Part 3b: 1960 – Rev Ch. 1-3 (The 7 Church Ages)

Bro William Branham under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit preached a series of sermons titled, The Seven Church Ages, in which he expounded various doctrines and truths that had been almost forgotten. This series was preached in 1960 and he continued in 1961 with Rev. Ch. 4. Bro Branham teaches that the 7 Church Ages of Apocalypse that run from Ch. 1 to 3, though they had typified the earlier churches located in Asia Minor, they also had a prophetic extension of being the actual historical development of the Apostolic Christian Church. The revelation thus puts the 7 Church Ages as a Prophetic Utterance of things that were to happen in the future. It was taught that not even Paul or the Apostles knew that the Church of Christ would go through 7 historical periods. But according to the Revelation given to Bro Branham by God Himself, the Church, it was revealed, had gone through 7 historical ages up to the present. Another important revelation was that each Church age had an angel-messenger, a man of God, a leader of that age. The Lord Jesus revealed to Bro Branham the actual names of those messengers, and the dates that each of those ages corresponded to. Thus, this great Revelation of the 7 Church Ages and the 7 Stars of Revelation is one of the most major prophetic revelations of our time. Christians from many denominations have disagreed with this prophetic vision. But William Branham’s teachings have been vindicated throughout his life by the signs and wonders of Mark 16. (-MORE-)

Besides the identification of the names of these angel-messengers, which by itself is quite an astounding proclamation along with the specific dates that the Church had to go through, there are various fundamental truths that I would like to approach and that many times have been highly misinterpreted by some in the ministry. These fundamental aspects that are dealt with in The Seven Church Ages are: 1) the dark and white areas of the church ages, 2) the Pentecostal Experience as the Key, 3) the deeds and doctrines of Nicolaitans, and doctrines of Balaam, 4) the unity of God and the name of Jesus Christ, 5) the composite Church as both Jewish and Gentile, 6) the 9 Gifts of the Spirit and 5 Fold Ministry, 7) the Rapture of the Church and the Great Tribulation. Other doctrines will not be included in this discussion since they have been clearly understood by all as fundamental tenets of Christianity: holiness, Holy Ghost baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and others.

--- Serafin Roldan-Santiago

Part 3: 1960 – Rev Ch. 1-3 (The 7 Church Ages)

William Marrion Branham was born on April 6, 1909 in Burkesville, Kentucky, as he says " in a little mountain cabin." At the time of birth a mysterious Light entered the lowly cabin and into the room where the child laid. In later years the Lord visited the young child many times, speaking to him in supernatural ways, as for example, through a whirlwind and an audible Voice. The young child was told "never drink, smoke, or defile your body in any way." The Voice had indicated that "there'll be a work for you to do when you get older." William was converted in 1928, and shortly thereafter began to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was subsequently ordained into the ministry by the Missionary Baptist Church. In later years he preferred that his ministry be interdenominational. In 1933 and while baptizing in water some converts, the Pillar of Fire descended publicly and uttered, "as John the Baptist was sent forth to forerun the first coming of Christ, I send you with a Message to the world to forerun the second coming of Christ." Thirteen years later in 1946, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and gave him two supernatural signs that would follow a Divine Healing ministry. Signs and wonders followed that initial revival and many people were converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thousands were healed of incurable diseases, even death and cancer were rebuked. In Bro Branham's ministry there were seven registered resurrections from the dead and hundreds of cases of cancer that were miraculously healed. The culmination of his ministry came about in 1963 when seven Angels appeared in a constellation above the skies of Arizona, and the Lord revealed to Bro Branham the mysteries of the Seven Seals of Apocalypse. This revelation along with the revelation of the Seven Church Ages (preached in 1960) opened up the book of Apocalypse (or Revelations) and its Mysteries in a way never before imagined. It thus fulfilled the Scriptures of Mal 4:5 and Rev Ch 10: 1-7. We firmly believe that William Marrion Branham was God's major prophet for this age, and brought the Message that would take the Bride-Church back to the Apostolic Doctrines and the Full Expression of the Holy Ghost, and would prepare her for the Glorious Rapture of the Saints. (----MORE----)


Bro William Branham's sermons began to be taped in 1947, shortly after the Angel commissioned him. But the bulk of his Messages in terms of major doctrines that were preached and taught can be said to run from 1959-1965, even though some believers insist that the "Hebrews" series preached in 1957 is of fundamental importance. Nonetheless, it is in 1959 that Bro Branham preaches such timely messages as: "Possessing the Enemy's Gates," "The New Ministry," "A Prophet like Unto Moses," "A Super Sign," and "Faith is the Sixth Sense." It is also important to mention that from 1946 until his death in 1965, supernatural signs and miracles were always present, as for example, the resurrection of a little fish in 1957, the creation of squirrels in 1959, and the rebuking of a storm in Colorado in 1964. But the most important work for Bro Branham began in 1959-60 when he began the series of The Seven Church Ages in which the Lord revealed to him the secret symbols contained in the book of Revelations Ch 1-3. Part 3 of these "Branham Notes" will discuss the major doctrines revealed in this series which Bro Branham preached in 1960.

[continuation as Part 3b ; Serafin Roldan-Santiago]