The Branch
Who We Are
The Branch – The Ensign is a small group of Bible students committed to searching the Scriptures, understanding biblical prophecy and sharing what we believe to be present truth for our time.
We are baptised Seventh-day Adventists. Our faith is deeply rooted in the biblical heritage of Adventism: the authority of Scripture, the seventh-day Sabbath, the prophetic Word, the ministry and return of Jesus Christ, and the expectation that God is preparing a people for the establishment of His everlasting kingdom.
At the same time, sincere study has led us to conclusions on some subjects that differ from positions commonly held within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We do not believe that denominational affiliation removes the individual Christian's responsibility to examine Scripture personally. Nor do we ask others to accept our conclusions merely because we present them.
Our invitation is the biblical one: search the Scriptures and determine whether these things are so.
Searching the Scriptures
Bible study lies at the heart of our work.
We believe that the prophecies of Scripture were not given merely so that later generations could look backwards and recognise fulfilled history. Prophecy also prepares God's people for events still ahead.
For that reason, our studies give particular attention to biblical prophecy, the sanctuary, the commandments and statutes of God, the appointed times, the work of Christ, the identity and work of the Holy Spirit, the gathering of God's people and the coming kingdom of Christ.
We recognise that some of the conclusions presented on this website will be unfamiliar to many readers. We therefore encourage careful examination rather than immediate acceptance or rejection.
Read the passages. Examine their context. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Consider the evidence prayerfully.
Truth has nothing to fear from sincere investigation.
Faith That Reaches Into Life
Our understanding of Christianity is not confined to doctrine.
We believe that obedience to God should affect the way we live, the way we treat others, the way we use the resources entrusted to us, and the way we care for our bodies and minds.
The original work of The Ensign emphasised simple living, temperance, charitable giving and the use of resources for spreading biblical teaching rather than personal enrichment. That practical emphasis remains important to us.
The purpose of biblical truth is not merely to make us better informed. It is intended to transform character and prepare men and women for the kingdom of God.
Our Purpose
The Branch – The Ensign exists to make our studies and materials available to those who wish to examine them.
Through this website we bring together our Bible Studies, Publications, Prophecy studies, Articles, and Audio & Video resources in one place.
We offer them in the spirit in which genuine Bible study should always be undertaken: openly, prayerfully and with Scripture itself as the final test.
“To the law and to the testimony…”
— Isaiah 8:20