Billy Graham dies: What was his real legacy?

Billy Graham, 1966

Billy Graham has died:

February 20, 2018

Billy Graham, the American Christian evangelist who preached to millions around the world, has died at the age of 99.

The evangelical leader prayed with and counseled the most powerful and well-known figures of the late twentieth century, including every U.S. president from Harry Truman to Barack Obama.

Graham was a charismatic leader, religion experts say, one of the few U.S. evangelists able to avoid the religious right and appeal to mainstream America. https://www.voanews.com/a/american-christian-evangelist-billy-graham-dies/4263825.html

Billy Graham has passed away at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, a family spokesperson confirms.

The religious leader, known to millions around the world, died at the age of 99. … Over the years, Graham softened his delivery, but he never changed the gospel’s message. …

Health problems began limiting Graham’s international ministry in the early 1990’s. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. In 1995, he collapsed during a speaking engagement in Toronto. Graham’s final crusade was held in New York in 2005. https://www.voanews.com/a/american-christian-evangelist-billy-graham-dies/4263825.html

While Billy Graham seemed sincere, he did not preach nor understand the true gospel (see what is the Gospel? as well as the free online book The Gospel of the Kingdom of God).

Plus, he did change.

Billy Graham was probably the most well known Protestant preacher to compromise with the Church of Rome.

Notice the following about Billy Graham’s group:

Roman Catholic Bishop David Zubik of the archdiocese of Pittsburg gave the opening prayer at Franklin Graham’s Three Rivers Festival of Hope on Aug. 15th at the Consol Energy Center. During the bishop’s prayer he implied Protestants and Catholics are all part of the same church. This type of ecumenical unity with the apostate Roman Catholic Church is a continuation of the unbiblical practice his dad started in the 1960’s. Catholics who responded to Graham’s invitation to make a decision for Christ were given the opportunity to go to Epiphany Church – a Catholic Church, across the street from the festival, for the sacrament of reconciliation. (Gendron M. Catholic Bishop Prays at Graham Crusade. Proclaiming the Gospel, e-newsletter, September 2014)

According to E. Bynum, Billy Graham in 1948 taught against Catholicism, but he later changed his mind:

In 1948, Graham said, “The three gravest menaces faced by orthodox Christianity are communism, Roman Catholicism, and Mohammedanism,” NOW, he is continually saying nice things about the Catholics. In 1963 Dr. Graham spoke at Belmont Abbey College, a North Carolina Catholic school. On Nov. 21, 1967, he returned to Belmont Abbey to receive an honorary degree. At that time he made a shocking statement. He said, that he “knew of no greater honor” than the receiving of this degree. Then the shocker comes when he said, “The gospel that built this school and the gospel that brings me here tonight is still the way to salvation”…

A disturbed Roman Catholic wrote Graham about some of the changes going on in the Catholic Church. In his answer, Graham wrote, “Above all, don’t pull out of the church! Stay in it, stay close to the Lord, and use these experiences as an opportunity to help your church be what God intends and what the world needs.” What an answer for a Baptist preacher to give. This was published in his newspaper column, “My Answer”.

Billy Graham says: “Anyone who makes a decision at our meetings is referred to a local clergyman, Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish.” (1957) Roman Catholic Cardinal Cushing said: “I am 100% for the evangelist . . . I have never known a religious crusade that was more effective than Dr. Graham’s. I have never heard the slightest criticism of anything he has ever said from any Catholic source.” (1964) In 1963 Billy Graham said that he had a Roman Catholic bishop stand beside him and bless the “converts” as they came forward in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (

Bynum EL. Why We Cannot Support The Billy Graham Crusade. Tract # G-603. TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH, Lubbock, Texas)

Perhaps I should add that the falsely labeled magazine “Christianity Today” had a piece about Billy Graham that I read years ago where Billy Graham was explaining that he had become more supportive of the Church of Rome.

The fact is that Billy Graham was not willing to step out and defend his original faith, let alone the true faith of the Bible. He, and others, signaled changes within the Protestant world.

For example, notice what the 19th century Scottish religious historian and Presbyterian minister, James Aitken Wylie, most famous for writing The History of Protestantism, wrote:

The Apostle John, speaking of the great apostasy to arise in Christendom, calls it the “Antichrist.” And the Pope has taken to himself, as the name that best describes his office, the title “Vicar of Christ.” All we shall ask as the basis of our argument are these two accepted facts, namely, that John styles the “apostasy,” “the Antichrist,” and that the head of the Roman system styles himself “Christ’s Vicar.”

The Papacy holds in its name the key of its meaning. We shall make use of that key in unlocking its mystery and true character. The Papacy cannot complain though we adopt this line of interpretation. We do nothing more than use the key it has put into our hands.

The Apostle John, we have said, speaking of the apostasy, the coming of which he predicts, styles it the “Antichrist.” And we have also said that the Papacy, speaking through its representative and head, calls itself the “Vicar of Christ.” The first, “Antichrist,” is a Greek word, the second, “Vicar,” is an English word; but the two are in reality one, for both words have the same meaning. Antichrist translated into English is Vice- Christ, or Vicar of Christ; and Vicar of Christ, rendered into Greek is Antichrist — Antichristos. If we can establish this, and the ordinary use of the word by those to whom the Greek was a vernacular, is decisive on the point — we shall have no difficulty in showing that this is the meaning of the word “Antichrist,” — even a Vice-Christ. And if so, then every time the Pope claims to be the Vicar of Christ, he pleads at the bar of the world that he is the “Antichrist.

(Wylie J.A. The Papacy is the Antichrist, A Demonstration. Chapter 1. Edinburgh, 1888.)

Yet, now many Protestants no longer believe doctrines like that.

Of course, the Continuing Church of God is NOT Protestant (see Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differs from most Protestants) as we trace our history back to the original apostles and do not hold many doctrines that the Protestants kept from the Church of Rome as opposed to the Bible (see Continuing History of the Church of God). And I believe that those who truly wish to follow the cry of sola Scriptura will be led by God to support us (see also Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible?).

But Billy Graham did not.

Compromises with the Catholics of Rome clearly will help the Beast (see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation) and the False prophet (Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666) as they rise up (most likely in the next decade, see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).

Billy Graham was a leader in the compromise–and that is his real legacy.

Others have, sadly, followed his lead.

People need to be grounded in the Christianity of the Bible and not the compromised versions that the majority of those who profess Christ follow.

Few people realize how fast the ecumenical movement is moving now.

Yet, because of biblical prophecies, this has been expected.

Having been to Rome many times, I have noticed an inscription, that is shown in numerous places, on the outside of St. John’s Lateran church in Rome:

(Photo by Joyce Thiel)

The inscription from Latin above, translated into English means, “Sacred Lateran Church Mother and Head of All Churches of the City and the World.”

That suggests a commonality–one that Billy Graham essentially accepted. Notice the following biblical warning against a worldly “mother” church associated with seven-hills:

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement…

9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. (Revelation 17:1-6, 9)

There are many warnings about Roman Catholicism and ecumenism in the Bible.

The Bible clearly warns against the final Babylonian system which the ecumenical movement is trying to form:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast…
6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (Revelation 13:6-9)

3 And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

9 Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:3-6, 9, 18).

2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”

4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:2-5)

That is the system that the ecumenical movement is trying to prop up. This is the system that Billy Graham, unwittingly, endorsed.

In the future, that movement will also be propped up through economic intimidation and terror (Revelation 13:15-17), as well as signs and lying wonders that will deceive all but the very elect who have the love of the truth:

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:24-25)

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

While there have been many signs and lying wonders throughout history, the time will come when they will become even worse (2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12). The world will be deceived (Revelation 12:9, Mark 13:22).

The time to stand up for the truth is now and not to wait until the signs and lying wonders appear–they will be very persuasive. Those who wait too late to truly live like a real Christian will be deceived by what is going to come (Matthew 24:24).

Since Billy Graham claimed to preach the Bible, he should have known better. Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction!

Some items of related interest may include:

Ecumenism and the ride of the White Horse of the Apocalypse Instead of a celebration of a separation from Rome, many celebrated the 500 anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 theses as an ecumenical time to come together. Vatican, Eastern Orthodox, and and Protestant leaders made positive comments about the 500th anniversary. When does the Bible teach Christian unity is to come about? Is the ecumenical movement good or, instead consistent with something that Jesus warned about? Are Christians to come out of spiritual Babylon and be separate? Has the first seal of Revelation 6, related to the rider on the white horse of the Apocalypse, begun? Had it began before the 21st century? Are there several events that show that this seal may have been opened in September 2009? Or have we at least seen signs consistent with the ride of the white horse of religious deception and ecumenism since that time? What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church teach about other religions like Islam? What does it teach about the final Antichrist? Is the rider of the white horse either the final Antichrist or doing work consistent with the final Antichrist? This is a video.
Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, did Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority? Statements from him changing and/or discounting 18 books of the Bible are included. Do you really want to know the truth?
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