Incantation
William Branham's healing-stage persona at times described the use of secret "three high words" repeated after rebuking a spirit, language that resembles an incantation more than biblical prayer. By claiming that no mortal knew these words and that they enabled a return or release of the spirit connected to a healing, Branham framed his silence and repetition as a hidden supernatural mechanism known only to him and the Angel of the Lord. His later story about witch doctors allegedly using "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" as their own "three high words" further connected the phrase to magical or occult power in his rhetoric, creating a striking tension between Branham's public Christian vocabulary and practices that functioned like spell-like formulas within his healing performances.
An incantation is the usage of a series of words said as a magic spell or charm,[1] and is incompatible with Christianity.[2] Some versions of William Branham's stage persona, however, used an incantation in order to perform his faith healing stage act. According to Branham, there were "three high words" that he must repeat in order to enter the spirit world.
I want to tell you something now. Watch. Here's what takes place. See, it's... I want to know if you all noticed this. We're fixing to close, you know, fixing to go into the meetings. Have you noticed, always, after I ask or rebuke over a spirit, I'm always perfectly silent for a few moments? Who's noticed that in the meetings, let's see your hands. Have you noticed that? Now, here's what it is. There's three words that I have to repeat at that time. See? And it's the three high words of the Bible. No mortal on earth know it. See? And when I ask that, and then I feel that drop, then it comes shakes back to a place in return of that spirit. Then the...?... healed. That's the reason you hear me say that. See? That's what takes place. Now, I did that so you wouldn't keep questioning me about it coming through the line. So that is true. Now, I know that you had noticed a lot of times when I ask to rebuke, I stand still just for a few minutes and repeat these three words that the Angel of the Lord told me to repeat.
Branham, William. 1948, Mar 2. Experiences (48-0302)
During the years that his stage persona chose a position against the Trinity, William Branham claimed that "witch doctors" also used "three high words". According to Branham, the the words were "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost".
If Brother Arganbright is setting near, he could tell you the story; I was thinking how fifteen witch doctors on one side and fifteen on the other one, called up a storm to blow away the tent in Switzerland, or I believe it was France—Germany. Going to blow away the tent. Told us they was going to do it. And set there and cut those feathers and started going through maneuvers, "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost…?… Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three high words,” they said. All like that, and here come the storm up. Brother Arganbright will tell you same where tens of thousands of people in the tent jumping up and down. I said, "Pray, Brother Arganbright.” I said, "Brother Lowster, don’t interpret this.” I said, "Heavenly Father, I landed off that plane up here in the Name of Jesus Christ, because You sent me here. You promised that You’d take care of me. What can I do in a case like this? I rebuke this storm in the Name of Jesus Christ.” In one flat second that storm parted right over the tent and moved back. Thunder begin to roll back, like that. And thousands run to the altar to get saved. And the witch doctors was defeated.
Branham, William. 1961, February 11. Abraham (61-0211).