Branham Tabernacle Timeline - Branham's Claim to Prophecy Now Overturned
It has taken several years due to the dishonesty of Branham cult leaders claiming to be "historians", but we have finally pieced together the last remaining puzzle pieces to the timeline of the Branham Tabernacle on the corner of 8th and Penn Streets in Jeffersonville. The result of this timeline is significant: William Branham's claim to be a "prophet" cannot coexist with recorded history. His claims to prophecy came long after the year that he claimed. A prophecy made after events transpired cannot be called "prophecy" and must be labeled properly: a religious scam.
It has taken several years due to the dishonesty of Branham cult leaders claiming to be "historians", but we have finally pieced together the last remaining puzzle pieces to the timeline of the Branham Tabernacle on the corner of 8th and Penn Streets in Jeffersonville. The result of this timeline is significant: William Branham's claim to be a "prophet" cannot coexist with recorded history. His claims to prophecy came long after the year that he claimed. A prophecy made after events transpired cannot be called "prophecy" and must be labeled properly: a religious scam.
Research pages updated:
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/billie_branham_pentecostal_tabernacle
https://william-branham.org/site/research/people/dan_davis
https://william-branham.org/site/research/topics/branham_tabernacle
Though William Branham used several dates on which he claimed to have had a series of "seven" prophecies, historians have generally combined them to call Branham's self-proclaimed prophecies the "1933 prophecies". Branham — never having shown this alleged "paper" to anyone — claimed to have had written seven prophecies on a paper in 1931, 1932, or 1933 and buried them in the cornerstone of his Branham Tabernacle on the corner of 8th and Penn Streets.[1]
I'd like to read you a prophecy that was given. I got on…And may…By the way, Mr. Mercier and many of them are going to take some of these old prophecies, and dig them out, and revise them a little, or bring them up to date, and put them in papers. I'd like to read some things that I'd like for you to—to…This one, first. I'd like to read something to you. '1932.' Listen to this. 'As I was on my way, or as I was getting ready to go on my way to church this morning, it came to pass that I fell into a vision. Our services is being held on Meigs Avenue, at the old orphan's home where Charlie Kern lives in part of the building.' He lives just across the street now, you know. 'And it came to pass, that, while I was in this vision, I seen some dreadful things take place. I speak this in the Name of the Lord.[2]
There are significant problems with this claim, the biggest of which is that William Branham claimed to have read from the paper allegedly buried, during a sermon in 1960. In 1965 when Branham claimed to have buried the alleged prophecies, he claimed that the paper was buried "thirty-three years ago", which would be a burial occurring in 1932.[3] Ignoring the fact that Branham read from the page allegedly buried under the church in "1933", the timeline is just as critical.
1932
In 1932, William Branham was still a member of Roy E. Davis' Pentecostal Baptist Church of God sect in Jeffersonville. Davis' church, which was positioned on Watt Street near Maple Street, was Pentecostal.[4] According to William Branham, he was an assistant pastor to Davis until the building burned down. After it burned, and Roy Davis left town, Branham began to "take over the congregation".[5] The burning of Roy E. Davis Pentecostal Church of God headquarters did not burn until 1934.[6]
1933
In 1933, William Branham had not yet been promoted to the rank of assistant pastor. Branham was an "elder" in Davis' church, and was "in charge of the praise service".[7] Branham's first wife, Hope Brumbach, was in charge of leading the devotions.[8] It is this year that Branham cult members are indoctrinated to believe that the "Branham Tabernacle" was dedicated, but the building would not exist for years to come.
1934
In 1934, after a long series of highly publicized criminal, civil, moral, and ethical issues, Roy E. Davis left Jeffersonville. The headquarters of his Pentecostal Baptist Church of God sect burned to the ground, and it is unclear whether it burned before or after Davis left. For a brief period of time, another minister appointed by Davis led the Pentecostal Baptist Church sect before ultimately transitioning to William Branham's leadership.
1935
William Branham, now having a very small congregation, began meeting in the home of Mrs. Charlie Kerns. Mrs. Kerns was actively involved with the Pentecostals in Jeffersonville, and organized meetings for Roy E. Davis' brother, Dan Davis, and his Pentecostal church.[9]
When later versions of William Branham's stage persona began claiming to have had these alleged "1933 prophecies", and even though he claimed that they were buried two years prior, it was this point in the timeline that Branham associated with the prophecies.
America! Now you remember, if you haven't got this wrote down, put it down. This is my prediction. See? In 1933, when we were having services down here where the old, I believe the Church of Christ is there now, it used to be the old…It's right over here, Brother Neville, right straight down. Charlie Kern used to live there. What's it…Orphan's home over here on Meigs Avenue. In 1933, I just got a 1933 Ford, and I dedicated it that morning to the Lord. And, before leaving home, I saw a vision. I've got it wrote, old yellow paper still waiting in a Bible. I saw the end time coming.[11]
At some point in 1935, William Branham began using a building on the corner of 8th and Graham streets in Jeffersonville, calling it his "Tabernacle". According to the newspapers, Branham did not retain a majority of Davis' sect and was forced to win new converts to his church. By October of 1935, Branham had only "thirty converts".[10] This property was the location of an arbor owned by Roy E. Davis' brother Dan Davis and Dan's Pentecostal church. 8th and Graham is the location for many Pentecostal revivals that were held in Jeffersonville. There was a "hall" on the grounds, which was likely the building Branham used for his early "Tabernacle".[12]
It does appear that William Branham used his "Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle" building prior to its purchase in 1936. At some point in 1935, Branham began preaching on the corner of 8th and Penn streets, advertising his church as the "Pentecostal Tabernacle".[13]
1936
William Branham's church would not be purchased until November 1936.[14]
References
[1] Branham, William. The Anointed Ones At The End Time. 1965, Jul, 25. The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M). "1965/25/07 The Anointed Ones At The End Time Oh, the awareness of the Holy Spirit, the awe that strikes a man's soul when he stops to think how real and plain it's right before us! Dig up that cornerstone out here and read a piece of paper that's put in there, thirty-three years ago. See what He said over yonder on—on Seventh Street, that morning when this cornerstone was laid William Branham Oh, the awareness of the Holy Spirit, the awe that strikes a man's soul when he stops to think how real and plain it's right before us! Dig up that cornerstone out here and read a piece of paper that's put in there, thirty-three years ago. See what He said over yonder on—on Seventh Street, that morning when this cornerstone was laid."
[2] Branham, William. Condemnation By Representation. 1960, Nov, 13. Condemnation By Representation (60-1113). "1960/13/11 Condemnation By Representation Condemnation By Representation (60-1113) William Branham Condemnation By Representation (60-1113)."
[3] Branham, William. The Anointed Ones At The End Time. 1965, Jul, 25. The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M). "1965/25/07 The Anointed Ones At The End Time The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M) William Branham The Anointed Ones At The End Time (65-0725M)."
[4] Misc. News. 1934, Apr, 3. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1934/03/04 Misc. News The council referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refused to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near maple street. The church recently burned down The council referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refused to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near maple street. The church recently burned down."
[5] Branham, William. A Trial. 1964, Apr, 27. A Trial (64-0427). "1964/27/04 A Trial Then, about seventeen years after that, I was, had become a minister, a Baptist preacher, of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Roy E. Davis ordained me as one of the local pastors, give me rights then, by the state, to marry, bury, baptize, so forth. And the Missionary Baptist Church burned down, which I was assistant pastor, at the time. And Mr. Davis come back to Texas, which he was of Davis mountains, and—and down near Van Horn, Texas. That's where they come from. And so, while he was gone, I started to take over the congregation. Got a tent, and I begin to preach in the city, and just a boy preacher William Branham Then, about seventeen years after that, I was, had become a minister, a Baptist preacher, of the Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. Roy E. Davis ordained me as one of the local pastors, give me rights then, by the state, to marry, bury, baptize, so forth. And the Missionary Baptist Church burned down, which I was assistant pastor, at the time. And Mr. Davis come back to Texas, which he was of Davis mountains, and—and down near Van Horn, Texas. That's where they come from. And so, while he was gone, I started to take over the congregation. Got a tent, and I begin to preach in the city, and just a boy preacher."
[6] Misc. News. 1934, Apr, 3. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1934/03/04 Misc. News The council referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refused to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near maple street. The church recently burned down The council referred to City Attorney Warder a request that city authorities refused to issue a permit for rebuilding the First Pentecostal Baptist church on Watt street near maple street. The church recently burned down."
[7] First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor. First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor. 1933, Feb, 18. The Evening News. "1933/18/02 First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor Pastor First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis Elder Wm. Bronham [sig] in charge of praise service"
[8] First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor. First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor. 1933, Feb, 4. The Evening News. "1933/04/02 First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis, Pastor Pastor First Pentecostal Baptist: Dr. Roy E. Davis Hope Brumbach will lead the devotional meeting"
[9] Baptized Church of God Pentecostal. 1933, Jul, 8. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1933/08/07 Baptized Church of God Pentecostal the Handicraft circle is prospering every Monday at the home of Mrs. Charlie Kerns the Handicraft circle is prospering every Monday at the home of Mrs. Charlie Kerns."
[10] Revival at Tabernacle. 1935, Oct, 2. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1935/02/10 Revival at Tabernacle The Rev. William "Billy" Branham Sunday began a Revival at his Eighth and Graham street tabernacle which already has claimed thirty converts, according to the tabernacle workers The Rev. William "Billy" Branham Sunday began a Revival at his Eighth and Graham street tabernacle which already has claimed thirty converts, according to the tabernacle workers."
[11] Branham, William. Teaching On Moses. 1956, May, 13. Teaching On Moses (56-0513). "1956/13/05 Teaching On Moses Teaching On Moses (56-0513) William Branham Teaching On Moses (56-0513)."
[12] ex: Baptized Church of God Pentecostal. 1933, Jul, 8. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1933/08/07 ex: Baptized Church of God Pentecostal every night at 8th and Graham streets, plenty of safe parking anywhere on the lot, all services will be held at the arbor except Thursday morning which will meet at the hall every night at 8th and Graham streets, plenty of safe parking anywhere on the lot, all services will be held at the arbor except Thursday morning which will meet at the hall."
[13] Pentecostal Tabernacle, Rev. Wm. Branham Pastor. 1935, Aug, 17. Jeffersonville Evening News. "1935/17/08 Pentecostal Tabernacle, Rev. Wm. Branham Pastor Jeffersonville Evening News Jeffersonville Evening News."
[14] Warranty Deed. 1936, Nov, 9. "1936/09/11 Warranty Deed (Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle Deed)"