-age/
[17] William Branham, My Life Story, Jeffersonville, IN: Spoken Word. Publications, undated, p. 24
[18] William Branham. How The Angel Came To Me, And His Commission. Transcript of a message delivered on 17th January 1955. https://www.williambranham.com/how-the-angel-came-to-me-and-his-commission-55-0117/
[19] William Branham, How the Angel Came to Me, and His Commission, Edmonton: End Time Message Tabernacle, pp. 18-22
[20] Carl Dyck, William Branham: The Man and His Message, Saskatoon: Western Tract Mission, 1984, p. 16
[21] Ern Baxter, National Men's Shepherds Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, 1975. As quoted in Latter Rain and Manifest Sons of God by David Cloud. Way of Life Literature. https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/latter_rain_and_manifest_sons_of_god.html
[22] Mike Bickle, Growing in the Prophetic. Lake Mary, Fla.: Creation House, 1996, Pg. 30. As quoted in The Dangers of the International House of Prayer (IHOP) https://spiritualabusewatch.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/the-dangers-of-the-international-house-of-prayer-ihop/
[23] Vineyard USA. History & Legacy. https://vineyardusa.org/about/history/
[24] The Kansas City Prophets Exposed. http://www.banner.org.uk/kcp/kcp-cri.html
[25] Bill Hamon. Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Moves of God, Publisher: Destiny Image Publishers. (March 1, 1997) Foreword, Pg. 21
[26] Bill Hamon, Apostles, Prophets, and the Coming Moves of God, 1997, p. 9. As quoted in Latter Rain and Manifest Sons of God by David Cloud, Way of Life Literature. https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/latter_rain_and_manifest_sons_of_god.html
[27] Bill Hamon The Eternal Church, 1994, p. 385. As quoted in Latter Rain and Manifest Sons of God by David Cloud, Way of Life Literature. https://www.wayoflife.org/reports/latter_rain_and_manifest_sons_of_god.html.
[28] Bill Hamon, The Eternal Church: A Prophetic Look at the Church-Her History, Restoration, and Destiny. Destiny Image Publishers; Revised ed. edition (January 18, 2005) Pgs. 365 - 366
[29] Bill Hamon. Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Moves of God, Publisher: Destiny Image Publishers, (March 1, 1997) Foreword, Pg. 21
[30] Berean Research. New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). https://bereanresearch.org/dominionism-nar/
[31] Holly Pivec. The New Apostolic Reformation: Influence and Teachings
https://www.apologeticsindex.org/2977-new-apostolic-reformation-overview
[32] https://www.christianlearning.com/p/7-mountain-culture-shapers-master-class
[33] Kenneth Hagin, Rejoice! This Is the Day Which the Lord Hath Made! The Word of Faith, Sept. 1996)
[34] Fred Price. Do You Know What Prayer Is ... and How to Pray? http://www.livingwd.org/uploadedFiles/PRAYER.pdf
[35] Copeland, Believer's Voice of Victory, June 1994
[35b] Rachel S. Mikva. Opinion contributor.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/01/31/christian-nationalism-josh-hawley-ted-cruz-capitol-attack-column/4292193001/
[36] Christian Dominionists Meet at Trump's Washington Hotel to Answer the "Divine Call to War".
https://truthout.org/articles/christian-dominionists-meet-at-trump-s-washington-hotel-to-answer-the-divine-call-to-war/
[37] Bill Berkowitz. Senior Adviser for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Editor of Church & State magazine. Christian Dominionists Meet at Trump's Washington Hotel to Answer the "Divine Call to War"
https://shoah.org.uk/christian-dominionists-meet-at-trumps-washington-hotel-to-answer-the-divine-call-to-war/
[38] Roscoe Barnes III, PhD. Gordon Lindsay: An Overview of His Life and Ministry
https://ffbosworth.mystrikingly.com/blog/gordon-lindsay-an-overview-of-his-life-and-ministry-preprint
[39] Franklin Hall, 'The Return of Immortality' (Phoenix: Hall Deliverance Foundation, Inc., 1976), Inside Front Cover. As quoted in[Kingdom Theology by Al Dager. http://banner.org.uk/res/kt1.html
[40] Pastor Ernest Gruen and staff. Documentation of the Aberrant Practices and Teachings of Kansas City Fellowship.
http://www.banner.org.uk/kcp/Abberent%20Practises.pdf
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