Chapter 8 - Remarkable Incidents Preceding Angel's Visit

The time was now drawing near when God was to reveal Himself to William Branham in a manner that would not only radically affect his own ministry, but the result of it was to have a profound effect upon the Christian world. It would be a sign that would be spoken against by some, but to other multiplied thousands it would be a cause of praise and thanksgiving to God, and to some it was to provide an inspiration that would cause a hundred-fold increase in their ministry.

We have already noted a number of things which preceded the visitation of the angel to William Branham, and there are others that would be of singular interest to record, though time and space permit us to mention but a few of them. Some others are related in the visions recorded in the latter part of this book. However, one incident that occurred was of such an unusual nature, and because mention has been made of it by Brother Branham on occasions, we shall take note of it at this time. It is a notable fact in the Biblical narrative that while ecclesiastical leaders have been notoriously slow to recognize those who have been specially commissioned of God, demons oddly enough have often given this recognition without delay. The first miracle involved in the ministry of Christ, as recorded in the book of Mark, concerns an odd testimony, coming as it does from an evil spirit. Jesus had returned to the City of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to those of his home town. The people of that city, however, far from recognizing the identity of the remarkable Person Who was in their midst, strongly resented His apparent change of vocation from a carpenter to that of a prophet. But the recognition that they withheld, was quickly acknowledged by the demon that possessed the man who was in their synagogue, and who cried out in the presence of Christ, "I know thee who thou art, thou Holy One of God.' Similarly, the legion of demons in the maniac of Gadara, as He drew near, cried with a loud voice, "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou son of the Most High God?"

Again the Apostle Paul, as he began his missionary work in Europe, in the City of Philippi, instead of being accorded a prophet's welcome, was taken by rough hands and thrust into the inner stocks of a prison. But the spirit of divination in a little girl was quick to discern who Paul and Silas were, and it cried out saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God, which show unto us the way of salvation."

It is not surprising then that the gift which had been destined for the ministry of William Branham, should be recognized by spirits of divination even before he fully understood the purpose of the gift himself. On one occasion as he passed by an astrologist, the woman upon seeing him, motioned him to come over to her, as she wished to speak to him. When he came near she said, "Say, do you know that you were born under a sign and have a gift from God?" Other experiences of such a nature occurred and disturbed him for a time, but later he understood. As neither Christ nor Paul accepted nor valued the testimony of demons, and rather commanded them to hold their peace, so Brother Branham, of course, does not endorse in any sense the so-called pseudo sciences of astrology or fortune-telling of any kind, even though on occasions their testimony confirms the gift of God. The Lord has plenty of ways of substantiating and vindicating the ministries of his servants without depending on the evidence given by demons. And, of course, the Scriptures speak strictly against the children of God consulting such sources. (Isa. 47:13-14)

Elsewhere we have mentioned that after his conversion, Brother Branham became a Baptist preacher, was ordained by Dr. Roy Davis of Jeffersonville, and entered into an active ministry in that city. At the close of a great tent meeting, he was baptizing a large number of candidates in the Ohio River, amid throngs of people who had gathered on the banks to watch the service. There were about 130 people to be baptized and it was a hot June day. As Brother Branham was about to baptize the seventeenth person, he heard a still small voice which said, "Look up." Three times the words were repeated. He looked up and there from the sky appeared a bright star. After a few seconds had passed, the people looked up and many of the people saw the star also. Some fainted and others shouted and still others ran away. Then the star apparently was withdrawn back into the sky. The incident created such an interest that an account of it appeared in the local newspaper.

At another time Brother Branham was in a large city for three nights of services. The first one to be prayed for was a small child, whose feet had been drawn up by polio, causing him to have to walk on his toes. Suddenly it seemed as if a bright light had been turned on him. Wondering at the rudeness of the custodian in turning the spotlight on him, he opened his eyes, and lo, a star of light stood before him. Recalling this incident he says, "I dropped the little boy or either he jumped from my arms... I did not know what happened, for it seemed that every nerve in my body was paralyzed. As he hit the floor his feet became normal, and for the first time in his life he walked naturally off the platform. Other remarkable things happened, and many people gave their hearts to Christ that night."

Similar events from time to time occurred in the life of William Branham. For a season he had failed to obey the call of God to go forward in this ministry of deliverance. Then there came that dark period of his life which we have recorded when he lost his wife and child, and sorrow was added upon sorrow. At last, however, he reached the place where he determined that his life would be wholly surrendered to God, and that he would do whatever God wanted him to do. It was then that the most remarkable visitation of his life occurred, when the angel in person visited him and gave him a solemn commission from the Most High. The story of this climaxing experience will be told in the following chapter by Brother Branham himself.