John and John McKinnon discuss how William Branham’s interpretation of the seventy disciples diverged from the biblical timeline and meaning, using it to explain away declining popularity in his ministry. They trace how Branham misrepresented Scripture, particularly conflating John 6’s “falling away” with Luke 10’s commissioning of the seventy, despite the events being separated by multiple milestones in the Gospels. This distortion, they argue, was used to frame followers leaving as spiritually deficient, reinforcing cult control. They also connect Branham’s teaching to his broader pattern of self-promotion, doctrinal exclusivity, and fear-based manipulation, which laid groundwork for later movements like the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR).
They highlight how this flawed foundation enabled later leaders to combine out-of-context verses with claimed personal revelations, producing a “new gospel” that justified personal agendas. The conversation links Branham’s methods to the political and theological aims of the NAR, including the Seven Mountain Mandate. Both hosts emphasize the danger of building doctrines on misused Scripture, noting that such distortions have reached into politics, church leadership models, and modern charismatic movements, leaving Christians unaware their beliefs may rest on non-biblical foundations.
00:00 Introduction
01:21 The Seventy Disciples in Branham’s Doctrine
02:44 Twisting Scripture for Authority
05:46 Supernatural Claims and Exaggerations
07:25 Cult Dynamics and Control
10:02 The Struggle to Maintain Influence
12:26 Branham’s Lack of Biblical Understanding
20:14 Retaliation Against Pentecostal Critics
22:02 Timeline of the Gospels vs. Branham’s Misuse
25:20 The Cult Control Mechanism of “Us vs. Them”
27:28 Feeding of the 5,000 as a Timeline Marker
29:04 Defection of Disciples in John 6
31:28 Commissioning of the Seventy in Luke 10
33:10 Names Written in Heaven vs. Branham’s Twist
35:10 The Roller Coaster Analogy: False Foundations
37:02 Fear of Losing One’s Name from the Book of Life
42:14 Creation of a “New Gospel”
45:02 Building Authoritarian Structures
47:01 Priming Followers for the “Elijah Leader”
50:06 From Branhamism to Political Dominion
52:08 Roots of the Seven Mountain Mandate
54:39 Covering Up Doctrinal Histories
55:23 The Critical Question: Is This Really Christianity?
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Weaponized Religion: From Christian Identity to the NAR:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1735160962
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCGGZX3K
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