The Revelation of The Seven Seals
Where Did William Branham Get the Revelation of the Seven Seals?
Table of Contents
Why Are The Seven Seals Important To Message Believers?
Messages believers are nearly unified in their belief that William Branham’s sermons on the seven seals are the most important messages of his entire ministry. He and his followers believe the revelation and true understanding of the seals were hidden from the church prior to his ministry, and that the true understanding of the seals only be revealed through his ministry as God’s special endtime prophet.
William Branham and his followers say that he brought a brand new, unique, and never before revealed understanding of the seals. Branham explained this in his introductory sermon on the seven seals.
Expand quote51 And now we’re going to see what the Book says about how It become open. And is not made known until the Lamb takes the Book, and breaks the Seals, and opens the Book. See? The Lamb has got to take the Book. 52 It’s hid. Now remember, “No man in Heaven, no man in earth,” pope, bishop, cardinal, state presbyter, or whoever he is, “can break them Seals, or reveal the Book, but the Lamb.” And we have probed, and presumed, and stumbled, and wondered, and—and that’s the reason we’re all in such a confusion. 53 But with the Divine promise that this Book of Redemption will be perfectly opened by the Lamb, and the Seals thereof will be loosed by the Lamb, in the last days in which we’re living now. And is not made known until the Lamb takes the Book and breaks the Seals. Because, remember, the Book was being holded in the hands of Him that sat upon the Throne. “And the Lamb comes to Him that sits upon the Throne, and takes the Book out of His right hand.” Takes the Book! Oh, that’s deep. We’ll try to solve it out if we can, by the help of the Holy Spirit. Now we’re depending on Him. And we will see, later, it is at the end time, “When time has run out.” 54 No denominations has a right for interpretation of the Book. No man has a right to interpret It. It is the Lamb Who interprets It. And the Lamb is the One Who speaks It, and the Lamb makes the Word to be known, by vindicating and bringing the Word to Life. See? Exactly! Notice. And is not revealed until… 55 This Book is not revealed until the church ages and denominational ages has run out, “and there is time no more.” See it? It’s only revealed after church ages and denominational ages has run out.
63-0317E – The Breach Between The Seven Church Ages And The Seven Seals
Not just while preaching the seals, but many other times William Branham stated that the revelation and understanding relating to the seals on the book of redemption could only be opened and understood at the end of time, and not within any denominational system.
12 He spoke to me, and said, “The Seven Seals will be opened. The seven mysteries, sevenfold mystery of the Bible, that’s been closed up since the foundation of the world, will be revealed.” And we, yet a humble little group, compared with all the world, we’ve enjoyed these blessings, a hearing those mysteries.
65-0418M – It Is The Rising Of The Sun
Followers of William Branham believe the revelation of the seals was never made known in any other age, and that William Branham’s ability to convey the true understanding of the seals are a key part of his role as an end time prophet and Laodicean Church Age messenger.
How Did William Branham Say He Learned the Revelation of the Seals?
As William Branham preached his sermons on the seals he repeatedly explained that he received the revelation of the seals through visions or angelic visitations that occurred each day before he preached the seals while he studied and prayed in his room.
10 If I could just stand here at the platform and reveal It to you, the way It’s revealed to me in the room, my, it would be marvelous.
63-0318 – The First Seal
11 And now, tonight, we are studying this Second Seal. And for the first four Seals there is four horse riders. And I tell you, today something happened again. And, I—I, something that I…I go and get the old script that I had, that I talked on, long ago, and just set down there. And I thought, “Well, I—I did the very best I could.” And many writers and things, and I thought, “Well, I’ll read a little while, and look over and see this and that.” And the first thing you know, something just happens, and it’s altogether different. It just comes in different. Then I grab me a pencil right quick, and start writing down just as fast as I can, while He’s there.
63-0319 – The Second Seal
20 And I want to say this. That, each time, even till this morning, about…Oh, I get up real, real early and go to prayer before things stir, and just keep on praying through the day. But this morning, early, the Holy Spirit came to where I was. And just as plain as anything, I—I seen this other Seal open up now, just exactly. Now—now—now, He hears me, I know. And I’m very grateful.
63-0320 – The Third Seal
220 Ever since last Sunday, I just sit right in a room, just praying, that’s all, and under the anointing. And I know This is right. If you believe God, I know you do, you just watch at the end of the week. Uh-huh. See? See? All right. See?
63-0321 – The Fourth Seal
215 We have…I have always thought that these souls under the altar were the—the—the martyrs of the early Church. And I’m sure that, well, Dr. Uriah Smith, and every one of them, says it is. See? But, I thought so, myself. But when the Holy Spirit showed the vision to it, it wasn’t.
63-0322 – The Fifth Seal
418 Something happened today, and I seen something come up. I—I just…I couldn’t get my breath anymore, see. There He was, standing there, that little Light standing right there. And here It was. I know it’s the Truth. 419 I thought, “O God, I couldn’t say that. I—I can’t say that. I can’t.” I just walked out of the room, went out, walked up-and-down. Brother, I thought, “My! What can I do? Oh!”
63-0323 – The Sixth Seal
395 That much, we have an understanding of It, today, because the rest of It is all unfolded; but this is not unfolded. But sitting in my room, and I heard this…or, not heard it, rather, but seen It unfold to this Seven Thunders.
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
William Branham repeatedly explained that the seals were revealed to him through supernatural experiences.
The Facts
William Branham claimed the revelation of the seals had never been known before he preached them and that he received the revelation supernaturally during March 1963.
29 Now I want to make this real clear. Every time, every time that these Seals has come to the place; everything that I ever believed on Them, and has read of other people, has been contrary to what come to me in the room.
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
Repeatedly and explicitly, William Branham claimed every aspect of the seals was given to him supernaturally and was contrary to everything that he had ever heard or read before. He claimed that his 1963 revelation of the seals was essentially different from anything that had came before. It logically follows that, if that is true, we should not be able to find anyone who had the same essential interpretation of the seals as William Branham before 1963. If someone else had any correct understanding of even one of the seals before 1963, then William Branham’s claim is false.
Essential (noun)
The fundamental elements or characteristics of something
The truth is that William Branham borrowed most of the interpretation of the seals from the teachings of other ministers, and no key element of his teachings on the seals was new or unique. William Branham owned copies of the books and teachings which he based his sermons on, and even during his sermons on the seals he explained that he had been studying their books. In truth, there is very little that is new or unique about William Branham’s revelation of the seven seals.
Brian Smalls authored a book entitled Investigating William Branham1 in which he showed where men before William Branham had already preached the revelation of the seals in a manner that was essentially the same as William Branham. In this tract, we will show you how the essentials elements of William Branham’s sermons on the seals have been copied from The Book of Revelation by Clarence Larkin and The Finished Mystery by Charles Taze Russel.
Upon close examination you will find William Branham’s interpretation of the seals was not new or unique. His “Revelation of the Seven Seals” was entirely an adaptation of the teachings of earlier preachers, and he purposefully misled his audiences to think he was preaching something new.
Examination of the Fifth Seal
William Branham’s essential interpretation of the fifth seal is that the souls under the altar represented past Jewish martyers and their fellow servants and brethren were Jewish martyers who would die during the tribulation. He basis for saying they were Jewish martyers was the fact that the fifth seal was in the sixth chapter of revelation, but the rapture of the church had happened in the fourth chapter.
William Branham explained as follows:
Expand quote218 Now, for they, at this time, if you notice, this Fifth Seal being opened, see, the Church is gone. It just can’t be, the souls under the—the early Church. 219 Now, now, please, if you ever did give this attention now, ’cause this is a great controver-…controversy, so I want you to listen real close now. And you got your papers, and things to write with. Now, I want you to notice. 220 Now, these cannot be them souls. Because, the—the souls of the—of the righteous, martyred, and the righteous people, the Church, the Bride, has done been took up, so they wouldn’t be under the altar. They would be in Glory, with the Bride. Now watch. For, they are gone in the Rapture, in the 4th chapter of Revelation. They was taken up. 221 Now, who are these souls, then? That’s the next thing. Who are they, then, if they’re not the early Church? This is Israel that’s to be saved as a nation, all them that are predestinated. That’s Israel. That’s Israel, itself.
63-0322 – The Fifth Seal
On the following pages you will find the fifth seal as seen in The Book of Revelation, published in 1919 by Clareance Larkin. You will find they give the exact same essential interpretation of the seal.
Larkin taught the rapture occurred in the fourth chapter of Revelation as you will see on the next page.
Larkin also taught that souls under the altar were the souls of Jewish Martyrs.
William Branham and Clarence Larkin have the same essential interpretation of who the souls under the altar are and who their fellow servants and brethren are. William Branham and Larkin both use the exact same reasoning to explain how they know they are Jewish martyrs and not Christian martyrs. They both explain the rapture has already happened before the fifth seal, in the fourth chapter, so these souls could not be Christians who were part of the rapture. It is identical.
How did Clarence Larkin get the same essential revelation of the fifth seal in 1919 when it was hidden until 1963?
William Branham stated repeatedly that he spent significant time studying Larkin’s books. Here is an example of William Branham explaining the amount of time he spent studying these books when he preached the 70 Weeks of Daniel.
32 This has been a week of tremendous study. Yesterday, all day, I hardly moved from the room, trying to study. And it’s something in the last time, a many of the old-timers here, that I taught, I just said, “In here belongs the seventy weeks of Daniel,” but I did not try to attack it, to explain it. But this time, by the grace of God, I have taken upon myself to try to ask grace before God, that I might bring it to the people. And in here I’m finding things that I do not know one thing about. 33 And, then, I—I’ve been reading Dr. Larkin’s book, Dr. Smith’s book, Dr. Scofield’s notes, different commentaries from men everywhere…
61-0730M – Gabriel’s Instructions To Daniel
A picture of William Branham’s personal library is on the next page which includes a clear picture of Larkin’s books: The Book of Revelation and Dispensational Truth. This photo is from Only Believe magazine published by Rebecca Branham Smith when the library was being turned into a memorial after William Branham’s death.
We have overwhelming evidence that William Branham read and studied the books of Larkin and other men from whom he copied his sermons on the seals. Yet, William Branham goes on to make statements like the following when he preached the seals:
215 Now notice, now, in the 9th verse, “Souls under the altar.” Now, here is where I’m going to get some real disagreeings. But you just watch just a minute. And just…See? I thought that, too, but it didn’t come that way. We have…I have always thought that these souls under the altar were the—the—the martyrs of the early Church. And I’m sure that, well, Dr. Uriah Smith, and every one of them, says it is. See? But, I thought so, myself. But when the Holy Spirit showed the vision to it, it wasn’t.
63-0322 – The Fifth Seal
Conclusion on the Fifth Seal
William Branham misled his audience. Did “every one of them” say the souls under the altar were martyrs of the Christian church? No, and he knew they did not all say that. William Branham was dishonest during the sermon on the fifth seal. He knew that men were previously teaching the souls under the altar were Jewish martyrs. Why was he pretending he was teaching the people something never known before? Why was he pretending that he received this knowledge from Holy Spirit when he was clearly repeating what he read in one of his library books.
Examination of the Four Horse Riders
William Branham’s essential explanation of the first four seals are that the four horse riders represented four different stages of the spirit of Antichrist throughout church history and continuing until the tribulation. It is true that most teachers of bible prophecy believe the four horse riders represent events that will occur in the future. However, the early Jehovah’s Witnesses who followed the teachings of Charles Taze Russel taught essentially the same thing as William Branham. William Branham’s next-door neighbor, Banks Woods and his wife, were former Jehovah’s Witnesses. They shared many Jehovah’s Witness ideas and material with William Branham. William Branham is recorded on tape explaining that he had read the books of Charles Taze Russell. He even compared his sermons on the seals to Russel’s teachings on the same subject.
82 Now, I have many fine Jehovah Witness friends sitting here, that’s all…or have been. Maybe some of them is still Jehovah Witness. But they’ve always applied, Mr. Russell did, this hundred and forty-four thousand, to being the supernatural Bride of Christ. See? They…It’s not. 83 It has nothing to do in the church age, at all. They’re absolutely Israel.
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
William Branham used Clarence Larkin’s interpretation of the fifth and sixth seals. But he primarily used the essential elements of Charles Taze Russell’s interpretation for the other five seals. While William Branham gladly pointed out that he disagreed with Russel’s interpretation of the 144,000, he failed to explain to his listeners that he was heavily relying on Russell’s teachings for the seals. Why did he omit that fact? Russel’s teachings on the 144,000 are in the same chapter as his teachings on the seals. He read it all. When you compare Branham’s sermons to Russel’s teachings you discover William Branham is using the same essential interpretation of the horse riders as Russel.
Expand quote“A white-horse rider went out.” See? Who is he? He is mighty in his conquering power. He is a great fellow in his conquering power. You want me to tell you who he is? He is the antichrist. Exactly what he is. Now, because, you see, if an antichrist; Jesus said, that, “The two would be so close together until it would deceive the very Elected (the Bride) if it was possible.” Antichrist, it’s the antichrist spirit. 295 Remember, in the church ages, when we opened the first church age back there, we found out that the Holy Spirit was against a certain thing they got started in that church age, and that was called “the deeds of the Nicolaitanes.” You remember it? Nikao means “to conquer.” Laity means “the church,” the laity. Nico-laitane, “to conquer the laity.” “Take the Holy Spirit out of the church and give It all to one holy man. Let him be the boss of all of it.” You’ve went through it, see, Nicolaitane. Notice, Nicolaitane was “a—a saying,” in one church. It become “a doctrine,” in the next church age. And in the third church age, it was “a forcement,” and they had the Nicaea Council. And it was then made a—a doctrine in a church. And what was the first thing happened? An organization from it! Now, is that right?
63-0318 – The First Seal
Compare this to what Charles Taze Russel said in the 1918 book The Finished Mystery:
William Branham followed Russell’s pattern with the other horse riders. He described each horse rider as spirit of antichrist, personified in the papacy, changing its characteristics over time. For the second horse rider, the red horse, William Branham said the following.
284 The council was held, and they elected a head bishop. And then, by doing this, they united church and state together. Then, he dropped his bow. He got off his white horse. He got on his red horse, for he can kill anybody that don’t agree with him. There is your Seal. Same fellow! Watch him ride on into Eternity yonder, with it, see, unites both his powers together.
63-0319 – The Second Seal
Compare this again to what Charles Taze Russel taught concerning the second horse rider.
William Branham continued his pattern with the third horse rider, explaining that it was the evolving characteristics of the antichrist during the dark ages.
Expand quote273 Same rider, now. This first stage, he was innocent. And second, now, if you went a little bit higher, a little more than that; the second stage, the Bible said he’d be “given a crown.” And they crowned a man, a superman. See, crowned him! And, then, the Bible didn’t call him a pope. The Bible called him a “false prophet.” Why? Yeah. Of course, he must be a false prophet, by his antichrist spirit, that taught antichrist against the original Word. Cause, if he taught against the original Word, it was antichrist. It was. And the Word is God, see, Christ. All right. Now, after that, we find him then crowned. And when he got crowned, now, he’s very innocent and helpless. He’s just a little fellow. 274 But then in the Nicaea Council, he was made it, and Constantine give him all the property. And then what did he do? Then he, see, Satan, give him his throne and authority. The Bible said so, as we’ve went through it. 275 Now, the next thing we find out, that the devil controls all politics that ever has been or ever will be. We find that in Matthew 4:11. And now we find out, then, that Satan already had politics.
63-0320 – The Third Seal
Compare again to Charles Taze Russel’s explanation of the third horse rider, and we see William Branham is again copying Russel.
William Branham continued his explanation with the fourth horse rider, again explaining it is the spirit of Antichrist working through the Roman Catholic Church and personified by the pope.
152 Now, this fellow, we find out that he is riding on a pale horse. Pale! Oh, my! After, notice after… 153 “Sixty-eight million Protestants,” as we took from—from Schmucker’s Glorious Reform, of the—of the martyrology of Rome, last night. We find that, up to the 1500 mark, I believe it was, or eighteen-…I don’t remember exactly now. But it was sixty-eight million put to death, to protest the first Roman church, Rome. No wonder, he could impersonate himself in the personified name of…and called Death. He sure was. 154 Now, God only knows how many he caused to spiritually die, by his anti-Bible, -Word teaching! This is the one he put sixty-eight million to the sword, and killed them. And probably, literally, billions died spiritually, on his false teaching. No wonder he could take the name of Death!
63-0321 – The Fourth Seal
Compare again this final horse rider to the writing of Charles Taze Russel.
Conclusion on the Four Horse Riders
Clearly, we can see that William Branham copied Russel’s essential interpretation for explaining the four horse riders: it is the spirit of antichrist slowing changing through the ages. What William Branham preached on the horse riders was not new but was something that followed the pattern of men who came before him, and was primarily an adaptation of the teachings of Charles Taze Russel. William Branham liked to mix and match his ideas from multiple sources though. He incorporated Clarence Larkin’s and Uriah Smith’s2explanations of symbolism when describing the attributes of the horse riders, and he repeated a longstanding and often used explanation of the four beasts that was first recorded by Irenaeus. While this is a brief examination of the seals in this tract, we can assure you that every essential aspect of William’s Branham’s sermons on the first four seals can be found within the books in his library. For a detailed line by line analyses of his sermons on the seals you can access the book Investigating William Branham by Bryan Smalls.
Examination of the Sixth Seal
In his sermons on the seven seals, William Branham made multiple connections between the seals and the discourse of Jesus in Matthew 24. During his sermon on the sixth seal he made his most detailed comparison of Revelation 6 to Matthew 24. Here are the highlights of his comparisons. As you read his statements, compare what he is saying to excepts from The Book of Revelation by Clarence Larkin.
Expand quote143 Now, now let’s look at the 24th chapter of Saint Matthew, and Revelation 6, and compare the 24th chapter of Matthew. We all know that that was the chapter that every scholar, every person goes to, to—to talk about the Tribulation period. It comes out of the 24th chapter of Matthew. And now let’s…If that is so, now we…For, we know that this Sixth Seal is the judgment Seal. It’s the judgment Seal, exactly what It is.
157 Now watch. The First Seal is Revelation 6:1 and 2. Now we read 6:1 and 2. And—and I saw…the Lamb when he had opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it was the noise of a thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. 158 Who did we find this fellow was? [Congregation says, “Antichrist.”—Ed.] Antichrist. Matthew 24, now, 4 and 5. And Jesus answered and said unto them—unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 159 See it? Antichrist. There is your Seal. See? See? He spoke it here; and here they open a Seal, and here he was, just perfect. 160 Now the Second Seal, Matthew 24:6, Revelation 6:3 and 4.
63-0323 – The Sixth Seal
Expand quoteNow watch, Matthew 24:6. Now let me see what it says. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 161 All right, let’s take the Second Seal, Revelation 6:3 and… Two. Watch what He says now. And when he had opened the second seal, and I heard the second beast say, Come…see. And there went forth another horse that was red: and power was given unto him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword. 162 Perfectly, just exactly! Oh, I like to make the Scripture answer Itself. Don’t you? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] The Holy Spirit wrote It all, but He is able to reveal It.
163 Now let’s notice the Third Seal. Now, this is famine. Now, Matthew 24:7 and 8. Let’s get 7 and 8, in Matthew. And nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines,… pestilences, … earthquakes, in divers places. All these things are the beginning of sorrow. 164 See, you’re coming right on up now. Now, Revelation, in the 6th, now we’re going to open the Third Seal. It’s found in Revelation 6:5 and 6. And when he had opened the third seal, I—I beheld the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts saying, A measure…a penny…A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and…wine. 165 Famine! See, exactly the same Seal, same thing Jesus said. All right. 166 Fourth Seal, “pestilences” and “death.” Notice, Matthew 24. We’ll read the—the 8th verse, 7th and 8th, I believe it is, on this Fourth Seal, I got here. All right.
63-0323 – The Sixth Seal
Expand quoteMatthew 24:7 and 8. I’m sorry. Now, that opens up the rain, or, the famine, opens up the famine. All right. 173 Now, the “pestilences” and “death.” Yes, sir. Now we’re going to it, 7 and 8. Now, that would be the Fourth Seal. Let’s see where we get the Fourth Seal. “And when he had opened the Fourth—Fourth Seal…” Yeah, it’s the pale-horse rider, “Death,” see. And—and I looked, and behold a pale horse: and he… pale horse: and his name that sat on him was called Death, and Hell followed…him. And power was given unto him over the four-…parts of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. 174 Now, see, that was “Death.”
175 Now, the Fifth Seal, Matthew 24:9-13. Let’s see if I got this right, now, again. See? And then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you (there you are): and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And when… And then many shall betray…many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and…deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that…endure to the end, the same shall be saved. 176 Now, we’re on the Fifth Seal now. And that was last night, see. “They will deliver you up, betray one another,” and so forth. 177 Now watch here on the 6th, Seal, 6:9 to 11. Now let’s get that one, Revelation 6:9 to 11. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long,… Lord, holy…true, dost thou…judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Now, and white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren,…should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. 178 Now, you see, under the Fifth Seal, we find—we find here martyrdom. 179 And under the 24:9 over here, we…to 13, we find also that it was martyr. “They shall deliver you up, and kill you,” and so forth. See, the same Seal being opened.
180 Now, in the Sixth Seal, is the one we’re coming to now, Matthew 24:29 and 30. 24, and let’s get 29 and—and 30. Here we are. Now, now we’re going to get, also, Revelation 6:12 to 17. 181 That’s exactly what we just read. Now listen at this, now, what Jesus said in Matthew…:29, 24:29 and 30. Immediately after the tribulation of those days… 182 What? When the…this tribulation, this amateur tribulation they’ve went through here, see. …the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of…heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall be all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
183 Now, read over here in Revelation now, the—the Sixth Seal, the one we’re on right now. And…behold when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth (see?) of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she…shaken of a mighty wind. And the heavens departed as a scroll as it is rolled together; and every mountain and every island…moved out of their place. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondsman,…every free man, hid themselves in the dens…in the rocks of the mountain; And said unto the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath—wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come;…who shall be able to stand?
184 Just perfectly, turn right back over, see what Jesus said here now in Matthew 24:29. Listen. “After,” this Eichmann case, and so forth. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened,…the moon shall not—shall not give her light,…stars shall fall from heaven,…the powers of…heaven shall be shaken: Now watch. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and they shall see, and they…and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. And…send forth his angels, and so forth, and with a…sound of a trumpet, and…shall gather them together…the four winds,…strove together.
185 See, just exactly, comparing what Jesus said in Matthew 24, and what the revelator here opened up in the Sixth Seal, is just exactly.
63-0323 – The Sixth Seal
Conclusion of the Sixth Seal
William Branham gave the same essential interpretation of the sixth seal as Clarence Larkin. They both explained it to be the judgement of God carried out at the end of the world immediately preceding the return of Christ. Why did William Branham claim that this revelation was given to him through a supernatural experience? Is it just a coincidence that what God supernaturally revealed to him identically matches a book in his library that he made regular references to in other sermons?
Examination of the Seventh Seal
There is debate by followers of William Branham on whether he actually had the revelation of the seventh seal. He did preach a sermon on the subject, but at the time he claimed the interpretation of the seal was not divinely revealed to him. Interestingly, what he did say on the seventh seal was also copied from the writing of Charles Taze Russel.
Branham’s essential interpretation of the seventh seal was that its mystery was contained in the seven thunders and that it would be revealed through the angel is Revelation 10:7.
326 I’m only telling you what I seen and what has been told to me. And now you—you do whatever you want to. I don’t know who is going to…what’s going to take place. I do not know. I just know that those Seven Thunders holds that mystery. The Heavens was quiet. Everybody understand?
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
87 But we are promised, in the last day, that to return to the Church again, for the benefit of straightening up all that has been misled, missed, undone, left undone. For, it’s predicted here that the seventh angel’s Message would finish the mysteries of God.
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
It appears that William Branham was setting up the future revelation of the seventh seal and the seven thunders following the exact same pattern used by Charles Taze Russel.
Compare William Branham’s statements to Charles Taze Russel to see for yourself.
Charles Taze Russel went on to explain that a series of seven subjects he published between 1880 and 1910 were the seven thunders that fully revealed the mystery of God, which completed the unrolling of the seventh seal.
Conclusion of the Seventh Seal
It seems that William Branham was attempting to follow Russell’s pattern with some of the messages he was preaching in the last two years of his life, pointing to them as fulfillment of the mysteries.
72 I believe, that the full revelation through the age of Luther, Wesley, and John Smith, Alexander Campbell, and different ones that’s preached on the Bible, and then we got over in the Bible and showed that there would be a—a seventh angel’s Message. And at the sounding of the seventh angel’s Message, all the mysteries of God would be made known. Then come seven mysterious thunders.
63-0623M – Standing In The Gap
QUESTION: Have the Seven Thunders which equals seven mysteries already been revealed? Were they revealed in the Seven Seals, but are yet not known to us as the Thunders yet?
ANSWER: 78 No, they were revealed in the Seven Seals; that’s what the Thunders was about. They was to reveal…The Seven Thunders that had uttered their voices and no one could make out what it was…John knew what it was, but he was forbidden to write it. He said, “But the seventh angel, in the days of his sounding, the seven mysteries of the Seven Thunders would be revealed.” And the seventh angel is a messenger of the Seventh Church Age. See?
64-0830E – Questions And Answers #4
12 The seven mysteries, sevenfold mystery of the Bible, that’s been closed up since the foundation of the world, will be revealed. And we, yet a humble little group, compared with all the world, we’ve enjoyed these blessings, a hearing those mysteries. Marriage, divorce, serpent’s seed, all these different questions, has been completely revealed to us, not by man, but by God, Himself, that’s opened those seven mysteries.
65-0418M – It Is The Rising Of The Sun
Final Conclusion
29 Now I want to make this real clear. Every time, every time that these Seals has come to the place; everything that I ever believed on Them, and has read of other people, has been contrary to what come to me in the room.
63-0324E – The Seventh Seal
The preceding statement has deceived millions. William Branham preached the same essential revelation of the seals as men who preceded him. And he knew it. Did the Holy Spirit cause William Branham to mislead his audience? If he would mislead his audience concerning the most important sermons of his ministry, how can we trust he was not misleading his audiences in other sermons?
If other ministers had an essentially correct interpretation of the seals before William Branham was even born, how can we say the revelation of the seals were opened through his ministry?
Sources
- Article in PDF: btspublicdocs.s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/Where+Did+The+Revelation+Of+The+Seals+Come+From.pdf
- Clarence Larkin, The Book of Revelation: docs.williambranham.eu/Books-Ksiazki/Clarence_Larkin-The_Book_of_Revelation_1919.pdf
- Charles Taze Russell, The Finished Mystery: docs.williambranham.eu/Books-Ksiazki/Charles_Russell-The_Finished_Mystery_1918.pdf
Footnotes
- Bryan Smalls: Investigating William Branham: The Unfolding Story of Plagiarisms and Errors – available on amazon.com/dp/1096076187
- Uriah Smith (1832 – 1903) – one of the early leaders of Adventism
