I am very impressed with Mr. Wasler’s coverage of the Message on WHAS11. It could easily have been a sensationalist piece, focused on the “horrible exploits of the Branhamite cult.” Instead, it was a balanced and accurate portrayal of a large segment of the Message population. Not all Message believers accept the doctrine of Branham’s resurrection. My church did not, nor did the churches we associated with on the East Coast, although we knew a few couples who did. One couple actually left our church over the relative lack of attention we gave to the prophet as a person.
It was validating to see the actual video clips of Branham talking about women. Two years ago, I wrote “Hello, Miss Dog-Meat” as a response to one of the quotes features in the video. I’m glad that the editors decided to let Branham condemn himself with his opinions on women rather than risking Message censure by paraphrasing them. I’m sure they will still argue that the quotes are “taken out of context” somehow, as if there’s a possible context in which they are not egregiously anti-women. (“Some women” is still “women,” y’all.)
Mike’s experience resonates with me and with the ex-Message friends who watched the video with me. The isolation from “the mark of the beast” (ordinary people), the assertions of Branham’s prophecies being true against all proof, the insistence that Branham is “just a messenger” while collecting and reproducing relics from his life… that’s all completely accurate.
I was astounded to hear that Voice of God Recordings has a net worth of nearly $110 million. One of the most vehement arguments Message believers make against the accusation that Branham was a fraud is that he never made any substantial money from it. (I wonder now, how much money did his “staff” make?) This blows that claim out of the water. When I was in church as a teenager, I was told that Voice of God Recordings took a loss to make the books and tapes and that they only charged for shipping. They claimed to be an absolutely non-profit ministry, mailing materials all over the world while meeting printing costs through the pockets of their own staff and unsolicited donations from believers. Without that cred, there is literally nothing left to separate the Message from organizations like the 700 Club and Benny Hinn except doctrine.
All in all, I’m excited to see the Message subjected to fair, dedicated research and presented in a way that allows Message believers to make their own points while demonstrating exactly what is going on behind the scenes. Well done, WHAS11!
The Phoenix and Olive Branch 
http://branham.org/20120519_LocalNewsArticle
This is a great letter in response to a an unfair report by WHAS11. Bro Joseph and Brother Billy have been continuing great works to feed the people who follow the message of the late Rev. Wm Branham. So true is the statement about the word of GOD never grows old. That s exactly what this is all about…the preaching of the word of GOD…people don;t want to hear it…it cuts like a knife. That’s why only few people follow it..its truth!!!
Actually, two million people follow it despite the fact that it’s cruel, legalistic and false. That’s the remarkable thing.
Also, the Bible doesn’t say the Word of God cuts like a knife. It says this:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:12-13
The whole quote talks about God’s omniscience and how his word is able to discern between the closest things (soul and spirit, joints and marrow, etc.). It doesn’t mean that it’s painful, it means that it’s precise. Branham cherrypicked the “sharper than any twoedged sword” bit to justify his own cruelty.
I bet you won’t post it will you?
Go on, bait me some more. One of the reasons I left the Message was because believers always assume the worst of people.
i believers this message is the word for lord for the hour
if you would look closely at Voice of God’s tax returns, you would see that 110 million has not been the norm for them, only have they recorded that sum in 2010. They have maintained a net worth of around 8-10 million the last couple years before that. From what I know a single donor bestowed a large sum of investments (around 100 million) of their own free will. Other than that, 10 million seems quite modest to me, seeing how much they own in terms of land buildings and equipment around the world. They have rules to follow to maintain non-profit status, did you not realize? The government would be all over them if they weren’t.