Branhamism: The CANCER That Infected American Christianity - Revival History - Podcast Episode 286

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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:
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Come Out of Her My People Vol II:
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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.

00:00 Introduction
00:31 The Growth of the Movement After Branham’s Death
1:07 The Schism of 1968-1969 and the Expansion of Splinter Groups
3:04 The Role of the Six-Day War in Recruiting New Converts
5:02 The Use of Doomsday Prophecies in Missionary Outreach
7:24 The Influence of Christian Identity on Branham’s Teachings
10:39 Early Message Churches and Their Growth from 35 to Hundreds
13:05 The United Pentecostal Church’s Connection to the Message
16:10 Former Apostolic and UPC Ministers Who Became Message Leaders
22:14 The Role of Latter Rain Leaders in the Message Movement
26:40 The Expansion of the Message in Eastern Canada
33:19 The Growth of the Movement in Western Canada and Ed Byskal’s Role
37:04 The Spread of the Message into the Southern U.S.
42:58 The Influence of Message Leaders on the Charismatic Movement
47:26 The Role of Radio in Promoting the Message in the Midwest
50:06 The Message’s Dependence on Doomsday Predictions
56:09 Final Thoughts and Conclusion
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