There is one particular healing preacher who inspired many of the healing preachers of the ‘50’s, among whom were T. L. Osborn, Kenneth Hagin and Paul Cain. This man, William Branham, is a healing-preacher who Unger believes was operating under the influence of occult powers. Unger is not the only one to think so. Kurt Koch, a German theologian, who has specialised in demonology and the occult has carefully researched Branham’s life and he writes that Branham’s occult abilities were in evidence from an early age. Branham grew up in an environment where occultism was practised; and his parents believed in soothsaying.
From the age of three, Branham began to hear a voice that frightened him, though he felt compelled to obey it. The voice turned out to be that of an angel, who promised to perform healings if Branham would obey. In 1946 Branham met the angel in a cave in Indiana, and he was told that God had called him to bring the message of healing to the world.
He was told that he would get two supernatural signs. First of all, he would be given the ability to diagnose sicknesses by means of sensations in his left hand. Secondly, he would get the ability to reveal people’s thoughts and deeds, and if the first sign failed to convince people, the second one would succeed.
The angel always accompanied Branham on his healing meetings, and it was the angel that performed the healings. When Branham was asked outright if it was the Holy Spirit who worked the healings at his meetings, he replied that it was not the Holy Spirit but his angel that did it. Branham’s German interpreter was asked not to stand at the right side of Branham, as that was where his angel used to stand.
On one occasion, Branham admitted that even after he had experienced hundreds of visits by the angel, he was still very frightened when the angel approached him. Often he became so exhausted by the angel’s presence that he was compelled to close the meetings in order not to collapse. Koch writes, also, that Branham was unable to operate his gifts when Christians prayed that God would hinder anything that was wrong in the meetings. 34
Branham’s theology has been criticised, particularly on two points. Firstly, his denial of the trinity which he called a doctrine from Hell; and secondly, his assertions that the Word of God was revealed in the Zodiac (astrology) and in the Egyptian pyramids, as well as in the Bible.
According to David Harrell, the power of a Branham meeting was practically unmatched.35 Gordon Lindsey writes that Branham’s words of knowledge were practically infallible.36 His occult gifts of healing and clairvoyance were apparently impressive, and they are still influencing us today through the Faith movement and some other circles, particularly some ministers in the Vineyard movement. His teaching on the invincible church that would conquer the world for Jesus, has influenced movements like the Faith movement and parts of the Vineyard movement.
This supposed coming of an end-time super-church has led to a teaching that claims that this elite group of Christians would attain immortality — some have even said divinity! This unstoppable church, according to some, has been called “Joel’s Army” and “Manifested Sons.” Some who believe in this teaching believe that the coming again of Jesus to the earth will happen through this super-church being manifested, and that it is this church that will be Christ here on earth! Others believe that this glorified, end-time church, after having conquered the nations of the world, will call Jesus back to earth and then hand over the Kingdom to Him. This teaching is also evident in many of the triumphalist songs of our time.
Footnotes
34. Kurt Koch, Between Christ and Satan, p 150-151. Occult ABC, p 235. Christian Counselling and Occultism, p 18. Albert J. Dager, Latter Day Prophets, Media Spotlight.
35. David Harrell, All Things are Possible.
36. Gordon Lindsay, William Branham as I Knew Him, Voice of Healing, February 1966.
