Was William Branham an Atheist?

Another contributing factor to the decision for some people to break free from the "Message" cult following seems to be William Branham's views about God — or rather, William Branham's lack of having a view about God. One of the questions submitted earlier this year is one that we see from time to time, "Was William Branham an atheist?"

The first time this question was asked, in around 2014, we thought the question had no basis and it seemed more humorous than sincere. Over the years, after further analyzing Branham's many varying statements about God, it seemed as though the question had at least some credibility based on some of his conflicting statements made during a very short span of time and to a different audience. It was at that moment that we recognized Branham's usage of a stage persona, multiple stage personas, in fact, each having vastly different core values with regards to Christianity. Regardless, the question, "was William Branham an atheist" is not a question that can be answered; each of Branham's different stage personas claimed to be "Christian". Without the ability to point to a specific piece of data that could answer this question, the official answer has always been, "we're not sure, but he sure did change his mind a lot!"

The question continues to be submitted by former or soon-to-be-former members of Branham's "Message" cult, however, and it is worth addressing officially to provide information that will help the researcher to form their own opinion. We still cannot answer that question without having research material proving the positive or the negative. We can, however, provide topics of research that have caused the question to surface among some former members, as well as points of interest that would cause many students of the Bible and theology to form their own opinion based on passages from the Old and New Testament.

Here is an attempt to do so, both personally, and factually. (Note that aspects of multiple versions of Branham's stage persona will be used and that individually, a single version of his stage persona would be more consistent and have fewer internal conflicts.)

My grandfather knew William Branham very well. Not only was he a deacon in Branham's church and eventually a pastor at the Branham Tabernacle for fifty years, but the two men were also close friends. My aunts and uncles shared their childhood with the Branham family. All of my family who knew William Branham will say, unequivocally, that William Branham was a Christian, and that he believed in God. At the same time, when describing which "god" that William Branham believed, all will describe the one that William Branham used in the "Oneness" versions of his stage persona and would vehemently deny statements made by Branham using other versions. Branham, according to my family, believed in a Modalistic version of the Godhead with a pseudo-Pentecostal nature that relied upon works (and some form of) perfection for salvation. This is the opinion about William Branham that I maintained long after escaping the cult.

William Branham claimed to believe that all organizations and denominations (including his own) would be judged by the Word (the Bible).[1] He also claimed to believe that the only way to know God is through His Word.[2] Yet from 1951 to 1965, Branham admitted that he did not know the Word,[3] and seemed to take pleasure in ignorance of the Bible instead of sound theology.[4]. The introduction to the Book of John (John 1:1) is supportive of Branham's statement in favor of the Word.[5] There are, however, several passages from the Bible that condemn those who do not have knowledge of the Scriptures, the best of which being Hosea 4:6. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children."

At the same time, William Branham claimed to respect the Bible and condemned those who would add even one single word to the text that he claimed not to know.[6] This was Branham's standard for instant removal from the Book of Life, and while knowing the passage from Revelation that set the standard,[7] he chose to violate that standard frequently. In fact, some of the verses that he used most often were inventions of his own, by either adding words, removing words, or combining words from multiple passages to create twisted scripture. The best examples of this are "I will be with you even in you until the end of the world",[8] "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased to dwell in",[9] and "As it was in the days of Noah wherein eight souls were saved, so shall it be at the coming of the son of man",[10] and "You're borned in sin, shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies".[11]

One could argue that Branham was reading from a different bible. Branham preferred the Emphatic Diaglott translation produced by Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower Society over King James in some instances,[12] and studied from the Lamsa Bible.[13]Branham believed the Zodiac used in pagan worship to be a Bible, as well as the Great Pyramid of Giza.[14] Having the understanding that the Bible was the "Word", and the Word was God, this strange combination created a very different "god", one condemned throughout passages of the Old Testament[15] and creating a new deity having multiple personalities. With some of those personalities being incompatible and directly condemning others, it is very easy to understand how the question as to Branham's belief (or lack of belief) in any god could surface.

These, however, are only examples of Branham's views of God and religion in general. They raise a much different question than that of atheism; Branham could believe in any number of pagan Gods and validate his position as a deist. If one were to ignore his usage of the pagan Zodiac in his religion, and assume that his statements describing the Great Pyramid as a "Bible" were nothing more than a childish fascination of pyramidology, then one should also examine his views of the Christian religion and Christian Godhead.

William Branham taught that to be included in the Body of Christ (to be a Christian), one must first have a "spiritual revelation to know who Jesus Christ is", and that understanding must not include Jesus as the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.[16] He claimed that God spoke through him denouncing Trinitarianism and that it came from Satan,[17] and taught that any who accepted the trinity had joined the "mother of harlots" (the Catholic Church).[18]According to Branham, ministers teaching Trinitarianism were "false teachers".[19] This specifically referred to "three persons in one God".[20]

While being very outspoken in condemning such teachers, however, Branham continued to teach Trinitarianism. According to Branham, "everything in the Bible runs in threes", and those "threes" included "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God in a trinity."[21] Specifically, the version of the Trinity that Branham taught, promoted, and accepted[22] was the version mainstream Christianity — both Protestant[23] and Catholic[24] — was familiar with; Jesus as the Third Person of a Holy Trinity being one God. Put simply: William Branham used a Oneness or Modalistic stage persona before some audiences and used a Trinitarian stage persona before others.

If the question was concerning which baseball team that William Branham favored, and he claimed to be a Red Sox fan while speaking to a Boston, Massachusetts audience and then claimed to be a "Braves" fan when speaking in Atlanta, Georgia, one might understand the usage of different "masks" in his stage persona. For most Christians, however, usage of pagan worship and teaching conflicting versions of the Godhead is (spiritual) life-or-death. Doctrines used to explain God and the Godhead are fundamental to every other doctrine that Christianity is built upon. Branham knew this when using those "masks", harshly condemning one mask while using another. Because of this, a much different question is raised. Could William Branham believe in Christianity while pretending to be both for and against the basic fundamentals of Christianity?

Before the question is answered, "Was William Branham an Atheist?", one must first address the question, "Was William Branham a Christian?" If he was, then he could not be an atheist. If he wasn't, then there are a thousand more questions that arise that are equally just as important.

References

[1] Branham, William. - Be Not Afraid. 1962, Jun, 20. "1962/20/06 - Be Not Afraid Where is the church? There's hundreds of different organizations of them. But the standard that God will judge it by is by His Word. I believe the Word, for in the book of Revelation it's written, "Whosoever shall add one thing to, or take anything out, the same will be taken out from the part of the Book of Life for him." So I believe that this Word is just what It is. It's just God's Word William Branham Where is the church? There's hundreds of different organizations of them. But the standard that God will judge it by is by His Word. I believe the Word, for in the book of Revelation it's written, "Whosoever shall add one thing to, or take anything out, the same will be taken out from the part of the Book of Life for him." So I believe that this Word is just what It is. It's just God's Word."

[2] Branham, William. - Lean Not Unto Thy Own Understanding. 1965, Jan, 20. "1965/20/01 - Lean Not Unto Thy Own Understanding Your education is fine, but the Word of God is Life. "My Word is Life," and to know It is Life. And He, He said, "Know Him." He is the Word. So you can only know Him by the Word, for He is the Word. That's the only way you'll know Him, is by His Word William Branham Your education is fine, but the Word of God is Life. "My Word is Life," and to know It is Life. And He, He said, "Know Him." He is the Word. So you can only know Him by the Word, for He is the Word. That's the only way you'll know Him, is by His Word."

[3] ex: Branham, William. 61-0128 - Why. "I may not know the Word too well, but I know the Author real well.". "ex: Branham, William. 61-0128 - Why. "I may not know the Word too well, but I know the Author real well."

[4] ex: Branham, William. - The End Time. 1954, Mar, 7. "1954/07/03 - The End Time Remember who condemned Jesus? The scholars and big churches and renowned people, the educated people who knowed theology to the very utmost. But they didn't know Jesus. That's it. Yes, sir. I want to know Him in the power of His resurrection. I don't know too much about the Word, but I know the Author real well. And that's the main part. That's right. I know the Author William ex: Branham Remember who condemned Jesus? The scholars and big churches and renowned people, the educated people who knowed theology to the very utmost. But they didn't know Jesus. That's it. Yes, sir. I want to know Him in the power of His resurrection. I don't know too much about the Word, but I know the Author real well. And that's the main part. That's right. I know the Author."

[5] John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.". "John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

[6] Branham, William. Contending For The Faith. 1956, Feb. Contending For The Faith. "1956/02 Contending For The Faith For, the Bible said, that, "He that will take away, or add to, anything that's in this Book, God will take his name out of the Book of Life." The Revelation, 21st chapter, says that He will do that; or, 22nd chapter, rather, of the last book of the Bible. He said, "If anybody…" God Himself, speaking to the writer, said, "If anyone shall add one word to this Book, or take one word out of It, God will take his name from the Book of Life. And he'll be destroyed." So we must stay exactly with what the Scriptures has got to say William Branham For, the Bible said, that, "He that will take away, or add to, anything that's in this Book, God will take his name out of the Book of Life." The Revelation, 21st chapter, says that He will do that; or, 22nd chapter, rather, of the last book of the Bible. He said, "If anybody…" God Himself, speaking to the writer, said, "If anyone shall add one word to this Book, or take one word out of It, God will take his name from the Book of Life. And he'll be destroyed." So we must stay exactly with what the Scriptures has got to say."

[7] Revelation 22:18-19. "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.". "Revelation 22:18-19. "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."

[8] Branham, William. As The Eagle Stirreth Up Her Nest. 1959, Aug, 15. As The Eagle Stirreth Up Her Nest. "1959/15/08 As The Eagle Stirreth Up Her Nest William Branham When He was on earth, look what He did when He was in a body of flesh, the Word said He did. He said, 'Now a little while and the world won't see Me no more.' Cause, He was going away. 'But you shall see Me (ye, that's the church), you shall see Me, for I (I is a personal pronoun), I will be with you, even in you to the end of the world. The works that I do shall you also.'"

[9] Branham, William. The Third Seal. 1963, Mar, 20. The Third Seal. "1963/20/03 The Third Seal 'Well, he said…And one day he was standing there, he said an odd thing. He said, 'You know, here He comes right now!' They said, 'How do you know?' Looked over there; just an ordinary Fellow standing there. He said, 'I see the Spirit of God, like a dove, coming down. I hear a Voice saying, "This is Him. This is My beloved Son in Whom I am pleased to dwell in."' Then he walked right in the water and baptized Him, so forth. Well, there, he said he knew Him William Branham 'Well, he said…And one day he was standing there, he said an odd thing. He said, 'You know, here He comes right now!' They said, 'How do you know?' Looked over there; just an ordinary Fellow standing there. He said, 'I see the Spirit of God, like a dove, coming down. I hear a Voice saying, "This is Him. This is My beloved Son in Whom I am pleased to dwell in."' Then he walked right in the water and baptized Him, so forth. Well, there, he said he knew Him."

[10] Branham, William. A Greater Than Solomon Is Here. 1962, Jun, 28. A Greater Than Solomon Is Here. "1962/28/06 A Greater Than Solomon Is Here Just when the revival's going, and the Spirit of God is moving, God is moving with the people, then when He gets that crop out, weeded out, that's it. That's for that generation. Remember, He said, "As it was in the days of Noah, wherein eight souls were saved, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man." See? Each generation will just produce so many. And that's the way you see it today. Everywhere it's just a dying away, a falling away. Sin is collapsing in everything William Branham Just when the revival's going, and the Spirit of God is moving, God is moving with the people, then when He gets that crop out, weeded out, that's it. That's for that generation. Remember, He said, "As it was in the days of Noah, wherein eight souls were saved, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of man." See? Each generation will just produce so many. And that's the way you see it today. Everywhere it's just a dying away, a falling away. Sin is collapsing in everything."

[11] Branham, William. - Seeking After Jesus. 1953, May, 31. "1953/31/05 - Seeking After Jesus For we know that we were borned in sin, shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies William Branham For we know that we were borned in sin, shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies."

[12] ex: Branham, William. Why I'm Against Organized Religion. 1962, Nov, 11. Why I'm Against Organized Religion. "1962/11/11 Why I'm Against Organized Religion William ex: Branham The Emphatic Diaglott from the old manuscript, Greek? All right. Read it, get any scholar that you want to. Get into the library and get the lexicon, Greek lexicon. Read Revelation 17, and when you read there, the King James Version here says, and this, "He carried me away in the Spirit; and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet clothed beast, full of—of names of blasphemy." Now, that's what the King James said. But the original interpretation said: …carried me away in the spirit…and I saw a woman… full of blasphemous names"

[13] Branham, William. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages. "However, before we get too concerned about this, let us read both the King James version and the translation by Dr. Lamsa. To our gratification we find the words in both amazingly the same so that there is no difference actually in content or doctrine. Accessed from http://table.branham.org. "Branham, William. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages. "However, before we get too concerned about this, let us read both the King James version and the translation by Dr. Lamsa. To our gratification we find the words in both amazingly the same so that there is no difference actually in content or doctrine. Accessed from http://table.branham.org"

[14] Branham, William. - The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To Rid Sin From Our Lives. 1953, Apr, 3. "1953/03/04 - The Cruelty Of Sin, And The Penalty That It Cost To Rid Sin From Our Lives William Branham What's He doing? He is writing His first Bible. The first Bible was ever written, was written in the skies, the Zodiac. It starts out with the virgin, that's how He come first. It ends up with Leo the lion, the second Coming. And He is writing His first Bible. 44 The second Bible was written, was written by Enoch, and put in the pyramid. The third Bible was written, and the last one, is this one. [Brother Branham indicates his Bible—Ed.]"

[15] ex: Deuteronomy 4:19. "And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven.". "ex: Deuteronomy 4:19. "And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the Lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven."

[16] Branham, William. - The Comforter. 1961, Jan, 1. "1961/01/01 - The Comforter Upon this Rock I'll build My Church, and the gates of hell can't prevail against it." That's right. What is it? "Upon the spiritual revelation to know Who Jesus Christ is." Not the third person of the trinity; no trinity in It. He is God, and God alone, made manifest in flesh William Branham Upon this Rock I'll build My Church, and the gates of hell can't prevail against it." That's right. What is it? "Upon the spiritual revelation to know Who Jesus Christ is." Not the third person of the trinity; no trinity in It. He is God, and God alone, made manifest in flesh."

[17] Branham, William. - Revelation, Chapter Four #3. 1961, Jan, 8. "1961/08/01 - Revelation, Chapter Four #3 'Trinitarianism is of the devil!' I say that THUS SAITH THE LORD William Branham 'Trinitarianism is of the devil!' I say that THUS SAITH THE LORD!"

[18] Branham, William. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages. "The woman represents the church of the world today. I was born right into this mess — the mess that she is in. She was supposed to be a kind of mother (she is the mother of harlots). Her husband is the denominations that rule her. The three cornered block is false triune baptism unto a trinity.". "Branham, William. An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages. "The woman represents the church of the world today. I was born right into this mess — the mess that she is in. She was supposed to be a kind of mother (she is the mother of harlots). Her husband is the denominations that rule her. The three cornered block is false triune baptism unto a trinity."

[19] Branham, William. - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will. 1965, Nov, 27. "1965/27/11 - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will False teachers can rise, teaching all kind of trinitarianism and everything else, and be anointed with the Holy Ghost, and perform just as many miracles as the true Gospel can William Branham False teachers can rise, teaching all kind of trinitarianism and everything else, and be anointed with the Holy Ghost, and perform just as many miracles as the true Gospel can."

[20] Branham, William. - Adoption #3. 1960, May, 22. "1960/22/05 - Adoption #3 There's no such a thing as three persons in one God." And that is Brother Lamsa, Doctor Lamsa, the translator of the Lamsa Bible, which is a bosom friend of Eisenhower and all the great diplomats of the world, and everything else, throwed his arms around me, said, "Someday they'll shoot you for that. But," said, "remember, all those people die for a cause William Branham There's no such a thing as three persons in one God." And that is Brother Lamsa, Doctor Lamsa, the translator of the Lamsa Bible, which is a bosom friend of Eisenhower and all the great diplomats of the world, and everything else, throwed his arms around me, said, "Someday they'll shoot you for that. But," said, "remember, all those people die for a cause."

[21] Branham, William. - Shepherd Of The Sheepfold. 1956, Apr, 3. "1956/03/04 - Shepherd Of The Sheepfold See, there's everything in the Bible runs in threes; we know that. And there's three comings of the Lord. The first coming is past; the second coming's the rapture when we meet Him; and the third coming is when He's coming to rule and reign a thousand years. And everything travels in a trinity like Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one God in a trinity. And the works of grace in a trinity, and all… Everything in the Scripture runs in the trinity William Branham See, there's everything in the Bible runs in threes; we know that. And there's three comings of the Lord. The first coming is past; the second coming's the rapture when we meet Him; and the third coming is when He's coming to rule and reign a thousand years. And everything travels in a trinity like Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the one God in a trinity. And the works of grace in a trinity, and all… Everything in the Scripture runs in the trinity."

[22] Branham, William. - Our Hope Is In God. 1951, Feb, 29. "1951/29/02 - Our Hope Is In God Then suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, died, buried, rose the third day, setting at the right hand of God the Father, making intercessions now for we who've accepted the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. And in our hearts, tonight, He rules and reigns. And He has said, "Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them, and you shall have them." We believe it William Branham Then suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, died, buried, rose the third day, setting at the right hand of God the Father, making intercessions now for we who've accepted the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. And in our hearts, tonight, He rules and reigns. And He has said, "Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them, and you shall have them." We believe it."

[23] Pritchard, Ray. God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand. Accessed. 2021, Feb, 16. Christianity. Accessed 2021, Feb, 16 from https://www.christianity.com/god/trinity/god-in-three-persons-a-doctrine-we-barely-understand-11634405.html. "2021/16/02 Pritchard, Ray. God in Three Persons: A Doctrine We Barely Understand. Accessed"

[24] God. Accessed. 2021, Feb, 16. Bbc. Accessed 2021, Feb, 16 from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/ztm24qt/revision/5. "2021/16/02 God. Accessed"