Customer Reviews

THE HEALER-PROPHET (Three Indispensible Studies of American Evangelicalism)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This review is written for those who are seeking the truth about William Branham and his Ministry. Although he has already passed on, you can still get copies of his sermons(including early life story) in both printed text and audio cassette. There is no better way to find out about him and what he believed than to hear him preach. I personally don't think you'll find another person with that much love for people, nor as humble, outside of our Lord Jesus Christ. The last time I checked the printed texts were available for free. Like Phillip said to Nathaniel when Nathaniel said" Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" He replied" Come and See." That's really the only way to find out, and it could be the most important decision you make. It was for Nathaniel. The address for his sermons as well as a few other books about him is as follows: The Voice of God Recordings, Inc.,P.O. Box 950, Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131. I also highly recommend a three series book entitled "Supernatural: The Life of William Branham" by Owen Jorgensen.

C. Douglas Weaver, coming from an admitted antipathetic theological background, manages to make minimum allowance for his bias when studying Brother Branham's ministry. He seems to be stumped (as Dr. Harrell is not) by the amazing popularity and widespread Pentecostal acceptance of Brother Branham's early years and so falls back continually on two arguments both provably false: 1) Brother Branham CANNOT POSSIBLY have proclaimed his personal prophetic role and his unique doctrines in the early years (1946-53) and - if the reader is not persuaded - the exact opposite, viz.:) 2) Brother Branham pointed to HIMSELF too much ("if you believe ME to be God's prophet ...." and made his impact by developing a personality cult. You can't have it both ways CDW! This book reflects a viewpoint common in the circles who financed and drew benefit from Brother Branham's campaigns, namely, that he supposedly "went off the rails" later in his life. This line was useful to those who acquired new converts by pointing them to Brother Branham's uniquely supernatural ministry, but then secured them for their own camp by ridiculing the doctrine of Brother Branham, because he was uneducated and theologically untrained. If these were good grounds for the rejection of his doctrine, the same ones would have to reject Jesus and 90% of the biblical prophets for the same reason. I only give this book 1 star because the least I would expect of a supposedly sholarly book is historical NEUTRALITY.

I started reading this book that Mr. Weaver wrote and found that this man clearly had no spiritual understanding regarding the ministry of God's prophet for this age. This man was vindicated as God's prophet by the works that God had used him for like raising the dead and healing the sick. Mr. Weaver is a very educated man as surmised by his knowledge of the worldly wisdom that he seems to possess but when it comes to knowing anything about the spirit of God this man is lost as the Bible says that God hid his secrets from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes such as would learn. Mr.Weaver fills this to a "T" the prucency of Mr. Weaver clearly shows that he has no spiritual wisdom whatsoever. Remember the word of God says that they took notice of them that Peter and John were ignorant and unlearned, but marveled because they had been with Jesus. Brother Branham may have not had an extensive education but this man was clearly used of God. Men that have high education tend to reason things out concerning God as they use their knowledge of the world and try to make sense of the things of God, an unlearned man is more likely to accept the word of God as truth than an educated man is, But Satan will use any little subtle thing to try to sway the true believers from believing the truth. Mr Weaver had no spiritual revelation as to the truth of the gospel.Brother Branham's ministry is summed up by this reader as a true man of God and any man who would say otherwise is driven by nothing more than plain jealousy, I would not recommend this book as it is offensive and defamatory to one of Gods prophets

I believe the tone of the book was negative towards Mr. Branham. While the facts were mostly accurate, the author seemed to expound heavely on the negative of Mr. Branham's ministry without fully appreciating the positive of his work. The author seemed to give at minimum a paragraph or two attempting to explain negative portions of Mr. Branham's ministry or life while dedicating a single sentence to scientifically unexplainable miracles (One such miracle was the healing of a U.S. Congressman who had been crippled since he was a child). I believe overall the author may have captured some of the historical information on the man, but he never came close to capturing the spirit of the man. If you can read this book understanding that the author did a dismal job at capturing Mr. Branham's life while not fully stating the historical facts accurately, you will find there is some good historical information that can be obtained by reading this book on the life and ministry of William Branham.

C. Douglas Weaver sums up his attitude towards his subject by saying "Branham was the victim of his own illusions" (p173).
No attempt is made to investigate the reported miracles or the accuracy of the gift of discernment.
The worst feature I found was in ascribing motivations to William Branham from his (Weaver's) own imagination. For example, he states quite bluntly that William Branham's "revelations" were an attempt to revive his flagging popularity.
The book lacks objectivity and is a disguised attempt to discredit and undermine the ministry of William Branham.
C D Weaver's sugar coating that William Branham was a sincere, humble person and a man of great influence do not conceal his bias that William Branham represents the "danger of fanaticism" (p171)
If you "google" the name of the author and "William Branham" you will find a copy of the book online at google books. I suggest you peruse the Conclusion (p165ff) before you consider purchasing this book.

Finally somebody had the courage to write about the greatest prophet of the twentieth century, unknown to many and despised by those who were once his followers. Great book. One I will have on my shelf, for sure.

If you have ever looked into reading material on the late William M. Branham, you will not be frustrated. What might raise your ire is the lack of material without an apologetic interest: the writer is usually a disciple or a former follower.

While he may preach no longer, the legacy William Branham still provokes two responses: adulation or revulsion. As the other reviewers show, Branham's words still have the power to spark.

Weaver's analysis does several important things:
1) Contextualizes Branham within American Pentecostalism: As one other reviewer shows, followers may bristle at any claims that make Branham into a historical type (Pentecostal, Healer, etc.). But such analysis is crucial to understand Branham's claims and the culture from which he arises.
2) Traces developments within Branham's teachings: Branham's tenuous relationship to the mainstream accounts for an increasingly eccentric body of teachings. Weaver shows how changes in culture, economics, and demographics led (in part) to Branham's increasingly apocalyptic visions, his late aspersions towards denominations, and a legion of would-be successors.
3) Analyzes Branham's doctrines: Branham's mix of Baptist, Oneness, Pentecostal theology, not to mention his unique teachings regarding the "serpent seed" and "third pull", are evaluated within a broader Christian framework.

This book nicely fills a chasm between extremes. While critical of Branham's ministry, this is certainly no hatchet job. Weaver has little vested interest in destroying Branham's character. On the contrary, Weaver is generous, emphasizing Branham's personal humility, his passion, and his personal holiness.

We must seriously consider these two thoughts [in regards to this book]. First, this age will have ONE Prophet-Messenger. Revelation 10:7, says, "When he (singular) shall begin to sound." There has never been an age where God gave His people two major prophets at one time. He gave Enoch (alone); He gave Noah (alone); He gave Moses (he alone had the Word though others prophesied); John the Baptist came ALONE. Now in this last day there is to be a PROPHET (not a prophetess--though in this age there are more women purporting to give God's revelation than men), and the infallible Word says that he (the prophet) will reveal the mysteries to the end time people, and turn the hearts of the children back to the fathers. There are those who say that God's people are going to come together through a collective revelation. I challenge that statement. It is a bald, invalid assumption in the face of Revelation 10:7. Now I do not deny that people will prophesy in this last age and their ministries can and will be correct. I do not deny that there will be prophets even as in the days of Paul when there was "one Agabus a prophet who prophesied of a famine". I agree that is so. BUT I DENY UPON THE INFALLIBLE EVIDENCE OF THE WORD THAT THERE IS MORE THAN ONE MAJOR PROPHET-MESSENGER WHO WILL REVEAL THE MYSTERIES AS CONTAINED IN THE WORD, AND WHO HAS THE MINISTRY TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN TO THE FATHERS. "Thus saith the Lord" by His unfailing Word stands, and shall stand and be vindicated. There is one prophet-messenger to this age. On the basis of human behavior alone, anyone knows that where there are many people there is even divided opinion on lesser points of a major doctrine which they all hold together. Who then will have the power of infallibility which is to be restored in this last age, for this last age is going to go back to manifesting the Pure Word Bride? That means we will have the Word once again as it was perfectly given, and perfectly understood in the days of Paul. I will tell you who will have it. It will be a prophet as thoroughly vindicated, or even more thoroughly vindicated than was any prophet in all the ages from Enoch to this day, because this man will of necessity have the capstone prophetic ministry, and God will shew him forth. He won't need to speak for himself, God will speak for him by the voice of the sign. Amen. [Church Age Book]

May God richly bless you all.
So glad that my brethren are standing up for the Truth of this glorious Message of the Hour!
Although, i must give some credit to amazon.com for allowing several truthful reports of our humble yet mighty Prophet Brother William M. Branham. i pray God will bless them for it.
i was even surprised to see that the SUPERNATURAL series was on here. Praise God for that.
He has also allowed me to have a little ministry to help spread the Gospel of our Day. Please visit and post your comments...
Bible Truths For Believers http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bibletruths_forbelievers/
Thank you again and may the Lord bless you.
Sincerely, and in His' Love,
Brother Shane

Reading this book was bitter-sweet. Sweet in that there are not that many books on Branham and this book gives an excellent historical account of his ministry. The book is bitter in that, although the end of Branham's ministry was tragic in that he fell into doctrinal error, even the beginning of this prophet's ministry in "The Healer Prophet.."is portrayed with a skeptical, almost negative twist to it. This is Weaver's Ph.D. dissertation from a traditional, non-charasmatic seminary - which "may" account for the sometimes negative tone when the writer describes Branham's use of spiritual gifts. Never-the-less, Weaver's historical account is very good and informative. Even though the book has a few quirks, I still highly recommend this book if you want information on one of God's major prophets that was used powerfully during the Divine Healing movement.