Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

Insights from Modern Church History (A.O. 1830-1980)

The Healer-Prophet

William Branham continues to be an enigma in religious history. He began his ministry in 1933 as an ordained independent Baptist, "pastor ing the church he founded in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the Branham Taber nacle. The pivotal point of his career came in May 1946 when he expe rienced an angelic visitation in which he was promised the gift of healing and opportunities to preach before thousands." 25 Branham's rise to fame was meteoric and he filled the largest stadiums and meeting halls in the world. Outstanding miracles were reported, one of the most famous being that "effected by Branham on William Upshaw, a U.S. Congressman from California who had been crippled from birth. This healing in 1951 made Branham's healing power a world-wide legend." 26 The following paragraph gives some idea of his influence: The great healing crusades that Branham initiated in 1946 revitalized the American Pentecostal movement and popularized the doctrine of divine healing in America as never before. When the healing revival attracted hun dreds of thousands of Americans from all denominational and cultural backgrounds, the charismatic movement was born. As the pacesetter of the healing revival, Branham was the primary source of inspiration in the devel opment of other healing ministries. He inspired hundreds of ministers to enter the healing ministry and a multitude of evangelists paid tribute to him for the impact he had upon their work. As early as 1950, over 1,000 heal ing evangelists gathered at a Voice ofHealing convention to acknowledge the profound influence of Branham on the healing movement.27 1. Prophetic ministry needs the "covering" ofa responsible authority. When Branham was associated with J. Ern Baxter, his ministry was prob ably at its best. Baxter, a sound theologian and outstanding teacher and preacher, brought a solid doctrinal base to the ministry and to Branham personally. Baxter esteemed his associate highly but finally left him to go back to pastoring. Although Baxter honored Branham for his honesty and handling of money, and felt him to be a sincere and godly man, their doc trinal differences became too great for continued compatibility. Afterward it was as though someone had "switched angels" and Branham's teach ing went weird. Three months before Branham died, according to one of Baxter's students, he called Baxter and told him his meetings had not been the same since Baxter had left. Prophetic and healing ministries, sensitive and susceptible to spiritual influences, need the stability of apostolic oversight. We may draw at least four insights from the ministry of William Bran ham, who was acclaimed by many to be a prophet of God.

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