

40 Years in a Cult: An Interview with a Former Member
Oct 3, 2025
Rod Bergen, a former follower of the William Branham movement and author of Under the Halo, shares his enlightening journey of leaving a cult. He recounts the moral crisis that fueled his doubts, including confronting hidden abuses within his community. The discussion dives into how Branham's teachings elevated himself above scripture and the extensive research that led Rod to question supernatural claims. With practical advice, he offers insights on gently engaging loved ones involved in similar groups, emphasizing compassion and understanding.
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Early Religious Background
- Rod grew up in a Oneness Pentecostal church and later encountered William Branham influences through friends' tapes.
- His family did not originally join Branhamism and his father objected to doctrines like serpent seed.
Branham As The Last-Age Messenger
- Message followers call themselves the "message of the hour" and see Branham as the last-age messenger to Laodicea.
- They interpret Revelation's church ages as sequential messengers culminating in Branham's role.
The Municipal Bridge Vision Story
- Branham told a childhood vision of a bridge where 16 men drowned and claimed it later came to pass.
- That story was used to establish his prophetic identity among followers.