Manifest Sons Of God
William Branham was one of the main catalysts for, promoted by, and strongly affiliated with key individuals in the Latter Rain sect of Pentecostalism. This strange sect gave birth to various sub-sects, one of which was the “Manifest Sons of God” sect, or cult, of Pentecostalism. Like its parent sect of Latter Rain, the Manifest Sons of God sect was based upon doctrines that William Branham himself used as themes in his sermons.[1] Within the Manifest Sons of God sect, there were two major groups: The Walk led by John Robert Stevens and the Body of Christ.
William Branham was one of the main catalysts for, promoted by, and strongly affiliated with key individuals in the Latter Rain sect of Pentecostalism. This strange sect gave birth to various sub-sects, one of which was the “Manifest Sons of God” sect, or cult, of Pentecostalism. Like its parent sect of Latter Rain, the Manifest Sons of God sect was based upon doctrines that William Branham himself used as themes in his sermons.[1] Within the Manifest Sons of God sect, there were two major groups: The Walk led by John Robert Stevens and the Body of Christ.
Manifest Sons of God theology is based upon the notion of creating Dominionism through perfecting the saints, and the notion of a latter-day "5-fold ministry including offices of apostles and prophets. Dominionism, known as “Dominion Theology”, is a set of political ideologies strategically chosen in an attempt to overthrow non-Christian members of government and enforce Christian-governed authority.
Key passages of text from the Christian Bible are used to recruit members into this extremist sect of Christianity. One passage is found in the first chapter of Revelation, most frequently using the King James translation of the Bible. The passage is describing the Seven Churches in Asia Minor, which is currently a large majority of modern Turkey, and offering praise to God for the establishment of kingdoms on earth. This is a passage William Branham began referencing in May of 1954 during the height of his strong affiliation with Latter Rain leaders such as Joseph Mattsson-Boze and A. W. Rasmussen:
And hath made us kings and priests unto God…his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. “Has made us priests and kings unto God.” “Us” is plural. Not “made me priest and a king;” but, “made us,” the Church. Now, he is addressing these seven churches, for it’s Seven Church Ages. Now, he said, “Dominion and glory, and be to Him for ever and ever.” “Has made us priests.” Did you ever know what a priest is, what his office is? A priest is to make sacrifice, to make intercession. And over in Hebrews, It said that we, the Church, is the royal priesthood, “A royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.” See? “A holy nation, peculiar people, royal priesthood.” “Offering,” here it is now: “offering spiritual sacrifices,” every man and woman that comes to God enters into the veil.
Branham, 54-0512 - The Seven Church Ages
“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 paralyzed by the corporate prayer of an authoritative community. As the rod of His strength goes out of Zion, He'll change legislation. He'll chase the devil off the face of God's earth, and God's people together, doing the will of God, will bring about God's purposes and Gods reign. “
Ern Baxter, National Men's Shepherds Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, 1975
When speaking to specific audiences that were accepting of this theology, Wiliam Branham claimed that God would manifest himself within members of the Church. He often quoted Luke 17:30 which describes the Son of Man (Jesus) being revealed. In most versions of his stage persona, Branham loosely associated this verse with all members of the Church. In the later version of his stage persona, however, Branham claimed that the Son of Man would be made manifest in the office of a major prophet, which he said would be the return of the Old Testament "Elijah". Then, Branham convinced his followers that he himself was that "Elijah", and began claiming that "Elijah" of the "last days" would be God himself. Not a man but God, God made flesh. Throughout the remainder of his ministry, he continued to imply that he was the spirit of Elijah.
"Now, Jesus came in three names. Son of man, which is a prophet; Son of God, which went through the Church age; then Son of David. But in between the Son of God and Son of David, according to His Own Word, and according to Malachi 4 and many Scriptures, He's to return back into His Church, in physical form, in the people, in a…in human beings, in the way of being a prophet."Branham, William. 1965, April 27. Does God Change His Mind? (65-0427)
And Elijah was not…That wasn’t Elijah; That was the Spirit of God on Elijah; Elijah was just a man. Now, we’ve had Elijahs, and Elijahs’ coats, and Elijahs’ mantles, and Elijahs’ everything. But the Elijah of this day is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is to come according to Matthew the seventeen-…Luke 17:30, is, the Son of man is to reveal Himself among His people. Not a man, God! But it’ll come through a prophet.
Branham, 65-1127B - Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will
Could you think, church, that you’re looking with your own eyes…The living Word of God made manifest, the promise of the hour, in the last days, looking with your own eyes at the living Word being interpreted in natural form, God among us! “I see Him with my own eyes, the One…I heard that He would do it.” All the old sages looked for this day, now we see It manifested with our own eye.
Branham, Wililam. 1965, Nov 27. I Have Heard But Now I See
Rev. Jim Jones of Peoples Temple used Branham's Manifest Sons of God theology throughout his career. Jones was a member of Branham's "Message" cult following as early as 1956, and key elements of the Manifest Sons of God doctrine are identified as late as 1972 recordings
That’s my desire. I did not come this far by faith, to just end this race as being one manifested son.
Jones, Jim. 1972. Annotated Transcript Q1054-4
Said the Word of God is made flesh [John 1:14], and the Word of God is dwelling amongst us. And the Word of God has never left us. Said, lo, I am with you, always even unto the end of the world. It’s never left us [Matthew 28:20]. And Hebrews 4:12 tells you what the word of God does. It’s sharper than a two-edged sw– sword, it will divide bone from marrow. That’s what we did Wednesday night, when a woman was crippled, was healed instantly. The bone and the marrow were separated. (Claps once) It says that it is quick and powerful, and I could say some quick and powerful things, because God lives in this body. It says it will discern the thoughts of the mind, and know the intents of the heart, separate the soul from the spirit [Hebrews 4:12]
Jones, Jim. 1972. Annotated Transcript Q1054-4
We’re not in a praying house here, we’re in a speaking house. The Spoken Word is here. The Word is made flesh. We don’t pray and beg anymore, we don’t grovel around on our knees anymore, we can talk to God face-to-face, and we can hear God with our own ears, and with our own understanding.
Jones, Jim. 1972. Annotated Transcript 353
God in 1973 will be manifested in a higher degree than he was in 1920. You understand. Or in 1900. Surely, because Jesus said, these things shall you do and greater.
Jones, Jim. 1974. Annotated Transcript Q612
William Branham's "Manifest Sons of God" doctrine examined in an intelligence report by Southern Poverty Law Center.
Through Cain came all the smart, educated people down to the antediluvian flood — the intellectuals, bible colleges," Branham wrote in the kind of anti- mainstream religion, anti-intellectual spirit that pervades the Joel's Army movement "
- Southern Poverty Law Center, Klanwatch Project, Militia Task Force. 2008. Intelligence Report: A Project of the Southern Poverty Law. Accessed 2020, May 28 from https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2008/todd-bentley%E2%80%99s-militant-joel%E2%80%99s-army-gains-followers-florida
Interestingly, sermons with the title “Manifested Sons of God” were renamed, apparently to conceal all traces of Branham’s connection to Jim Jones.
This Message by Brother William Marrion Branham called Manifested Sons Of God was delivered on Wednesday, 18th May 1960 at the Branham Tabernacle in Jeffersonville, Indiana, U.S.A. The tape, number 60-0518, is 2 hours and 5 minutes, and consists of 2 cassettes. This message is available in book format (Adoption).
Manifested Sons of God. https://www.williambranham.com/manifested-sons-of-god-60-0518