Trinity

 

William Branham is historically known for his firm stance against the doctrine of the Trinity. That history has been written by "historians" supportive of Branham's theology and cult movement that has continued to grow and thrive long after his death, and their views of Branham's alleged historical stance against Trinitarianism has propagated through the writings of theologians and cult awareness groups critical of his ministry. But are their accounts of Branham's history accurate?

When studying William Branham's doctrinal views of the Godhead, "historians" supportive of William Branham's ministry allege that Branham was anti-Trinitarianism before starting his ministry as a preacher and evangelist. In some versions of Branham's stage persona, William Branham claimed that he took a stance against the Trinitarian baptism as he was baptized by Roy E. Davis.

When I was just a little boy, nobody could tell me there's three Gods. No, you couldn't poke that down my... You can't give it to anybody that knows any--knows what God is. That's right. So when I baptized... A Baptist preacher baptized me. I said, "I want to be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Dr. Roy E. Davis baptized me in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ when I was just a boy.
Branham, 1960, Dec 12. The Laodicean Church Age

"Historians" supportive of William Branham's ministry carefully choose quotes from latter versions of his stage persona when describing early years of his ministry when other versions of the stage persona were used, and fail to mention the difference between each version of Branham's stage persona, or the fact that during the same year, different stage personas with opposing viewpoints were used for different crowds of people. These "historians" typically use quotes from the later years, from meetings with a mostly anti-Trinitarian audience, wherein William Branham alleges that only "false teachers" would promote the Trinitarian doctrine.

False teachers can rise, teaching all kind of trinitarianism and everything else, and be anointed with the Holy Ghost, and perform just as many miracles as the true Gospel can. But by the Word here, that's what does it. See what I mean? Now, it's all right to teach this, I guess, I'm--I'm in a interdenominational tabernacle this morning, in--in this hotel here.
Branham, William. 1965, November 27. Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will

What the "historians" fail to mention is that the stance that latter versions of Branham's stage persona took against Trinitarianism is also a stance against earlier versions of his stage persona, and polar-opposite to the Trinitarian versions of the stage persona in use for specific audiences. In some versions of William Branham's stage persona, Branham taught the Trinitarian doctrine and claimed that it was supportive of Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever".

Now, if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, "A little while, and the world seeth Me no more, yet you'll see Me, for I will be with you even in you." Then Jesus Christ comes into His Church, to His people, to manifest Himself out through the people, while He, Himself, is setting at the right hand of the Father, sending back the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the trinity, to live in human beings, to work through them, to show the same works that He did in the beginning, making Him, "the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Branham, William. 1952, July 13. God Testifying Of His Gifts

In 1951, after the Latter Rain movement caused a deep schism in Pentecostalism, William Branham's stage persona began to gradually separate from the heart of the Latter Rain movement into the Manifest Sons of God sub-sect. He was still affiliated with many Latter Rain leaders such as A. W. Rasmussen and Joseph Mattsson-Boze, as well as many ministers who were supportive of the Trinitarian doctrine. Some in the Latter Rain movement, however, rejected the Trinity. With the decreasing popularity of Latter Rain, their affiliation could potentially decrease the number of speaking engagements. In 1951, William Branham decided to expand his audience to include Trinitarians.

And may the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, come in now, the Promise, the Comforter, that You said You would send.
Branham, William. 1951, July 29. The Resurrection Of Lazarus

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, September 29. Our Hope Is In God

During this time, William Branham began to inject Trinitarian comments into retellings of his early "spiritual experiences" that while conflicting are collectively known as his "Life Story".

We love Him, that great, third Person of the trinity Who burns through our hearts. And we love Him. O Holy Spirit, I thank You for Your Divine leading, and how You led me here to Hammond. And God, in that great matter of last night, God bless that young woman. Make her that, out yonder, Lord, to win souls after souls of them lost out yonder. Grant it, Lord.
Branham, William. 1952, July 13. Early Spiritual Experiences

By 1952, William Branham was not only teaching the Trinitarian doctrine, he was supporting it with quotes from the Bible that later versions of his stage persona would use for deity claims. When alleging that he was not a man but god, god made flesh in later versions of his stage persona, Branham often used John 5:19 as his proof text to allege that Jesus Christ was only the Son of Man, not the Son of God, and that the Elijah of the "last age" (allegedly himself) was Jesus Christ. In 1952, however, Branham used this verse as his proof text to support the Trinitarian doctrine.

Is that right? Now, according to Jesus' own words, which I believe they are the Truth. No one disputes that Saint John 5 is not in... but what's inspired. And according to His Words, He said, "I do nothing until the Father shows Me what He's doing. Then what the Father shows Me, that I do." Is that right? Saint John 5:19. Now, if Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, "A little while, and the world seeth Me no more, yet you'll see Me, for I will be with you even in you." Then Jesus Christ comes into His Church, to His people, to manifest Himself out through the people, while He, Himself, is setting at the right hand of the Father, sending back the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the trinity, to live in human beings, to work through them, to show the same works that He did in the beginning, making Him, "the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Branham, William. 1952, July 13. God Testifying Of His Gifts

Now, if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and do we believe that the Holy Spirit is on earth today? How many believes that? Well, that Holy Spirit is the Holy Spirit of God. Is that right? The third Person of the trinity, Jesus Christ. "Yet a little while, the world seeth Me no more, yet you'll see Me, for I'll be with you, even in you to the end of the world." Is that right? Then if He's going to be with us, in us to the end of the world, that makes Him the same yesterday, today, and forever. Is that right? Now, if He comes down in our midst tonight, and I'm just your brother, remember. But it's the claims that I say about Him, that He is the same. And here's what I believe. I believe every Word of the Bible is absolutely, infallible, the truth. That's the way... I--I think you can't say, "This is not inspired, and that's not inspired." I believe it's all inspired of God. And I'm willing tonight to hang my soul on any phase of it, and say, "It's the truth." I believe the whole book. And I believe when it said that "Jesus was the same yesterday, today, and for ever." I believe that Jesus made a way that He could be with us, as He said, "A little while, the world seeth Me no more; yet you shall. For I will be with you, even in you, to the end of the world." I believe that He returned back in the form of the Holy Ghost the second, third Person of the trinity, come back as the Comforter, and is with us, working the same thing that Jesus Christ did when He was here on earth. Now, that's either right or wrong. Now, that's the way you got to take God.
Branham, William. 1952, July 20. Who Has Believed Our Report

May the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, come, take the Word of God, and place It into every heart, just as it has need of.
Branham, William. 1953, April 5. Witnesses

By 1953, William Branham had integrated the Trinitarian doctrine into his creationism doctrine, claiming that the Third Person of the Trinity was placed into mankind from the Garden of Eden. Branham's Trinitarian doctrine had advanced to the point of describing distinct, separate, Persons of the Godhead. According to William Branham, God the Father was never seen, and never would be seen. Like most Trinitarian teachers, Branham described the Logos that went out from the Father to be Jesus Christ the Son, and described the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity which was placed into the hearts of mankind. In his 1953 sermon entitled Show Us the Father and It Will Satisfy Us, Branham fully describes what most Trinitarians believe as his own teaching:

And when He made everything that looked nice and good to Him, now He said, "Let us (plural) make man (plural) in our own image." What was He? There is a supernatural Being. There's the One that could not be seen. God the Father never was seen, never will be seen. He's all nature. And there He is. And now, here's the Son, which is the Logos that went out of Him, made in His image, a supernatural Being that went out in the beginning. "Let us make man in our own image." After He made a man in His own image, He made a supernatural being. Yes, indeed. Genesis 1:28, read and see if that isn't right. And then when He made man in His own image, he had rule over the beasts. He led the beasts around then like the Holy Spirit's supposed to lead the Church today. That's right. He led the Church around and... And then He said, "There's no man to till the soil." So He created man out of the dust of the earth. Now, He might've give him a hand like a monkey and a foot like a bear. I don't know what He did, but He put him in five senses. And He put this supernatural being which was called man, the third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit, into mankind ( That's exactly right.), that man and He made him in His own image.
Branham, William. 1953, June 11. Show Us The Father And It'll Satisfy Us

William Branham also described his stage persona's Trinitarian beliefs during his prayer lines. Each of the three Persons in the Trinitarian Godhead were fully described. Branham claimed that God's provided Sacrifice (The "Son", or Second Person in the Trinitarian Godhead) was present, and the Holy Spirit (the Third Person in the Trinitarian Godhead) was "moving over the building". Branham used the phrase "Third Person of the Trinity" when describing the Holy Ghost, and then described the Father (the First Person in the Trinitarian Godhead) drawing people closer to the Sacrifice, or Second Person in the Trinitarian Godhead.

God's provided Sacrifice is here. God's Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost, is now moving over the building. What made you raise your hand, sinner? Because God is calling you. "No man can come to Me except My Father draws him," and the Father's trying to draw you to the provided Sacrifice, which, one of these days, all that you have is going to sweep away. The atoms that's in your body will return back to the air. The dust that's in your body, where it was created, will return to the dust. Then what? I'm going to ask prayer for you.
Branham, William. 1953, June 13. God's Provided Way

Some time in 1954 between April and September, William Branham began transitioning his stage persona away from the Trinitarian doctrine. In April, Branham was still describing the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity. In September, however, Branham began claiming that Jesus Christ was the Third Person of the Trinity in Spirit form.

Now, Father, take the Word, and may the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the trinity, comes, take the Word of God, and break It out to the people
Branham, William. 1954, April 1. God's Preparation

Now, tonight Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and is living right here among us in Spirit form, called the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God, which is Jesus Christ, the third Person of the trinity. Now, now, He's here in Spirit form. He was with the children of Israel in a Pillar of Fire. Is that right? How many believes that was Christ? Sure it was. And then He come down, was made flesh to take sin away, take sickness away. Then He said, "I came from God," out of here, He said, "I come out of here, and I'm returning back in there."
Branham, William. 1954, September 2. South Africa Testimony

During this time, the Latter Rain movement was quickly gaining popularity. Branham was frequently invited to Joseph Mattsson-Boze's Philadelphia Church in Chicago, and Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones of Indianapolis Indiana was starting his career as a "faith healer" in the Latter Rain movement. By the time William Branham joined Joseph Mattsson-Boze in supporting Jim Jones' and Jones converted to the "Message", William Branham had repositioned his stage persona's stance to be once again against Trinitarianism.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know... (Listen to this.)... that God has made this same Jesus, whom you... crucified, both Lord and Christ. What about that? Is He a third Person of the trinity, or is He the entire trinity? He is the entire fullness of the Godhead, bodily.
Branham, William. 1957, August 25. Hebrews Chapter Two 2

This stance, however, was not consistent. Many were already familiar with William Branham's Trinitarian stage persona. Before specific audiences, Branham used the Trinitarian stage persona, still naming the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity, and described Jesus Christ (the Second Person) going to the Father (the First Person).

So One that has been among us, died and rose again, is glorified in the Presence of God tonight, comes back in the form of the third Person of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, and dwells in us, and moves, and proves Himself to be the same Lord Jesus. "A little while and the world sees Me no more; yet ye shall see Me for I'll be with you, in you. The works that I do, shall you do also. More than this shall you do, for I go to My Father." I wonder in the light of this Scripture, if you've come tonight, if you're not a Christian would you raise your hand and say, "Brother Branham, pray for me just now. I here want to raise my hands to Christ and say I haven't lived the right life. Be merciful to me, Lord Jesus."
Branham, William. 1958, February 8. The Queen Of The South

Now, you know what's the matter with the church? It's been so cold till it's got a spiritual cold. And it'll take more than coon grease to open your eyes. It'll take the oil of the Holy Spirit and the power of the resurrection of Christ to take the coldness away from the church and open their eyes, that they might see the Presence of the Lord Jesus. Let Him open your eyes. He's the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity here tonight to grease up your eyes with God's salve: open your eyes.
Branham, William. 1958, March 16. Door To The Heart

It wasn't until 1961 that William Branham fully eliminated the Trinitarian doctrine from his stage persona. In January of that year, Branham began to claim that he had "THUS SAITH THE LORD" (divine revelation) that Trinitarianism was "of the devil".

Now, my precious brother, I know this is a tape also. Now, don't get excited. Let me say this with godly love, the hour has approached where I can't hold still on these things no more, too close to the Coming. See? "Trinitarianism is of the devil!" I say that THUS SAITH THE LORD! Look where it come from. It come from the Nicene Council when the Catholic church become in rulership. The word "trinity" is not even mentioned in the entire Book of the Bible. And as far as three Gods, that's from hell. There's one God. That's exactly right.
Branham, William. 1961, January 8. Revelation Chapter Four 3

In some audiences, however, Branham attempted to find common ground by combining the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity. He positioned himself as opposing to this view, however, by saying "You call it the Third Person of the Trinity".

Now, look at that Angel with His back turned, told Sarah what she was thinking about. If that ain't the Word of God, I don't know it. The Bible said in Hebrews 4 that, "The Word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword, and even a discerner of the thoughts of the heart and mind." Right. It discerns; It's the Word of God. And the Word of God is in you if you'll let the Word, because He is the Word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; and the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us." See that? Then that same Word, Christ, the promise, the Holy Ghost; you call It the third Person of the trinity, that's fine, that's what It is, Christ, the Holy Ghost in you. He was in a Pillar of Fire once.
Branham, William. 1961, February 11. Abraham

Later that same year, Branham's stage persona fully rejected the Trinity and removed all common ground. He did so in a sermon entitled "The Comforter", in which he publicly stated the change in position for his stage persona. After this sermon, Branham made no attempt at switching between the opposing viewpoints of his stage personas.

Not the third person of the trinity; no trinity in It. He is God, and God alone, made manifest in flesh.
Branham, William. 1961, October 1. The Comforter

Now, when Jesus came, He wasn't just a man. He wasn't just the third person of the trinity. He, He was God. He was God, Himself.
Branham, William. 1963, April 28. Look

In 1962, as his stage persona began to shift into claims of deity, Branham began claiming that his stage persona's stance against Trinitarianism was fulfillment of the Book of Revelation from the New Testament and that he himself was sent to "reveal" the rejection of Trinitarianism as a "mystery".

Where, the extreme trinitarianism has brought it into titles of "Father, Son, Holy Ghost." And the mystery of the Godhead being fulfilled in the baptism of the Name of "Jesus Christ," according to the Book of the Revelations, that the Church in this time was to receive. There is some of the mysteries. The Pillar of Fire returning back. Amen! That's the thing that's supposed to take place, and we see it. Oh, how we could go on, naming the mysteries!
Branham, William. 1962, December 30. Is This The Sign Of The End Sir

A trinity of frogs! A frog is an animal that always looks backward. He never looks where he's going; he looks where he's come from. See? Don't you see? Where was trinitarianism born at? Remember, "three unclean spirits," individual spirits. Are you getting it? [Congregation says, "Amen."--Ed.] Notice, they look back to the Nicaea Council where the trinity doctrine was born at, not in the Bible. There's no such a thing. They look back to the Nicaea Council at Nicaea, Rome, where the trinity was born at. Notice where they come from. Notice. And the trinity of frogs came out of an old trinity, give birth to a new trinity, their mother. What'd it come out of? A trinity, "the dragon," see, "the beast," and "the false prophet." A trinity, new. For when were these frogs come out? When did it? Notice, they was there all the time, but it wasn't manifested until between the Sixth and Seventh Vial, just before the Seals opened to reveal it. "For in the Message of the seventh angel, the mysteries of God would be known," all these trinitarian things, and false baptisms, and everything was to be made manifest. God help us to see what's Truth! And not think it's somebody trying to say something to...
Branham, William. 1965, July 25. The Anointed Ones At The End Time

False teachers can rise, teaching all kind of trinitarianism and everything else, and be anointed with the Holy Ghost, and perform just as many miracles as the true Gospel can. But by the Word here, that's what does it. See what I mean? Now, it's all right to teach this, I guess, I'm--I'm in a interdenominational tabernacle this morning, in--in this hotel here.
Branham, William. 1965, November 27. Trying To Do God A Service Without It Being God's Will