William Branham's Military Police

The word “deacon” found in the New Testament is derived from a Greek word meaning “servant”, “waiting-man”, “minister”, or “messenger”. In simple terms, it would mean “religious servant”, with emphasis on the “servant”. It was used throughout the Bible to describe both men and women. Phoebe, for instance, is mentioned in Romans 16:1–2 as a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. Most Christian churches continue the tradition, with both men and women offering their services to the church as helpful servants.

In the hierarchy of a destructive religious cult, however, this role is typically given authority. Deacons are usually second-in-command, and at minimum are at a tier in the pyramid of authoritarian control above the rank-and-file members. Rather than "servants" who are "waiting on others", deacons in destructive cults become enforcers. William Branham's "Message" cult used the “enforcer” strategy and William Branham defined the role of his enforcers by comparing them to military police. Branham said the role was “more strict than most any office in the church”, and held “authority” instead of servitude.

The military-style execution of church services in some sects of the "Message" has led to severe consequences for members. Members of "the Park" commune led by Leo Mercier and Gene Goad were brutally punished for their "sins". Torture chambers were set up in Colonia Dignidad, and small children were brutally beaten. Robert Gumbura used the military structure of his sect to infiltrate banking systems while sexually assaulting members of his congregation.

“Deacons” in the “Message” cult bear no resemblance to deacons in Christianity.

You can learn this and more on william-branham.org.