Derek Prince, Branham, and the Spirit of Deception | Revival History | Charles Paisley | Episode 424

John and Charles discuss the excitement surrounding their Q&A format, contrasting it with William Branham’s staged “question and answer” sermons that often advanced hidden agendas. They explain how real questions from their listeners differ from Branham’s scripted ones, and they set boundaries around sensitive topics like the disappearance of Sarah Branham. Much of the conversation centers on Derek Prince, his work with Branham, and his influence on the Shepherding Movement. They emphasize how Prince’s teachings about Christians having both good and evil spirits twisted scripture and opened doors to abuse. The hosts also connect these issues to the rise of authoritarian leadership structures in the Fivefold Ministry model, showing how such frameworks often evolve into cult-like systems.

They further explore how Branham’s influence extended into movements like the Shepherding Movement, the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), and the spread of worship music through Vineyard, Bethel, and Hillsong. The discussion highlights how entertainment models, from tent revivals to contemporary worship, became tools for church growth while often minimizing the biblical message. They also address the Toronto Blessing and Wimber’s struggles with excesses in the Vineyard movement, showing how blurred boundaries between biblical authority and spectacle produced long-term problems. Throughout, John and Charles stress the importance of recovering erased histories, noting how sympathetic historians often whitewash Branham’s role in the second wave of Pentecostalism. They close by reflecting on their research process, recommending scholarly sources, and reaffirming their goal of documenting hidden or neglected history so future generations can learn from past mistakes.

00:00 Introduction
00:31 Legendary Q&A Sessions and Their Problems
04:46 Sensitive Topics and Boundaries
05:16 Derek Prince’s Work With Branham
07:06 Good Spirit, Evil Spirit, and Biblical Contradictions
08:33 Fivefold Ministry and Authoritarian Models
12:31 Twisting Scripture for Financial Gain
16:45 Misreading of Ephesians and Leadership Claims
17:45 Shepherding Movement and Its Roots
21:01 Prince’s Continued Influence After 1980
23:45 Testimony of Abuse Under Shepherding Ideology
26:03 A Different Gospel and Twisted Foundations
28:02 Mixing Truth With Harmful Ideas
32:24 Excuses and Slippery Leadership
32:31 Worship Music, Entertainment, and Church Growth
36:43 From Tent Revivals to Institutionalized Worship
40:05 Toronto Blessing and Vineyard Separation
43:04 Covering Up the Latter Rain Movement
44:34 Scholarship on Branham’s Influence
47:33 John Wimber’s Pastoral Letters
50:04 Research Sources and Recommended Reading
52:56 Why Documenting Erased History Matters
55:01 Closing Remarks______________________
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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