Stage Persona

William Branham used multiple versions of a stage persona during his public ministry, and each version included variations depending upon which audience or location he was currently speaking to. Many doctrinal positions held by one particular stage persona, such as the Trinity, were opposing viewpoints held by his other stage personas and their alleged denomination of faith. Branham is largely remembered as a strict "Jesus Only" Oneness Pentecostal preacher,[1] but in some versions of his stage persona, Branham accepted the Persons of the Trinity.[2]

Then suffered under Pontius Pilate, crucified, died, buried, rose the third day, setting at the right hand of God the Father, making intercessions now for we who’ve accepted the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the trinity. And in our hearts, tonight, He rules and reigns.
Branham, William. 1951, Sep 29. Our Hope Is In God. 51-0929

The versions of his stage persona in the later years were vastly different from those used in the earlier years. During the height of his public career, variations in Branham's theology would have been popular within specific sects of the Christian faith. Branham's teaching the divinity of Christ, for instance, would have been popular among most Christians when using a stage persona that agreed with the divinity of Christ:

So to men today who teach that He was nothing but a good man, or merely some prophet, that social Gospel won’t stand up. He was God, the Creator, represented in a body that’s called Jesus Christ, the Son of God. John said, "That settled it for me."
Branham, William. 1961, Apr 14. Be Not Afraid, It Is I. 61-0414

Truly, He cried for mercy at the cross. He cried like a Man when He was dying. But when He rose on Easter morning, He proved He was God. Amen. He’s a resurrected One. He’s a God-Man. God was in Christ.
Branham, William. 1956, Apr 29. Jehovah Jireh. 56-0429

Later versions of his stage persona strayed further from mainstream Christianity to the extent that some variations of his stage persona were in full disagreement with the doctrinal platform presented by most former versions. In some of those later versions and/or variations, Branham alleged that Christ was just an anointed prophet, a sinner, and died human.

He never called Himself the "Son of God." You know that. See, He came in the Son of man, a Prophet. Jehovah Himself, the Father, called Jeremiah, "son of man"; a prophet is son of man.
Branham, William. 1965, Dec 6. Modern Events Are Made Clear By Prohpecy. 65-1206

When He last cried, "Eli! Eli! My God! My God!" That was a man. "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" In the garden of Gethsemane, the anointing left Him, you know, He had to die as a sinner
Branham, William. 1960, May 18. Adoption #2 60-0518

This major shift in theology appears to have been for the sole purpose of his own (Branham's) deity claims. In 1964, using his "Manifest Sons of God" doctrinal foundation, Branham introduced the notion that the "major prophet" of his "age" was the return of "Elijah", and that this "prophet" is the manifestation of the Son of Man (Jesus). In 1965, Branham claimed that Jesus Christ was on earth in the form of "Elijah" the prophet, which he alleged to be.

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. 65-1127B. Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will

In his earliest known stage persona, while holding revivals with Roy E. Davis, Branham claimed to be a Pentecostal minister[3] in Davis' Pentecostal church. According to Branham, he and Davis challenged the audience by drinking poison at a time when Pentecostalism was known for drinking poison and/or handling snakes. [4]

After Davis was extradited to Arkansas on charges of grand theft, Branham formed the Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle [5] and toured while holding revivals with the Tabernacle Band. During this time, letters written to local newspapers were very articulate – that of an educated man.

After the 1937 Flood and the death of his first wife and daughter, Hope Branham and Sharon Rose Branham, William Branham appeared to have been affiliated with the United Brethren Church. The wedding ceremony [6] for William Branham and his second wife, Meda Branham was performed in the home of Carnie Carpenter, a Brethren minister, and William Branham was affiliated with E. Howard Cadle,[7] who planted several Brethren churches in Southern Indiana.

In 1945, William Branham toured as a "faith healer" who claimed his "healing ministry" was the result of a vision of "white-robed people". He published a tract describing the healing campaigns and ministry, [8] and his stage persona changed to that of a "Baptist" preacher. It was at this time that the Billie Branham Pentecostal Tabernacle was renamed to "Branham Tabernacle". [9]

In the spring of 1947, William Branham claimed that his healing ministry started in 1946[10] and that an angelic being commissioned him to "heal" the sick. He toured with W. E. Kidson, who supported the version of stage persona with the 1945 claim.[11]  The stage persona created for this version of the stage persona was that of the return of "Moses" from the Old Testament.  Branham claimed that this "angel" instructed him that he would be given the "two signs" of Moses[12] (though the Biblical Moses had three signs).[13] The "Moses" stage persona would later be changed to an "Elijah" persona,[14] and Branham's cult of personality would eventually adopt the Elijah persona as the final version.

In 1947, Branham expanded upon his 1946 claim, introducing the notion that other supernatural events happened during his early childhood years. He also introduced the claim that he could perform metaphysics, moving bracelets and other objects using thought projection. [15]

In 1948-1949, Branham was involved with the Latter Rain movement, frequently speaking before groups of people involved with the Latter Rain sect of Pentecostalism.[16]

In the early 1950s, Branham claimed that an angel commissioned him to heal the sick in May of 1946, and claimed that this "commission" was the same day that the Nation of Israel was formed. [17] His 1946 Commission claim would continue through multiple versions of his stage persona. During this time, Branham transitioned his stage persona to that of a Latter Rain Five-Fold Ministry "prophet". [18] In 1955, Branham’s "1933 Prophecies" were introduced into the stage persona, though they were initially introduced as "1932" prophecies [19] and he sometimes claimed to have been reading from a paper containing the year 1932. [20]

After the Washington, D.C. UFO sightings of July 1952[21] and the UFO craze began to spread, William Branham's stage persona introduced the notion that humans were made up of cosmic light.[22] According to this new theology, humans were currently made of "petroleum" and "cosmic light", and when the spirit separated from the body, it went beyond the "cosmic light" into the spiritual realm.[23] This "realm", according to Branham, was in one of seven dimensions.[24]  Branham claimed, speaking "in the name of the Lord" that he had the ability to travel through these dimensions and did so on a regular basis.[25] He claimed that the dimension he dwelt in was one that "the world knew nothing about."  According to Branham's UFO/extra-dimensional theology, mankind "lost their origin" in the Garden of Eden and humans became vessels for these spirits of "cosmic light" - originally in the form of animals such as bears, apes, or monkeys.[26]  Branham's UFO/Cosmic Light/Extra-Dimensional doctrine appears to have significantly impacted Jim Jones and Peoples Temple.[27]

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Branham introduced the alleged creation of squirrels into his stage persona.  According to Branham, he had been given the power to create life by speaking it into existence, the latter stages of his "Manifested Sons of God" doctrine.  In 1961, the stage persona claimed that this signified his "second ministry".

Last year, as all of you know, which is on print and also in testimony and in the tapes, I was setting at a place here in Indiana where the Lord God came down and spoke to me, that my second ministry, that was ready to take place in the near future. And there was spoken into existence three squirrels.
Branham, William. 1961, August 27. The Message Of Grace (61-0827)

Allegedly creating squirrels was a fundamental part of Branham's "Three 'Pulls' Doctrine", but identifying it with his "second ministry" presented internal conflicts when combined with past and future versions of the stage persona.  When combined with the "Manifested Sons of God" doctrine, the final stage was to become the manifestation of Christ in human form.  When combined with the "Three 'Pulls' Doctrine", however, the "second ministry" was "prophesying" while the third was "preaching to the eternally lost".  Yet he had allegedly been "prophesying" since 1933.

In 1963, Branham identified the "three ministries", insinuating that he followed the same pattern.  

Wonder if His ministry climbs out the same way in the last days, as it was? "As the Father sent Me, so send I you. The works that I do shall you also.” Lost, could never be saved. They had rejected mercy. That was His Third Pull. Now is there any question? His First Pull, He healed the sick. Is that right? [Congregation says, "Amen.”—Ed.] His Second Ministry, He was prophesying. His Third Ministry was preaching to the Eternal lost. The three mountains, so forth; the lost, Eternal! Noah’s ministry, all ministries, done the same. Noah preached. That exactly right. He went into the ark. And when he went into the ark, there were seven days that nothing happened. His testimony preached to the doomed. Sodom and Gomorrah! Jesus referred to both of them as coming. "Before the coming of the Son of man, so shall it be like the days of Noah, so shall it be in like it was in the days of Sodom.” He referred to Noah. Noah had Three Pulls, and his Third was to the lost after the door was shut."Branham, William. 1963, November 10. Souls That Are In Prison Now (63-1110M). 

In 1963, the stage persona began claiming that he had entered the third ministry or "third pull" instead of the second.[28]  As other "prophets" entered the "Five-Fold ministry" bringing with them some competition as "prophets", Branham began introducing the notion that there is only one "prophet" per "age", implying that version of "prophet" was greater than the others in the field. The stage persona shifted to that of a "prophet-leader".

Not a man, God! But it’ll come through a prophet.
Branham, William. 1965, Nov 27. 65-1127B. Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will