Voice of Healing Movement of the 1950’s…

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

The entire signs and wonders movement today, led by people who claim apostolic (or prophetic), authority can be summed up with one verse of Scripture.

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:13 ESV)

The leaders in New Apostolic Movement (NAR) today and those who have come before them in the same vein, are all “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” Though they may ultimately believe their own disguise, they are no less culpable and responsible for causing people to fall away from truth to embrace the lies they peddle. Of course, Paul points out that Satan is an angel of light (v. 14), and naturally, his (human) servants use disguises to hide the truth about themselves.

Previously, we highlighted the New Order of Latter Rain and we also included a very brief look at the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 in that same article. Let’s now learn about a movement that was big in the 1950’s and gave birth to others like the main person who started it; Voice of Healing Movement (VOHM).

For all intents and purposes, the biggest name in the VOHM was William Branham. He was a minister within Pentecostalism where a variety of signs and wonders encircled him wherever he preached. In fact, Branham was known for his “pillar of fire” that would at times rest on above him, on a shoulder, or move around the crowd in which he ministered. Branham put great stock in his “angel” who he said was always with him. It wasn’t necessarily God that worked through Branham, but his angel.

It is so unfortunate that within the prophetic signs and wonders movement, there is so much doctrinal error and it persists today. What is even more tragic is the fact that the error is so routinely accepted as truth by so many. People are sheep, easily following one person or another without much thought. It is due to one fact and one fact only: the teachings presented come with signs and wonders. Instead of using the Bible to corroborate whatever is being taught to them, people willingly accept the teaching as though from God based solely on the presence of signs and wonders. How easy is Satan’s job where some are concerned?

Yet, reading through the Bible (something I highly recommend, not just once, but on an ongoing basis!), we learn that Satan is a very powerful supernatural being. His intellect alone far exceeds that of the smartest human being. He exists in the spiritual realm, unseen by human eyes, though he can affect what occurs in this realm (Job 1). He does what normal human beings cannot do and he has the advantageous cloak of invisibility that works in his favor remarkably well.

When Satan masquerades as an angel of light, he does so for only two purposes. First, it is an attempt to imitate of God (Isaiah 14). Second, it has a great chance to overcome people with deception (2 Corinthians 11:14).

C. S. Lewis basically said, Satan’s greatest trick is making people think he doesn’t exist. For the Christian, Satan’s greatest trick is causing Christians to think what he produces is actually from God. It’s exceedingly easy for Satan to do this too, because so many Christians are biblically illiterate. Is it any wonder that people like Branham gain tremendous numbers of followers?

Branham started out as a Pentecostal Baptist, a group that emphasizes the baptism of the Holy Spirit after conversion, and is usually evidenced by speaking in tongues. He later switched over to Oneness Pentecostalism, which is what T. D. Jakes is, the guy whom Steven Furtick introduced to his congregation(s) as one of the greatest preachers of this generation. Oneness Pentecostalism is modalism, in that it denies the Trinity. Succinctly, they believe that there is one God as one Person, who at times is the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit.

Because of that belief alone, Branham became a full-fledged heretic, just like T. D. Jakes and others who deny a very essential part of God’s character. Because human beings have no capacity to fully appreciate or understand the doctrine of the Trinity does not provide a good enough reason to deny it anymore than the person who cannot believe in God chooses atheism in denying God’s existence.

Unfortunately for Branham, his whole life seemed to be peppered with instances of the supernatural from the start, so he has said. He claimed at his birth, he saw a light come down upon him. In another instance, he allegedly heard a voice from a tree at the age of three telling him where he would live, which he said came to pass. These could all be embellishments or outright lies. On the other hand, he could’ve seriously believed they happened and maybe they did, but their occurrence does not prove that they were from God simply because they happened. It’s far more likely that it was Satan or one of his angels simply trying to get Branham used to hearing a particular voice that he would eventually come to believe was God.

God does not speak to us this way today. There is no need for it. You should reject anything that comes to you like this. Reject it. Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Since we have the full canon of God’s Word – the Bible – (and the indwelling Holy Spirit’s enablement) we do not need anything more to know what God would have us know about Himself and what He desires and expects from and for us. God leads us in ways that do not include voices. He acts upon and uses circumstances. He opens and closes doors. He does not turn His children into mind readers or clairvoyants, or people who “hear” voices. This is what Satan does to those he attempts to ensnare because it makes them feel powerful and spiritual.  Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective