Branham - light doctrine

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

William Sowders and the Gospel Assembly Church believed in a doctrine that distinguishes between two classes of saved people in the New Jerusalem:

1. _The Bride of Christ_: This group consists of the most spiritually mature and enlightened believers, who have achieved a higher level of spiritual perfection and intimacy with God. They are seen as the "Bride" of Christ, destined for a special role in the New Jerusalem.
2. _The Guests or Friends of the Bridegroom_: This group comprises believers who are saved but have not attained the same level of spiritual maturity as the Bride. They are still part of the New Jerusalem but have a lesser role and status compared to the Bride.

This belief is rooted in their interpretation of biblical passages like Revelation 19:7-9, Matthew 22:1-14, and John 3:29. They saw themselves as the Bride of Christ, called to a higher spiritual standard and destined for a unique role in the end times.

This two-class system is a distinctive feature of the Gospel Assembly Church's teachings and is related to their emphasis on spiritual perfection, progressive revelation, and the importance of direct spiritual experience.

The information provided about William Sowders and the Gospel Assembly Church's beliefs comes from various sources, including:

1. _Books and articles by William Sowders and other church leaders_
2. _Church publications and newsletters_
3. _Online archives and historical records_
4. _Research papers and theses on Pentecostal and Charismatic movements_
5. _Websites and forums discussing the Gospel Assembly Church and its teachings_

Some specific sources include:

- "The Gospel Assembly Church: A Study of Its History and Doctrine" by James R. Goff Jr. (1988)
- "The Light Doctrine: A Critical Examination" by D.R. McConnell (1989)
- "William Sowders and the Gospel Assembly Church" by C. Douglas Weaver (2000)
- "Pentecostalism and the Gospel Assembly Church" by Vinson Synan (2001)
- Online archives of the Gospel Assembly Church's publications, such as "The Gospel Messenger" and "The Prophetic Voice"

Please note that some of these sources may be hard to find or access, as they are academic or historical materials.

Yes, and I believe that their "second class" or "Friends of the Bridegroom" are made up of Gospel Assembly people that aren't top-tier in their holiness. I do believe they view non-Gospel Assembly folks as lost altogether.