Race War Prophecy

William Branham's End-of-Days predictions included a public and a private version.  The public version, cleansed of all tones of white supremacy, focused solely upon his claim that "communists" and "Rome" (Roman Catholics) would invade the United States and completely annihilate the Americas.  The words "black" and "Jew" were omitted from speeches to the general public and removed from his sermons by his campaign managers and editors by splicing the magnetic tape and placing "[blank.spot.on.tape]" indicators in the transcripts.[1]  Like Gerald Winrod, the "Jayhawk Nazi" working with Roy E. Davis, F. F. Bosworth, Paul Rader, and other key figures in Branham's ministry, loaded language was used in publications and speeches before certain audiences.  The word "Jew" was replaced with "communist", and "black" with either "hybrid"[2] or "mongrel"[3] in Branham's sermons.  Very few instances of Branham's race war predictions remain in the transcripts.

The Jew—Jews united themselves against Jesus, as their—as their Messiah. Therefore, we see what happened. We see the same thing now, communism uniting to destroy the church, after the church has united in the World Council of Churches and trying to destroy the Message, the Word of God.[4]

When speaking to key churches in the movement, however, Branham openly described the coming race war between people with black skin and people with white skin.  In fact, William Branham issued a prophecy that "billions or millions" of bodies would be "piled up there on top one another" in the end times, just as had happened with Hitler and the Jews during WWII.  Again, very few instances of the prophecy in its true form survived the editing process.  Only those quotes missed by Branham's editing team as they were "blank spotting" the recordings survived.

In a sermon at the Branham Tabernacle in 1963, for example, William Branham described his race war prophecy in its fullness.

Just—just like Hitler did, over in Germany, led them right into a death trap, them precious Germans. And they laid by the billions, or millions, piled up there on top one another. And that's exactly the same thing. And remember, I'm on tape. You'll see it, after, maybe after I'm gone. That's exactly what's going to happen. Them precious people will die down there, like flies. Starts a revolutionary, both white and colored will fight again, and die like flies.[5]

 In the mid-1960s as Martin Luther King, Jr. became a target for white supremacy leaders, Branham began claiming that King was the leader of the movement that would result in the impending race war.  He linked King to "communism," due to his black skin just as Winrod and others had done in the early years of the Nazi sympathizers.  Combined with his Serpent's Seed doctrine — that was a rebranding of the Christian Identity doctrine of white supremacy leader Wesley Swift — Branham led the charge of white supremacy among the Latter Rain revivals with a strategy of "hiding in plain sight."

Down there that day in Shreveport when that uprise come, and them…and there was all them young colored inspired out there, communistic… I've told you here in this pulpit, Martin Luther King is the greatest indebtment the colored people's ever had. Right. That man's going to lead a thousands of them to a slaughter (that's right), inspired by communism.[6]

That's not the thing that's going to save our nation. That's only a political scheme. It's a—it's a thing of communistic background.' I think Martin Luther King's going to lead his people to a biggest slaughter, massacre, that they've ever been into. And they…You see, that ain't going to pull the world together. That ain't going to save us. We give them integration. Now it's worse than it ever was.[7]

Branham's race war prophecy was nothing new for white supremacists of the era.  In fact, many white supremacists were claiming that the sudden rise in Civil Rights protests among blacks was a prophecy fulfilled — not the inspiration for a new prophecy.  In 1859, revolutionary soldier Anthony Sherman gave an account of a vision from America's first president, George Washington, published in a December 1880 issue of The National Tribune.  Washington's vision, though vague, was interpreted by white supremacists of the 40s, 50s, and 60s as describing the coming race war between whites and people with dark skin.

At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were joined into one, and throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud.And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I beheld were springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." When the voice had ceased, the dark, shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long and fearful blast.[8]
- George Washington

William Branham also referenced this vision several times in his sermons, though he never fully described the racial undertones.  In several speeches describing his "patriotism," Branham made statements such as, "I was with George Washington when he crossed the Delaware. I'm identified with him"[9]  Part of that identification included references to Washington's vision of what white supremacists of the era believed to be the coming race war.

For instance, George Washington, here at Valley Forge. After praying all night in the snow, up to his hips, was wet way up around his waistline, and the river was full of ice. But he caught a vision from God, he caught faith, that God was going to give him the victory.[10]

There was a huge problem with this claim by Branham and other white supremacists: George Washington was not a prophet.  He had no vision. 

The tale of "Washington's Vision" was the invention of the imagination of Charles Wesley Alexander.  Alexander was a Philadelphia journalist who took it upon himself to publish propaganda for the Civil War.  It was for this reason that the vision contained vague racial undertones. 

The tale of "Washington's Vision" was penned by Charles Wesley Alexander (1836-1927), a Philadelphia journalist who published The Soldier's Casket, a periodical for Union veterans of the Civil War. Writing under the pseudonym "Wesley Bradshaw," Alexander authored several fictional "vision" or "dream" pieces featuring historic American figures which were published as broadsheets and in various newspapers during the Civil War and were later offered for sale through advertisements in the pages of The Soldier's Casket, with the artificial separation between the real Charles Alexander and the pseudonymous "Wesley Bradshaw" allowing the former to unashamedly laud the latter's works.[11]

Full Text of George Washington's Vision

I do not know whether it is owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed, that it was some moments before I found language to inquire into the cause of her presence.

A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight raising of her eyes. I would have risen, but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become useless, even thought itself had become paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent, irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily, vacantly at my unknown visitor.

Gradually, the surrounding atmosphere seemed as though becoming filled with sensations and luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy, and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.

Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America the billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and America lay the Pacific. "Son of the Republic," said the same mysterious voice as before, "Look and learn."

At that moment I beheld a dark, shadowy being floating in midair between Europe and America, dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand. He sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a dark cloud raised from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning passed through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people.

A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again I heard the mysterious voice say, "Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn."

At this the dark, shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened specter approach our land. It flitted slowly over every town and city. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking, I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the word "Union," bearing the American flag, which he placed between the divided nation, and said, "Remember ye are brethren." Instantly the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons, became friends once more and united around the National Standard.

And again I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." At this the dark, shadowy angel placed a trumpet to his mouth and blew three distinct blasts; and taking water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa. Then my eyes beheld a fearful scene: from each of these countries arose thick, black clouds that were joined into one, and throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, moving with the cloud, marched by land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of the cloud.

And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns, and cities that I beheld were springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of millions in mortal combat, I heard again the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." When the voice had ceased, the dark, shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth and blew a long and fearful blast.

Instantly a light as of a thousand suns shone down from above me, and pierced and broke into fragments the dark cloud which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel, upon whose head still shone the word UNION, and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the other, descended from the heavens, attended by legions of white spirits. These immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well nigh overcome, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the battle.

Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict, I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious. Then once more I beheld the villages, towns, and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel, planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, cried with a loud voice, "While the stars remain, and the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last." And taking from his brow the crown on which was blazoned the word "Union," he placed it upon the Standard, while the people, kneeling down, said, "Amen."

The scene instantly began to fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor I at first beheld. This also disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious visitor, who, in the same voice I had heard before, said, "Son of the Republic, what you have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic. The most fearful is the third, passing which the whole world united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God, his land, and the Union." With these words the vision vanished, and I started from my seat, and felt that I had seen a vision wherein had been shown me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.[12]

- George Washington