Editing the Prophetic: How William Branham Controlled the Record

To keep different versions of his public stage persona distinct from the persona used to cultivate his cult following, William Branham made deliberate use of technology. His pulpit was wired with multiple switches and microphone inputs that he could control while speaking. Some switches controlled lighting intended to create "supernatural" effects, while others paused or resumed audio recordings. As late as 2011, some of these switches were still in place, including a switch that activated a spotlight above the platform, raising questions about certain reported instances of "supernatural lights." The switch used to stop and start the tape recording was relocated during Branham's lifetime.

And I thought this thing here controlled those tapes, but it doesn’t, see. And this is a—a desk light. And I thought the tape controller used to be here. But I was told to just make motion to the brethren in the—in the room there, the recording room, and they would know when to stop tapes, and when not. See, the tapes has a worldwide ministry everywhere, see, everywhere. It goes into all kind of languages and everything. So there is things that we’d say right here, we wouldn’t say somewhere else, you see, and that’s the reason that we stop it.[1]

In addition to pausing recordings during live services, magnetic tape was also physically edited through splicing and replacement. Specific "prophecies," doctrines, and other statements were omitted from recordings released to the public. In some cases, these omissions were replaced with alternative recordings Branham made privately.

Brother Branham did not want this original recording released. The next day, Monday, March 25th, 1963, Brother Branham went to the motel room of Brother Fred Sothmann and Brother James Maguire who were at that time in charge of making the tapes. Brother Branham told these brothers, “I don’t want this message sent out the way it is.” After listening to the tape himself, he instructed the brothers to stop the tape at a certain point, and at that point (beginning of paragraph number 261) recorded a new portion of approximately twenty minutes in length (paragraph 377-415). This new portion was then used in place of the original ending (paragraph 261-375).[2]

There were also occasions when the public recording was paused while individual recorders continued to capture what Branham described as "prophecy." One recurring example involves later edits to statements in which he claimed a prophetic role in the "saving" of Israel prior to his death.

Now, tonight we’ll get what those things are, and see how close we are to there. And then next Sunday, bring in and place these time elements exactly where we’re standing. I love Him. Israel returning to their homeland, Israel. Let me just say this now while…I guess it’s off of tape. Let me say this. The very hour that Israel become a nation…The reason I’ve always believed, ’fore my class here, that there was something that I’d have a part, before I die, of getting Israel back to the Lord. Because, when the very hour, by the Pan American chart, that Israel was declared a nation, for the first time for two thousand years since they been scattered, not a people; it was that very same hour, exactly to the hour, that the Angel of the Lord met me up yonder and sent me to the…with the Gospel. The very same thing, May the 7th, 1946.[3]

Branham's prophecies were frequently altered between versions of his stage persona and, in his own words, "brought up to date." In 1960, he announced plans to revise what later became known as his "1933 Prophecies" while reading from a document dated 1932. According to Branham, Leo Mercier "and many of them" were going to "revise them a little."

I'd like to read you a prophecy that was given. I got on…And may…By the way, Mr. Mercier and many of them are going to take some of these old prophecies, and dig them out, and revise them a little, or bring them up to date, and put them in papers. I'd like to read some things that I'd like for you to—to…This one, first. I'd like to read something to you.  '1932.' Listen to this. 'As I was on my way, or as I was getting ready to go on my way to church this morning, it came to pass that I fell into a vision. Our services is being held on Meigs Avenue, at the old orphan's home where Charlie Kern lives in part of the building.' He lives just across the street now, you know. 'And it came to pass, that, while I was in this vision, I seen some dreadful things take place. I speak this in the Name of the Lord.[4]