Brother Branham was a blessed man of God and a prophet. At the age of seven, he was told the following, coming from a whirlwind that fiercely shook the leaves in the crown of a poplar tree: “Don’t drink or smoke or defile your body in any way; there’ll be a work for you to do when you get older.” On May 7, 1946, he was visited by an angel, who entered his room in a supernatural light and said unto him, “Do not fear. I’m sent from the Presence of God… As Moses was given two signs to vindicate his ministry, so you are given two signs…” In the unique ministry of Brother Branham, we see repeated what took place at the time of our Lord through the prophetic gift of discernment. Brother Branham especially referred to the examples with Peter and Nathanael in Jn 1:40-51 as well as the event with the woman at the well in chap. 4. He also frequently made reference to Jn 5:19 when he prayed for the sick: “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do …” In visions he saw things pertaining to the persons who came through the prayer line. In his meetings in Germany and in the USA, I became an eye and ear witness of this extraordinary ministry. Three times, namely in 1955 in Karlsruhe, in 1958 in Dallas, and in 1962 in Jeffersonville, he personally told me things which had been revealed to him.

He, who during the 33 years saw in visions what was ailing the person standing before him in the prayer line; he, who in many meetings prayed for thousands of people who were often healed on the spot; he, through whom the revival began after the Second World War, at a time when nobody had yet heard of Billy Graham or Oral Roberts; he, who said more than 1,650 times, “Thus saith the Lord!” – and each time it was Thus saith the Lord, was taken home unexpectedly at the age of 56 after a tragic car accident.

On December 18, 1965, Brother Branham set off in his Ford Station Wagon on the over 2,500-km-long journey from Tucson, Arizona, to Jeffersonville, Indiana. He had made notes for a four-hour sermon about “The Trail of the Serpent,” which he wanted to preach in his home church in Jeffersonville. Near the city of Amarillo, Texas, while having a conversation with Sister Branham – his daughter Sarah was sitting in the back seat – he missed the exit and had to make a short detour. His son Billy Paul, who was driving ahead of them with his family and also had his brother Joseph in the car, waited for his father past the exit. Then Brother Branham followed Billy Paul again. Near Friona, Texas, a car suddenly crossed the median with high speed and hit Brother Branham’s car head-on. The seventeen-year-old intoxicated driver and his front-seat passenger were killed instantly. Brother Branham was severely injured, as was Sister Branham. His daughter Sarah sustained serious contusions. On December 24, 1965, Brother Branham succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Sister Branham and Sarah survived.

For the family and the believers of the end-time message, it was a great shock. They all asked, “Why did this happen?” After all, Brother Branham had said only four weeks prior on November 27, 1965, twice in a row, “I’m not going to die. I’ll ride this trail again.”

Why did God allow this to happen? All of us have asked ourselves the question at some point in our lives: “Why did God allow this or that to happen?” We can go back to Paradise and ask, “Why did the Lord God Who walked in the Garden of Eden allow Satan to beguile Eve?” Especially the Jews can ask, “Why did God allow the Holocaust?” Why? Why? It could be asked again and again.

God also allowed that John the Baptist was torn out of life in an incomprehensible way, namely by beheading (Mat 14:1-12). His ministry had most certainly been completed. Prophets are people just like us and must die as humans in spite of a divine calling in the Plan of Salvation (Heb 11:32-40). Brother Branham’s ministry had also been concluded; otherwise, God would not have called him home.

As I have mentioned in the past, I did not yet know what had taken place at that time, but I saw Brother Branham in a vision on the evening of December 24, 1965, as he was taken up into glory on a cloud, dressed in a suit and leaning forward.

For whomever may find this strange, let it be said that the risen Redeemer was also taken into glory on a cloud: “… he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9).

The two prophets of Rev 11 likewise will be taken into glory on a cloud after their ministry is completed and they are killed: “… And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” (v. 12).

And, at the rapture, we also will be taken into glory on clouds: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air …” (1 Ths 4:17).

Brother Branham was a blessed man of God and a prophet. At the age of seven, he was told the following, coming from a whirlwind that fiercely shook the leaves in the crown of a poplar tree: “Don’t drink or smoke or defile your body in any way; there’ll be a work for you to do when you get older.” On May 7, 1946, he was visited by an angel, who entered his room in a supernatural light and said unto him, “Do not fear. I’m sent from the Presence of God… As Moses was given two signs to vindicate his ministry, so you are given two signs…” In the unique ministry of Brother Branham, we see repeated what took place at the time of our Lord through the prophetic gift of discernment. Brother Branham especially referred to the examples with Peter and Nathanael in Jn 1:40-51 as well as the event with the woman at the well in chap. 4. He also frequently made reference to Jn 5:19 when he prayed for the sick: “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do …” In visions he saw things pertaining to the persons who came through the prayer line. In his meetings in Germany and in the USA, I became an eye and ear witness of this extraordinary ministry. Three times, namely in 1955 in Karlsruhe, in 1958 in Dallas, and in 1962 in Jeffersonville, he personally told me things which had been revealed to him.

He, who during the 33 years saw in visions what was ailing the person standing before him in the prayer line; he, who in many meetings prayed for thousands of people who were often healed on the spot; he, through whom the revival began after the Second World War, at a time when nobody had yet heard of Billy Graham or Oral Roberts; he, who said more than 1,650 times, “Thus saith the Lord!” – and each time it was Thus saith the Lord, was taken home unexpectedly at the age of 56 after a tragic car accident.

On December 18, 1965, Brother Branham set off in his Ford Station Wagon on the over 2,500-km-long journey from Tucson, Arizona, to Jeffersonville, Indiana. He had made notes for a four-hour sermon about “The Trail of the Serpent,” which he wanted to preach in his home church in Jeffersonville. Near the city of Amarillo, Texas, while having a conversation with Sister Branham – his daughter Sarah was sitting in the back seat – he missed the exit and had to make a short detour. His son Billy Paul, who was driving ahead of them with his family and also had his brother Joseph in the car, waited for his father past the exit. Then Brother Branham followed Billy Paul again. Near Friona, Texas, a car suddenly crossed the median with high speed and hit Brother Branham’s car head-on. The seventeen-year-old intoxicated driver and his front-seat passenger were killed instantly. Brother Branham was severely injured, as was Sister Branham. His daughter Sarah sustained serious contusions. On December 24, 1965, Brother Branham succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Sister Branham and Sarah survived.

For the family and the believers of the end-time message, it was a great shock. They all asked, “Why did this happen?” After all, Brother Branham had said only four weeks prior on November 27, 1965, twice in a row, “I’m not going to die. I’ll ride this trail again.”

Why did God allow this to happen? All of us have asked ourselves the question at some point in our lives: “Why did God allow this or that to happen?” We can go back to Paradise and ask, “Why did the Lord God Who walked in the Garden of Eden allow Satan to beguile Eve?” Especially the Jews can ask, “Why did God allow the Holocaust?” Why? Why? It could be asked again and again.

God also allowed that John the Baptist was torn out of life in an incomprehensible way, namely by beheading (Mat 14:1-12). His ministry had most certainly been completed. Prophets are people just like us and must die as humans in spite of a divine calling in the Plan of Salvation (Heb 11:32-40). Brother Branham’s ministry had also been concluded; otherwise, God would not have called him home.

As I have mentioned in the past, I did not yet know what had taken place at that time, but I saw Brother Branham in a vision on the evening of December 24, 1965, as he was taken up into glory on a cloud, dressed in a suit and leaning forward.

For whomever may find this strange, let it be said that the risen Redeemer was also taken into glory on a cloud: “… he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9).

The two prophets of Rev 11 likewise will be taken into glory on a cloud after their ministry is completed and they are killed: “… And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” (v. 12).

And, at the rapture, we also will be taken into glory on clouds: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air …” (1 Ths 4:17).