Rayford Strange
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
When I was about twelve years old, my mother came across a book entitled, “William Branham A Man Sent from God.” It was authored by Gordon Lindsay of Dallas, Texas. We laughed and cried as she read it to me.
Gordon Lindsay, an Assembly of God minister together with Branham formed the Voice of Healing organization for the purpose of promoting Branham’s healing campaigns. He filled vast auditoriums by many thousands who witnessed great supernatural miracles of every sort. He preached in both Assembly of God churches and United Pentecostal churches also, many of whom I personally knew. The book attracted me to his ministry. Certainly the many great miracles was an exciting marvel to behold. My mother read the book to me and together we both cried and laughed.
Branham was the first of the great many healing/deliverance ministers, beginning in the latter part of the 1940s, all of whom was inspired by his ministry. For instance, T.L. Osborn heard him preach in great crusade in Portland. He saw the miracles. Osborn had been a missionary to India, Burma, Thailand and many other countries but saw very few miracles. As he watched the many miracles from high in the balconies of the great auditorium, God spoke to him saying, “You can do that too.” Osborn commenced to seek God through much fasting and prayer. Soon he begun to see those same miracles in his own ministry. If you can find it, get his book “Healing the Sick,” if I rightly recall the name of it, authored by T.L. Osborne. It will inspire you. Many other notable healing and deliverance ministers were inspired by Branham’s ministry, among them were Jack Coe and A.A. Allen both of whom I admired greatly and witnessed some incredible miracles in their meetings. There were a good number of those kind of ministers who were promoted in the Voice of Healing magazines including Branham’s Some of them were dear friends of mine who spent time in my home as I did theirs. We would visit and talk into the night endlessly.
Branham was rich in the Word of God. I felt safe listening to him since he was a Oneness, Jesus Name preacher who preached it emphatically. I loved to listen to him as he preached the depths of the Word. It thrilled my soul. Branham impacted the whole world with his ministry.
I followed his ministry very closely and greatly rejoiced in some of the great truths which he preached. Along the end of his ministry, he preached things that did not set well in my own spirit. One such message that he preached turned me off greatly. He entitled that message, “The Seed of the Serpent.” I loved Brother Branham greatly but that message was offensive to my spirit. Over time, I noticed that he was building himself up more and more as though he was exalting his own greatness. He came out preaching the Historicity doctrine in regards to the seven church ages. He claimed to be the messenger angel to the seventh church, the Laodiciean church age. Both the historicity doctrine and the self exaltation was offensive to me.
Though I loved Brother Branham, I entirely quit listening to him completely for a few years before his death in a car accident just before Christmas 1965 near Amarillo, Texas. I was shocked at his death, since he had prophesied several things that would come to pass before his death. Those prophecies failed to come to pass. The final straw with Branham which turned me away from him at last, was the Seed of the Serpent message. Please do not ask me explain that doctrine since you can google it for yourself.
There were many who were deceived by that message. Others also preached it. Among them was a popular television preacher named Arnold Murray, though now dead, his son still preaches it. It is a horrible doctrine which has its roots in the British Israel message. Many in my own circle of fellowship believe the British Israel doctrine one of whom is or was on the Foreign Missionary Board. If anyone would challenge me on this, I will not answer them but it is a false doctrine too. Google it.
Though I loved Branham inspire of his false doctrine, I found myself with tears running down my face as I was trying to shave in January or February 1966. As I looked myself in the mirror, I asked God why he saw fit to take him in death at such a time as we need miracle men who preached the One God/Jesus name message. It was one of three times that I actually heard the audible voice of God speak to me, “My glory, I will not give to another.” I saw it. I saw how so many where glorifying Branham as he did himself.
My tears dried up immediately. Everything that I felt toward Branham on a personal basis, immediately died. I love the word of God but I am offended when false doctrine is preached. I am also offended when men exalt themselves. That self-exaltation spirit is strong among us in our fellowship today, though very very subtle.
I learned many years ago that a little leaven added to a meal barrel will leaven the whole. In other words a very small error invites other error to build up on it and then bigger error build up on that still more and more. Over time, the whole thing is corrupted. You might compare it to a fowler’s snare. It is very difficult to see it at first but when one finally sees it, it is often too late. They are caught in that snare.
Today, millions around the world is caught up in the Branham net in what they call, “The Message.” The Message churches can be found all over the United States and around the world. Once caught up in that snare, except by a supernatural act of deliverance, they will forever be caught up in it.
Thankfully, for all the good that was preached and the many miracles that flowed from the Branham ministry, I was delivered from the snare. Those who are caught in that snare do not recognize it for what it is. Such is the spirit of deception. But there is a vast array of deceiving spirits for which cause we are are to be on alert with prayer and fasting, ever watchful.
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