Rejecting the Deity of Christ
William Branham referenced John 5:19 over three hundred times during his ministry, focusing upon the phrase "the son can do nothing". Based upon the transition of doctrine used by variations of Branham's stage persona, it appears that his strategy was to limit the deity of Christ from the Son of God to that of a prophet, which becomes evident when combined with his doctrines on Luke 17:30 and the Manifest Sons of God theology. The transition also conflicted with some versions of his doctrine of the Godhead, rejecting both the version that supported the Trinity and the version that claimed to be Oneness Pentecostal.
William Branham referenced John 5:19 over three hundred times during his ministry, focusing upon the phrase "the son can do nothing". Based upon the transition of doctrine used by variations of Branham's stage persona, it appears that his strategy was to limit the deity of Christ from the Son of God to that of a prophet, which becomes evident when combined with his doctrines on Luke 17:30 and the Manifest Sons of God theology. The transition also conflicted with some versions of his doctrine of the Godhead, rejecting both the version that supported the Trinity and the version that claimed to be Oneness Pentecostal.
According to William Branham, the "prophet Jesus" was powerless and must see a vision prior to His doing anything:
Is that right? Saint John 5:19 and 20. Now, Jesus is truthful. In other words He said, "He could do nothing at all until the Father showed Him by a vision first, what to do." All that believes that Scripture, raise up your hand, Saint John 5:19. That's exactly right. Then Jesus did not do one thing until the Father showed Him first in a vision what to do.
Branham, William. 1953, Nov 6. Do You Now Believe. 53-1106
Branham's claim of the vision requirement took advantage of a passage from the book of John having a Greek word that when translated is difficult to understand. Some interlinear translations expand upon the Greek word "blepo" to a more precise meaning: The Son can do nothing of Himself but what he might see the Father do. (example). In context, Jesus is rejecting the notion that he had broken the Sabbath, and did nothing that God the Father would not have done.
Branham's strategy became apparent when he introduced his "Son of Man" doctrine, alleging that the Elijah of today (himself) was the return of Jesus Christ as a prophet.
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, William. 1965, Nov 27. Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will. 65-1127B