Does Isaac Noriega Believe The Message? – Turning Corners

In this article, we examine how Pastor Isaac Noriega employs his “revelations” to exert influence and control over the congregation at Golden Dawn Tabernacle. He achieves this by selectively using teachings from Rev. William Branham and asserting that he possesses unique knowledge and insights into spiritual mysteries. While we do not endorse or discredit any specific teachings of the message, we observe a concerning pattern of Isaac cherry-picking aspects of the teachings to enhance his authority or suggest a deeper spiritual connection to himself and his ministry. As highlighted in our previous posts, Isaac leverages his sermons to foster division, isolation, and control. In this post, we aim to briefly investigate how he manipulates certain aspects of the message to serve his agenda and, ultimately, how the congregation is affected by his actions.

Discounting Certain WMB Quotes

Rev Willam Branham was known for his preaching and alleged prophetic abilities, and had an active ministry with recorded sermons available from 1947-1965. He is particularly recognized for his interpretation of the Seven Seals, which he believed to be a prophetic revelation of the end times. Delivered in a series of sermons in 1963, these teachings were later compiled into a book and can be found at table.branham.org. William Branham maintained that each seal in the Book of Revelation represented a significant event or period in human history, with the seventh seal signifying the second coming of Jesus Christ. He claimed that this interpretation was revealed to him through a divine vision and that the opening of the seventh seal would result in great turmoil and tribulation, with only the truly faithful surviving. He also believed that the interpretation of the Seven Seals was a mystery that had been hidden from humanity for centuries, but that God had revealed it to him through a supernatural experience.

Due to the importance of the Seven Seals, Isaac asserts that Rev. William Branham did not possess the complete revelation from God until the seals were disclosed to him. Consequently, he insinuates that some of Branham’s teachings prior to the Seven Seals sermons can be disregarded as they lacked full revelation. This provides a convenient excuse to dismiss sermons from before 1963. Although Isaac may not explicitly state this, he implies it by citing out-of-context quotes. He refers to a quote by Branham that suggests his teachings “turned a corner” and gained more “revelation” over time as he progressed through revelations like the Church Ages and Seven Seals. As a result, Isaac prioritizes these later teachings over earlier ones. Isaac claims that Branham initially catered to various needs during the early stages of his ministry (the first and second pull), but eventually focused exclusively on the teachings required for the bride (third pull) as it “narrowed” towards the capstone. While he doesn’t explicitly mention the seals as a cut-off point, Isaac alludes to this by saying, “Brother Branham’s ministry turned the corner,” and emphasizing that we are in the third pull.

Below is a cited WMB quote used by Isaac Noriega:

65-0124 – “Birth Pains”
Rev. William Marrion Branham
Source: table.branham.org

112 We’re not building a wall, like we start off with Luther’s message, go right down a straight line, or a Pentecostal message. Right. We are turning a corners. We’re building a building. God’s Word is the blueprint. Anybody can run a straight line, but it takes a mason to turn the corner. It takes the power of God to do that. It takes an anointed one from Heaven, to be sent down to do that. It has, in every age. And in the prophets’ age, the Word of the Lord comes through those prophets, and they turn those corners, made those difference. But the builders wanted to build a wall. It’s not a wall, at all, it’s a building, a building of God.

How Isaac Noriega Uses “Revelation“ To Control the GDT Congregation

William Branham’s teachings, particularly his interpretations of the Seven Seals and other mysteries, have significantly influenced Isaac Noriega’s worldview and the sermons he delivers to the Golden Dawn Tabernacle (GDT) congregation. Isaac focuses on the enigmatic nature of the seals, emphasizing their importance in deciphering end-time events and identifying the special Elect Bride. He leverages the mystique surrounding the seals to assert that he alone possesses this revelation and that the congregation needs the same understanding to be saved.

Below is an excerpt of a sermon that Isaac Noriega preached on the seven seals. Note how many times he uses the words “Revelation”, “Revealed” “Mysteries”, and “The Word”, etc. Also, note how much time he spends reading cherry picked WMB quotes. The vast majority of his sermons are in this format.

Isaac frequently uses the terms “Revelation” and “The Word” in a veiled manner to insinuate that those who disagree or do not conform to his teachings lack this vital insight. He insinuates that all hell is against these insights, so only those in complete agreement with him (he will use the term “the ministry”) have the true revelation or are truly following the word. By instilling fear in those he deems to lack revelation and not be part of the true Elect Bride, Isaac coerces them to comply with his directives. Consequently, they pretend to understand his teachings in hopes of being perceived as part of the Bride. This results in the ever-changing revelations of GDT and Isaac Noriega, which are not firmly rooted in scripture or the message.

A young man seeking to attend college was discouraged by a highly respected church member, who argued against pursuing higher education. When the young man inquired why Isaac Noriega’s children were allowed to attend high school and college, the highly respected church member claimed that they now have greater revelation than before, justifying their previous educational pursuits while discouraging others from doing the same. Isaac employs a similar argument to prohibit youth from participating in sports and other activities he opposes.

Additional examples of these ever-evolving revelations include the new courting system, an unexpected disdain for scarves, the dissolution of elections in favor of a theocracy (contradicting established church order), the introduction of a new doctrine regarding spiritual headship for widows, and all of the controlling and abusive church rules.

The audacity, hypocrisy and inconsistency of this so called revelation-based reasoning appears remarkably deranged and illogical, only making sense when viewed through the lens of indoctrination.

Isaac Noriega’s Ministry and Authority On Biblical Interpretation

Isaac’s ministry advocates that they are the sole authority capable of interpreting the Word of God, claiming that private interpretations of the Bible are not valid. They base this assertion on 2 Peter 1:20, which states, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” However, examining the context of this verse challenges this viewpoint.

When looking at the verses preceding and following 2 Peter 1:20, we see that Peter refers to the Bible as “a more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19) and encourages believers to heed its teachings like a light in the darkness. This implies that the Bible is meant to be understood. Peter then clarifies that prophecies in the scripture are not based on the authors’ private interpretation or will, but rather were written by holy men who were inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). This context suggests that the verse is not about readers’ interpretations, but rather about how the Holy Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible.

Isaac’s ministry’s claim that they alone can interpret the Bible contradicts the idea that the Bible is accessible and understandable to all. By discouraging individuals from engaging in their own study and interpretation, they may be limiting the spiritual growth and understanding of their followers. As Psalm 119:130 states, “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” This verse encourages individuals to read and understand the Bible for themselves, rather than relying solely on a single ministry or authority for interpretation.

Conclusion

Isaac seems to want the best of both worlds when it comes to the message. He frequently relies on quotes, to the point where some argue that he hardly preaches anymore, instead reading a continuous stream of spliced quotes and out-of-context scriptures accompanied by irate commentary. When confronted with scripture or quotes that challenge his positions and doctrines, Isaac quickly becomes defensive, asserting his spiritual credentials and revelation. As a result, he occasionally dismisses sermons and quotes from William Branham that were delivered prior to the Seven Seals sermons, contending that Branham lacked the appropriate revelation before the Seventh Seal was unveiled. Although this rationale might seem insincere to many, Isaac regularly employs this approach when faced with teachings from Branham that contradict his own beliefs. We argue that this behavior suggests Isaac may not genuinely adhere to the Message, but rather selectively utilizes William Branham’s teachings to advance his agenda of manipulation and control within the Golden Dawn Tabernacle congregation that is significantly more extreme and controlling than what William Branham taught.

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