Branhamism: The CANCER That Infected American Christianity

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/branham Available on Spotify, Google, and Apple Podcasts: https://william-branham.org/podcast Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962  Come Out of Her My People Vol II: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DNFN2XYR John and Charles discuss the expansion of William Branham’s teachings after his passing and how his movement continued to spread despite internal divisions. They explore the missionary efforts that took place after the major schism of 1968–69, focusing on how message leaders capitalized on the Six-Day War of 1967 to fuel their doomsday narrative and recruit followers. The episode delves into how the movement gained traction within United Pentecostal and Apostolic churches, with leaders using Branham’s supposed prophetic status and urgency about the end times to convince people to separate from their denominations. They examine how financial support from the Full Gospel Businessmen helped fund these efforts, enabling new churches to be planted across North America. Additionally, they highlight how Branham’s followers utilized historical events, recordings of alleged healings, and apocalyptic preaching to establish a significant base for the movement. The conversation traces the exponential growth of the message from a small network of 35 churches at Branham’s death to hundreds within just a few years. It explores how early message churches formed in places like Canada, the Southern U.S., and the Western states, often splintering from existing Pentecostal movements. John and Charles emphasize the confusion and misinformation that clouded the history of these churches, pointing out that many who later fully embraced Branham’s teachings initially only saw him as a prophet rather than the exclusive end-times messenger. They also discuss the deeply ingrained doomsday mindset that permeated the movement, a theme that continued into the broader charismatic and NAR movements. As they conclude, they reflect on the consequences of decades of failed predictions and false hopes, setting the stage for their next discussion on how the message spread overseas.