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The book of Revelation holds the mystery through prophecy of the Christian Church since the time of Christ. In the book of Revelation, an Angel spoke to John about seven churches, listing their positive and negative attributes.
William Branham taught that an Angel spoke to him and revealed that each of these churches represents a different period in the history of Christianity, each with a special messenger to the church of that day.
However, the reality is that William Branham took his teaching on the church ages directly from that of Clarence Larkin, who wrote a book on the book of Revelation that dealt with Book of Revelation. To see exactly what William Branham plagiarized from Clarence Larkin, please click on this link.
Big WMB mistake
Paul was martyred in approx. 73AD. John (in the book of Rev) was told (according to WMB) to write to each "church age messenger". The problem with this, is John was on the Isle of Patmos around 95AD, so Paul had been dead for over 20 years. WMB has John writing to a dead guy.....
The Message to the Seven Churches
- ...What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
- And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
- The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.
- Revelation 1:11-20
Jesus in the Candlesticks
William Branham taught that by walking in the midst of the golden candlesticks, Jesus is demonstrating that he will be God to each of the pure Christian churches, and will not change (Hebrews 13:8). He identifies himself by different attributes in each of these ages, but he is still the same God, the Alpha and Omega, and everything in between.
| Age
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Scripture
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Text
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| Ephesus
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Rev 2:1b
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These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
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| Smyrna
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Rev 2:8b
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These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
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| Pergamos
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Rev 2:12b
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These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
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| Thyatira
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Rev 2:18b
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These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
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| Sardis
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Rev 3:1b
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These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars;
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| Philadelphia
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Rev 3:7b
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These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
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| Laodicea
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Rev 3:14b
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These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
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The Works Of The Ages
William Branham taught that the works of the ages is the same work that began on the day of Pentecost: declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with supernatural signs following. That Jesus specifically comments on works signifies its importance, not for salvation, but for 'His name's sake' - the testimony of Jesus Christ. Every age except Sardis and Laodicea received a positive report on their works: Sardis for a corrupt testimony, and Laodica for inaction.
| Age
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Scripture
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Text
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| Ephesus
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Rev 2:2,3
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I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
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| Smyrna
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Rev 2:9a
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I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich )
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| Pergamos
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Rev 2:13
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I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
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| Thyatira
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Rev 2:19,23c
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I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first... and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
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| Sardis
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Rev 3:1b,2b
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I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead…for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
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| Philadelphia
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Rev 3:8
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I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
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| Laodicea
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Rev 3:15a
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I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:
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An Overview of the Ages
William Branham taught that Christianity in the first century was dominated by Jewish converts, while Christianity in the second and later centuries has been dominated by Gentile converts. As Christianity was Hellenized, Greek philosophy and Roman religion slowly began to influence doctrine and lifestyles. Pagan religion (a belief in more than one God) offically merged with Biblical Christianity (a belief in One God) in 325 AD at the council of Nicea, when select bishops confirmed the doctrine of the Trinity with Emperor Constantine, joining Church and State. Just as Eve had been beguiled by the serpent, Christianity exchanged its innocence for power.
William Branham taught that despite Satan's influence, there has been an independant, Bible-believing church in each century. Due to heavy persecution and martyrdom of millions of Christians, coupled with the removal of the Bible from the common people (most Catholic services were in Latin, which common people could not read or understand) much of the evidence of Biblical Christianity and the doctrines of Biblical Christianity were lost.
The following chart shows the development and persecution of Christianity from the time of Jesus until today, as taught by William Branham. The previously pagan Roman empire, which persecuted the true Christian church, became the Catholic or papal Roman empire in 325 AD and has continued to persecute the true Christian church ever since.
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