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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:

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John and Charles discuss the global spread of William Branham’s message following his death, tracing its expansion through missionary efforts in the late 1960s and 1970s. They highlight how the movement initially targeted pre-existing religious networks, such as independent Apostolic and Pentecostal churches, before spreading further into regions like the Caribbean, South America, and Africa. The discussion delves into the key figures involved in this expansion, including Robert Lambert, who established churches in the Caribbean, and Perry Green, who played a significant role in Venezuela. The conversation also touches on the role of the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship in financing missionary work and the presence of various controversies surrounding those involved, including allegations of fraud and criminal activity.

As the message spread, it took on different forms, particularly in regions where Branham himself never visited. In places like India, Brazil, and the Philippines, local leaders adapted the message to fit their unique contexts, sometimes leading to extreme beliefs, such as outright worship of Branham. Charles and John highlight how misinformation and deception played a role in maintaining the movement, with leaders knowingly spreading embellished or false narratives about Branham’s life and prophecies. They discuss how the movement quickly transitioned from being led by those who had met Branham to being populated by people who only knew him through secondhand accounts, reinforcing the mythology surrounding him. This process of myth-making, they argue, ultimately turned the movement into something far removed from its original claims, shaping it into a belief system built more on legend than on historical truth.