For comments or inquiries please write to YEA, P. O. Box 31, Atlanta, TX 75551.

In Kenya contact Messianic Assemblies of Yahweh 7th day, P. O. Box 79007 Nairobi, Kenya

Or Visit Internet site at: http://www.yea777.org/home.html  

                                       Or from this Internet sight at: http://www.shalomofyahweh.com/ .

FROM THE EDITOR: 

THE ISLAMIC CONNECTION

I watched a video on the internet the other day entitled The Islamic Connection presented by Dr. Walter Veith wherein he made a most interesting connection with Islam and the Roman Catholic Church. Preposterous you say?! I would encourage you to log on and watch it for free, or purchase the video for a nominal fee of about $14 or $15. It was long, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. I normally don’t sit still for a lengthy video on the net, but I must tell you that I watched the whole thing. Here is the website address: http://amazingdiscoveries.tv/media/129/216-the-islamic-connection/ . Watch it if you have the patience and let me know what you think about it.

He made some statements in his presentation that I had not known. Remember that the New Testament Assembly that was raised up by Yahshua was a Sabbath day observing body, as well as the annual holy days. The Pontifex Maximus of the Roman Catholic Church, Constantine, commanded Sunday observance in honor of Solis Invicti (the unconquered sun), which was typified by Mithras of the Persians, and Apollo of the Greeks. Mithraism, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, was the preferred religion of the Roman soldiers, as well as the Caesars. It was seemingly very close to the new faith raised up by Yahshua.

Dr. Veith states that the Christian church at Alexandria as well as all of North Africa were Sabbath observers seeking to carry on the commandments of their Creator and Savior. When the Pope at Rome couldn’t make any headway with them, he aided an aspiring illiterate named Mohammed to raise up and punish the so-called infidels. Islam began its sweep throughout Northern Africa murdering thousands, and hundreds of thousands of Sabbath keeping Christians, and don’t forget the Judaens also.

So many people think that the Koran was written by Mohammed, but as previously stated, he was illiterate. It was written after his death by his followers who tried to remember his sayings. Some had written certain things that he had said on various items (parchment, wood, leaves, etc.) while he lived. These things were gathered and compiled into what is known today as the Koran. Dr. Veith reveals the many similarities between Roman Catholicism and Islam. Remember that in the behind scheme of things, there is the phenomenon called thesis + antithesis = synthesis. We see this scheme at work between capitalism and communism. America, supposedly a capitalistic country, has been openly fighting communism in Korea, Vietnam, etc.  All the while, our politicians, and institutions (colleges, universities, and schools) have been in the process of humanizing, socializing, and communizing us behind the scenes. The next great synthesizing process will be between Catholicism and Islam.

I remember my trip to India and discovering that the Apostle Thomas ended up proclaiming the good news of Yahshua to the people there. As usual, the leaders and the pagan Hindus not only became jealous of his successes, but were threatened because of his inroads with their subjects, and followers. He had to die, so the king/prince sent his soldiers to destroy him. The apostle attempted to flee, but became trapped by the soldiers and they slew him. When the European traders made contact with the inhabitants of Kerala State, they found a people who were practicing a faith similar to the Catholic faith, but were Sabbath observers. The Catholic followers forcibly converted the people to their faith, and the Sabbath keepers disappeared.

In Revelation 13, there is a great beast that rises up out of the sea. Daniel speaks of a great and terrible beast (Dan. 7). This beast is the Roman Empire. Another beast is focused on which looks like a lamb with two horns (v. 11), but he speaks like a dragon. This is Satan’s counterfeit religion that appears to represent the Lamb of Elohim. This counterfeit causes the earth to worship the first beast naming it the Holy Roman Empire. The history of this counterfeit religion is identical to that of the Roman Caesars who were ruthless in their approach of self aggrandizement, and self worship. They deceived their subjects by proclaiming their divinity.

The one who sits in the seat of Pontifex Maximus today also presents himself to his idolizers as “God in the flesh.”

How will he be able to bring the Roman Catholic Church, Islam, Orthodoxy, and other religions together? It is written, “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live,” Rev. 13:13-14.

Who had this power to call fire down from heaven in times past? Wasn’t it EliYah (Elijah)? Yahshua, Himself, warned, “For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive even the elect,” Mt. 24:24. The day is here when the world had been deceived, and doesn’t anymore love the truth, nor seek it out. Look at our own governmental leaders as a case in point. Lies and deceit are the rule of the day. Lies are instruments of murder. Those who are able to see, understand, love, and hold the truth will be demonized and slain. Are we preparing ourselves for the coming sacrifice? Islam will be a willing instrument.  JH

BACK TO TOP

AN ANSWER TO:

Why Hebrew?

Study No. 13

By Bill Phillips

TO: Bill Phillips, and Richard Nickels
Answers Research & Education
P.O. Box 612440
San Jose, CA 95161
and

Church of God The Eternal
P.O. Box 775
Eugene, OR 97401

Dear Bill Phillips, and Richard Nickels,

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jerry Healan. I was affiliated with the Worldwide Church of God from the time that I read my first Plain Truth Magazine at my father's home on Labor Day week-end of 1969, until January 1988 when I was disfellowshipped for having studied the Scriptures and come to the determination that Satan and his demonic angels would be destroyed forever. The Savior said that the everlasting fire was prepared for the devil and his angels (Mat. 25:41). Revelation 20:10 is a prophecy of the fulfillment of the Savior's words.

But, silly me, that was not a teaching of the church, even though I found it in those two major places, and several other places throughout the Scriptures. Get this....The Savior said it! He said that the fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. I know that Herbert W. Armstrong taught a lot of truth, but he was wrong in this area (and others). His reasoning was that the devil was spirit and spirit can't be destroyed. Anyway, I chose to believe the Savior and the Scriptures rather than man's error.

My wife and I had been very active in the church. I had been ordained as a deacon. Yet, the minister who forbade me from ever fellowshipping with WWCG again, never once lovingly sat down with me to search out the Scriptures one way or the other to show me the error of my way. I was banished to the lake of fire by him because I dared to question a WWCG doctrine, and WWCG was the only true church. That was the only place of salvation! By the way, I see that neither of you are any longer a part of the only church wherein there is salvation, so welcome to the world of the eternally condemned.

I want you to know that I never rebelled against the teachings of my Creator. I didn't become angry and bitter. I continued in the observance of everything that I was taught and sought others of like-mind. Therefore, I began to fellowship with the Church of God International, until I came into the truth concerning the Sacred names. I have since been baptized in the saving name of Yahshua the Messiah, was ordained as an elder and evangelist in 1993, and a pastor in 2009.

Now, what I am going to do is make comments on your article below, and I am going to challenge you to prove what the Scriptures say, repent, and turn to the truth. If you refuse, then your stubbornness will be on your own head, not mine.

By the way, I do publish a magazine named Yahshua's Witness Magazine, a publication named Search The Scriptures, a newsletter named the YEA Newsletter, a 12 lesson Bible Correspondence Course, and various other tracts, articles, booklets, etc. They are all available gratis.

I will be publishing my response to your letter in our magazine, so it would behoove you to prove my/our error, because I am going to prove to you, and others, out of the Scriptures that what you have written so far, is erroneous, fallacious, and non-Scriptural.

I have no idea which Sacred Name Elder you contacted, asking questions of him, but evidently he wasn't prepared to give answers to your questions, or you simply refused to believe him because he wasn't Herebert W. Armstrong, and he hadn't attended Ambassador College, so what could he know? This is not an attack on you or what you believe other than the fact that I must attack falsehood, error.  JH

Bill Phillips: In all the years that I have been a Sabbath-keeper I have, within the Sabbath-keeping community, encountered many different doctrines apart from the Sabbath. Yet there always seemed to be a sense of closeness with all these people because of the Sabbath alone. Even meeting a Jew would be a pleasure because of our similarities.

About the winter of 1976, I came across a teaching which I had read about in 1972. I really didn't give it much consideration because it was so foreign to me at the time. This teaching and the groups that applied it to their lives and their leaders were so close, if not very close, in all points to the same teachings that I had accepted while being a Sabbath keeper, except one. They insisted that the names of the Father and His Son be spoken in the Hebrew tongue.

COMMENT: The reason that they were so close to your beliefs is that the founders of the modern day Sacred Name movement were present at the conference in Missouri where 70 elders were ordained, along with Herbert W. Armstrong. Remember, the 40th lot came to HWA.   JH

Bill: I, with all my effort and what I had at my disposal, studied this doctrine to see if it had any credence and should be applied. I even talked to one of the leaders of this teaching on two occasions (long distance) and it was apparent to me, that whatever questions I would ask, there was some sort of an answer, even though the information I had at my disposal seemed to contradict what he said.

Then the remark was made by him to me that "this leader had an advantage over anyone else or others because he knew the Hebrew and Greek languages fluently." My question then was . . . if it was needful to know those languages for salvation, then why was not the whole nation of Greece and the entire Jewish community converted, or at least the majority?

The Holy Spirit inspired Exodus 6:3 to state that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob DID NOT KNOW this specific Hebrew name! Yet this leader insisted that they did know. Since Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 show that the Creator does not change, then if this Hebrew name is required for salvation now, why was it not necessary for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? This leader still insisted that they did know and that ended the telephone conversation.

COMMENT: It certainly isn't a requirement to know the Hebrew or Greek languages fluently for salvation. It would be very important to me if I was fluent in both, but that doesn't mean that I can't study them to learn the words, meanings, sentence structure, word structure, etc. I have taken a Hebrew language course, but had to miss many of the lessons, because of three missionary trips to Kenya that took place during the time that I was taking the course.

However, I want to ask you this question: If knowing and speaking Hebrew names isn't important, then why do you continue to use Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Saul, David, etc., etc.? Those are Hebrew names given to descendants of Abraham, the Hebrew. They are Hebrew names. Since Abram means "high father," then why didn't they change it to "Big Daddy?" That would be one of the English interpretations.

The books of the prophets carry the names of those prophets, which are Hebrew names. Why are the English versions of those names kept so close to the Hebrew versions? Why do they retain their English transliteration, not translation? Preposterous thinking! You say? Well.....I need to make a point. The only Hebrew names taken out of Scripture is the Hebrew name of our Creator, and His only begotten son.

As for Exodus 6:3, it follows the book of Genesis, right? Therefore, if you want to get to the truth of the matter, we need to search out the events that occurred before Exodus 6:3. This might clear things up for you.

I want to refer to Genesis 12:7-8, "And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD." (KJV)

Here is what Paul writes, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him," 1 Cor. 8:1-6. (KJV)

I have presented both Scriptural excerpts in the King James Version without making any corrections. I need to know from you which Lord did Abram build an altar, sacrifice to, and what name did he call on? Remember that there are many lords, and many gods. If you say, "The Lord," I need to know His name, since there are many lords. If you say His name is God, since there are many gods, what is His real name?

Okay, since you are silent on this issue, and reject the truth about the names, I will answer for you, Abram built an altar to Yahweh, and sacrificed, to Yahweh, and called upon the name Yahweh. If you will obtain a J. P. Green Interlinear, you will see that the Hebrew letters are hwhy, which is the Hebrew of our English version Yahweh. By the way, Jesus Christ should be Yahshua the Messiah. I will get into that later also.

I have just proven to you from the Scriptures that Abram knew the name Yahweh even before his name was changed to Abraham. But let me give you more incontrovertible proofs. Check these out: Gen. 13:1-4; 15:1-8; 18:30; 21:33; 22:14; 24:1-8; 26:25; 27:All; 28:All. In Chapter 29, Leah knew Yahweh's name because she named her fourth son Yudah, which has to do with praising Yahweh. Yudah's (hdwhy) name contains the four letters of Yahweh's name (hwhy) with an added dalet (d). The Hebrew alphabet is not only utilized as letters that make up words, but it also serves as numbers, and pictures, or hieroglyphs. The dalet (d) is the picture of a door. This means that the door to Yahweh (Yahshua) would come through Yudah (Judah), and, as we know, the Savior was born to a Jewish virgin (Miriam), and had a Jewish stepfather (Yoseph).

The above Scriptures are proof enough that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, etc. all knew Yahweh's name. Therefore, Exodus 6:3 should be stated as a question, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of El Shaddai, but by my name Yahweh was I not known to them?"  Didn't you notice that "the name of" is rendered in italics in the KJV because it was supposedly added for clarity, but actually clouds the issue as man always does when he seeks to add to Yahweh's word. It should be read thusly, "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by my name Yahweh was I not known to them?

The name of your organization is Answers Research and Education, so where is the real research that you proudly put into the name of your organization? How can you educate if you haven't gleaned all of the facts? Do I have to do your job for you? Neither do you have the proper answers, so your education is falling short. JH

Bill: In light of Matthew 24:35 and 4:4, it seemed to me at the time that the Creator was not limited to only apply His name and texts in specific languages. The question also arose within me of why would the Eternal lead me into much truth which was so plain and clear and then . . . BANG! . . . leave me hanging on the most important doctrine of all? Why this confusion and not clarity especially when reading I Corinthians 14:33? Yet the people who accepted this teaching did not seem confused. They were headlong right in it and very adamant about it, almost vainly so.

I realized at the time that I had to study this doctrine from the information I had at hand . . . the only authentic source . . . the Holy Bible, and see if it fit and if not, why not? I had to come to the realization that the Almighty is not limited in His power to do anything (Luke 1:37) and to translate or transmit His word and meaning (I Corinthians 14:11) in any language was not difficult for Him (Acts 2 and I Corinthians 14:21). The Hebrew names advocates would say you could not rely on the Greek manuscripts and "only the Old Testament must be relied upon for all doctrine." They have even gone to the point of having their own Bible which follows the King James version closely except in areas which seemingly contradict. Then the text is changed to suit their teaching. It seems apparent that they use that Bible much like some look to the King James version and none other that might clarify any one given text. To do this in light of Revelation 22:18-19 simply frightens me to no end.

COMMENT: Did you really study the Scriptures concerning the importance of the true names, or did you just philosophize on the Scriptures above and below to excuse yourself from getting into the meat of the matter?

When Yahweh called Moses (English version of the Hebrew Mosheh, which is closer in transliteration than "the Lord" and "Yahweh"), Moses asked Him what His name was, He responded with ehyeh ashar ehyeh (I Am That I Am), but then told Moses, "And Elohim said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Yahweh (hwhy) Elohim of your fathers, the Elohim of Abraham, the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations," Ex. 3:15.

"Memorial" is translated from the Hebrew word zikri which is #2143 in Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (Hebrew Lexicon), and is defined as; from 2142; a memento, abstr. recollection (rarely if ever); by implication, commemoration.

Since the root word is #2142 zakar, let's look at its definition; a primitive root; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; also (as denominative from 2145) to be male. (IBID)

Something that is a memorial is something that is given to be remembered. That's right, the Sabbath is a memorial, so is Passover! Yahweh says to remember (zakur #2142) the Sabbath day, which is one command that you perform, but you refuse to remember, mark, recollect, memorialize, or even mention His name.

The statement that you made, "The question also arose within me of why would the Eternal lead me into much truth which was so plain and clear and then . . . BANG! . . . leave me hanging on the most important doctrine of all?" The problem is that Yahweh didn't leave you hanging on this most important doctrine....you either rejected it outright, or considered it so unimportant that you didn't bother.

I know where you are coming from because I was there. I was in the crowd at Big Sandy, Texas (Ambassador College) for the Feast of Tabernacles when Herbert Armstrong made the announcement that he was commissioning a board to do a study on the Heavenly Father's name. I remember anticipating the results of that study, and became rather anxious to hear of the results. Time really did drag on. Finally, he returned and announced that the study had been completed and they had determined that the Heavenly Father's name was Yahweh....but then he said, "But I prefer to call Him the Eternal." You mimic, follow HWA whether he is right or wrong. That is a foolish thing to do.

Since you asked the question, and need some ANSWERS, let me do a little more RESEARCH, so I can EDUCATE you. (Isn't that the name of your organization? Answers Research & Educate) I'm going to do some more work for you because you have been failing to do your self-prescribed job. Not that I will be able to convince you, or even Richard, but there are some people out there who would like to know the truth, embrace it, and walk in it.

How important is Yahweh's name? Let's allow the Scriptures to give the answer, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name Yahweh shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as Yahweh hath said, and in the remnant whom Yahweh shall call," Joel 2:32.

Did you know that this was such an important statement given to Joel by the power of the Holy Spirit that it was repeated in the New Testament? "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name Yahweh shall be saved," Acts 2:21. This is the Apostle Peter speaking on the day of Pentecost, confirming the words given to the Prophet Joel.

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Master over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name Yahweh shall be saved," Ro. 10:12-13.

Can you believe it? Here are the Apostles Peter, and Paul, of all people, saying that we must call upon the name Yahweh for salvation! They agree with Joel. They agree with the Holy Spirit! What is your problem!????

Bill, don't you understand that Yahshua's name, in His pre-existence, was Yahweh? Yahshua means Yahweh the Savior, or also the Salvation of Yahweh.

I don't think you have been doing much true in-depth researching, otherwise you would have gone to the Scriptures that I have searched out for you. If you need more proof than the two or three witnesses required by Scriptures (I have given you four (Ex. 3:15; Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Ro. 10:12-13), I can furnish them for you upon demand. But you should really be doing your own job.   JH

Bill: The teaching that emanates from them is that the personages of "Zeus, Theos, and Jesus" are one and the same. But is this true? While looking at Acts 14:12, and comparing with Acts 13:33 and other Scriptures, "Zeus" and "Jesus" are two different personages! A simple reading of the Revised Standard version of the same texts and a simple check of the Strong's Concordance in the Greek (#2203 and #2424) would clarify this difference for any interested person. It will show that the word "Zeus" was translated "Jupiter" and was a completely different word in Greek than the one translated "Jesus".

COMMENT: Point taken (somewhat), however, did you compare the Old Testament Greek version of the name Yahshua (Joshua), with the New Testament name Jesus? They are both Iesous in the Greek. So how do you get two different sounding names from the exact same rendering? The fact of the matter is that the Savior was never called Jesus during his whole lifetime on earth. The name Jesus didn't come into being until the 17th century when the letter "J, j" was added to the English alphabet. Therefore, Jesus is a false name. Didn't Yahshua say, "Yahweh is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth?" Jn. 4:24. 

Since the name "Jesus" is not His true name, then it is a lie. No lie is of the truth. (1 Jn. 2:21)

All in Christianity love the names "the Lord," and "Jesus" (false names/lies) while the Yahwehists love the names Yahweh and Yahshua. What does Paul say about those who love the lie? "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called Elohim, or that is worshipped; so that he as Elohim sitteth in the temple of Elohim, shewing himself that he is Elohim. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Master shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause Yahweh shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness," 2 Thes. 2:3-12. 

You know what iniquity is, right? Isn't it sin, and sin is the transgression of the law? So what names and titles have been utilized in bringing about rebellion and iniquity on the earth? In whose name is Sunday worship commanded, isn't it in the name of "the Lord," and "Jesus Christ?" In whose name are the pagan holidays of Christmas and Easter observed? Isn't it in the name of "the Lord," and "Jesus Christ?" In whose name are all manner of unclean foods consumed? Isn't it in the name of "the Lord," and "Jesus Christ?" In whose name is it taught that the law is done away? Isn’t it in the name of “the Lord,” and “Jesus Christ?” Isn't he the one sitting in the temple of Elohim, showing himself that he is Elohim? He is the one through whom the "mystery of iniquity" is working!    JH

Bill: Is the Eternal limited only to the Hebrew language to communicate with man according to Acts 26:14 as they advocate? In light of Acts 2, Genesis 11, I Corinthians 14:21 and Luke 1:37, there is nothing impossible with the One who created everything. Does the Almighty have limitations? I had to conclude . . . NO! But yet is there something special to the phonetic sound in Hebrew that breaks you through to the Eternal? Have the vowels been lost? Some say "yes" and some say "no". Whatever their conclusion is they still disagree on the proper transliteration and pronunciation. Why this confusion? Does my salvation depend on a "v" or "w"? As one song states, "Is that all there is?" Is that what I must ultimately know? What about I Corinthians 1:25-29 where it states that the majority of those called were not really all that scholarly? What about I Timothy 6:3-6 where we are not to strive over words? Is this a strife over words? It could be. Is it a picky doctrine? NO! Not to the advocates of it. They insist that it is most essential for salvation and that it is a sin to use any other appellation even to the point of "blasphemy." But wasn't Paul relating what was said to him by the Saviour in Acts 26 to Agrippa in another language?

COMMENT: Bill, you are once again philosophizing! The phonetic sound of my name is Jerry. The phonetic sound of your name is Bill, of Richard’s it is Richard. Do you mean that someone can call each of us by some other phonetic sound? If you are in a crowd and there is a loudspeaker and the speaker is seeking to call on you for something, if he calls you David, would you respond? Aren’t phonetics important? Aren’t phonetics sound? Can someone call you without phonetics? Are you a mind reader? Can you speak to others telepathically?

The Lord, God, Jesus, etc. are phonetics! They are incorrect terms! You are philosophizing to make those who love the true names to look foolish because they cling to those names, yet you are making yourself foolish by hanging onto error!

Besides, didn’t Peter say, “….there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. What does “NONE OTHER NAME” mean? Shouldn’t this mean that we should accept no substitutes? Jesus is not a Hebrew name. Neither is it the Savior’s name. The Savior came in His Father’s name. It just so happens that the Father’s name is Yahweh.

There is a phenomenon called dialectic differences. We have had believers from the Slavic and Germanic countries who have a hard time pronouncing the "w". However, both Josephus and Rabbi Arthur Green (Seek My Face, Speak My Name) say that the letters that comprise the Sacred Name serve as both consonants and vowels. Vowels are breath. Breath in Hebrew is "ruach," the same word that is also translated as "spirit." Since Yahweh is Spirit, we prefer the "w".

But there is another point to your dissertation here. Names are never translated from one language to another. They are always transliterated. WWCG ran ads on some of the books that HWA had written. They had been published in several languages. The title of the book changed in every language, but the name of the author Herbert W. Armstrong was the same in every language. Such an honor was extended to Herbert W. Armstrong, but he is honored even above Yahweh by you men, because you refuse to transliterate Yahweh's name. The name Yahweh should be transliterated in every language.   JH

Bill: Even though the Creator called me "unwise" and a "fool", He revealed to me many clear truths of the Sabbath and other teachings. Does that mean that I would have to be scholarly eventually to have an inroad with Him to be able to ascertain truth and obtain salvation because I had to discern between a "v" and a "w" and a certain phonetic sound? Is this what pleases Him? Is this what Daniel 12:4 is saying to me? Those involved in this teaching practically talk about nothing else but 'the name'. I have heard quite clearly over the radio one of their leaders say that he "was not trying to convert anyone, just give them knowledge." What about Acts 3:19? That's not what Peter said! Yet is this a picky doctrine? The Eternal tells me to "prove all things" (I Thessalonians 5:21). Acts 17:11 shows me an example to see whether these things are so. I am sure that the Eternal wants me to get all the facts to come to a conclusion in His sight and to live purely before Him knowing that I answer solely to Him and Him only. I know my part in the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20). But was the Hebrew name what the Saviour of the world told His disciples to observe and teach others? Or was it repentance, changed lives, conversions, and baptisms? I could not honestly find this teaching in the four gospels, and yet could I find it somewhere else?

COMMENT: Here is where you are being a great hypocrite. I remember why HWA explained that the church had to be named "Church of God." He always went to John 17:11 where Yahshua said, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are." HWA's reasoning was that the name of the Creator was God, so the church had to have the name God incorporated into its name. All of the offshoots of WWCG have followed the same policy including the second group this answer is addressed to. (Church of God the Eternal) Your own actions prove that you understand that the Creator's name is important, you just refuse to turn to the right one.

Going back to verse 6 of John 17, Yahshua says, "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Get it!? He manifested His name to His disciples, and then prayed that the Father would keep them in His name. That name IS NOT God, NOR IS IT THE LORD!

Now, here is something else for you to consider, Psalms 2:1-3 says, "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Yahweh, and against his anointed (Messiah; Yahshua), saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us." Who is raging? Isn't it the heathen? (pagans, idolaters, etc.). Who set themselves? Isn't it the kings of the earth? Who take counsel together? Isn't it the rulers?

Now, let's go to Revelation 17:1-5, "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.  So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Yahshua: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration."

Now, let's look at Revelation 18:3-4, "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

Wasn't one of the kings of the earth King James of England? The original 1611 Bible had the tetragrammaton, that is, Yahweh's name at the beginning of both testaments (covenants), but he took that most important name out of the 6,828 places where it should appear in the Old Testament alone! He replaced it with the term "the Lord." Do you understand what this means? One of the chief terms of the ancient world for "lord," "master," "husband," etc. was "ba'al."

Now, since you haven't done the Research, in order to obtain the Answers, so you can Educate, once again, I must do it for you. Let's go to the book of Judges 6:25-28, "And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built." (KJV)

I know that one of your problems is that you really don't like Hebrew. Your article here with your seemingly intelligent arguments seem to be so authentic when you only go to the English. However, if you had utilized a J. P. Green Interlinear, or the free download version of the ISA Scriptures, you would have detected some eye-opening things.

Really, I do understand the problem that you offshoots of WWCG are facing. You see, I was also sitting in their midst when the announcement was made at headquarters and was passed down to all of the sheeple that there was nothing more to learn about the Scriptures. The church had all the knowledge that was necessary to fulfill the commission, and do the work of salvation. I am sure that you and your other associates have conveniently forgotten the things that I am remembering, but I was there; I heard; and I am relaying those things as a witness. (I know that it is almost impossible to prove since WWCG refused to make recordings of their messages for years, and near the end, recordings were made, but many were destroyed anyway.)

If you will acquire a J. P. Green Interlinear, and/or download the free ISA Version of the Scriptures, then you will be able to see what I am going to reveal to you.

In the above Scriptures the name Baal occurs twice. "The LORD" appears three times. However, here is the way the word Baal is rendered in the Hebrew - l[Bh. Do you understand that when the Hebrew letter hei (h) is placed in front of a word, it is almost always for the purpose of an article such as "the?" The word that the hei (h) is placed in front of is not a proper noun, it is a common noun. Thus, l[Bh (ha-ba’al) should be translated as "the lord."

Now the Hebrew word that is translated as "the LORD" above comes from the tetragrammaton hwhy. It is the Creator's own memorial name given to Moses and that appears at least 6,828 times in the Old Testament.

What the King James Version, and almost all versions, have done is to take Yahweh's proper name converting it to a common noun (oh, they generally do present it in all-caps to supposedly represent His proper name, but they place the article "the" in front of it which reduces it to a common noun. Then, they have taken the word ba'al (lord), removed the article from it, and made it into a proper noun. Pretty fancy footwork, right?

Here is how Judges 6:25-28 should have been translated, "And it came to pass the same night, that Yahweh (hwhy) said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of the lord (laBh) that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto Yahweh (hwhy) thy Elohim upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Yahweh (hwhy) had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of the lord (laBh) was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built."

Remember....the kings of the earth have worked in concert with the Babylonian harlot to cause the earth to commit FORNICATION! The beast (Rome) is full of the names of blasphemy. It is blasphemous to change the name of salvation (Yahweh) to something that takes away the knowledge of that name of salvation since we are to call upon His name in order to be saved.

Peter was inspired to decree, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," Acts 4:12. It is blasphemous to change the only name given under heaven for salvation to something else. The Savior's name was Yahshua which means "Yahweh the Savior." The closest modern day English transliteration would be Joshua, never Jesus.

Jesus comes from the Latin Yesus. There was a Druidic savior god named Esus (pronounced Hesus). His name was spelled Esus on the European mainland, but Yesu (also pronounced Hesus) in the British Isles. Yesus is a combination of Yesu/Esus, which Constantine skillfully forged into the Latin name of the Savior. Esus was also hanged on a tree made in the form of a cross.

Had you researched these things out, you would have come to see these them, and warned the people away from FORNICATION!!!!

One other thing, you questioned whether you need to be scholarly or not. Well, the overall preponderance of the world is not scholarly and they are easily deceived. Scripture admonishes, "Study to shew thyself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," 2 Tim. 2:15. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Sovereign and Saviour Yahshua the Messiah," 2 Pet. 3:18.

So the answer to your question about being scholarly is "Yes," if you are going to be a teacher of truth; if you are going to RESEARCH, so you can have the ANSWERS, and EDUCATE yourself and others!  JH

Bill: What about the fruits of Galatians 5:22-23? What about where it says in I John 4:1 to try the spirits? And not to believe just anything even if it seems plausible. What about being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14)? Was this a rock solid, crystal clear, unmovable, unshakable doctrine, easy to be understood (I Corinthians 14:9), a clear sound (verse 8)? I came to the conclusion that while not condemning anyone of that persuasion which we are not to do (Luke 6:37), I must judge righteous or right judgment (John 7:24). This is my responsibility.

While studying this teaching thoroughly again and again, and talking to the advocates of it, I could never prove it! I Thessalonians 5:21 says I MUST PROVE IT! While holding fast to that which is good, I have found that this doctrine cannot be proved from the Holy Scriptures. There is no Scripture in the Bible which states that we must speak the names of our Creator only in Hebrew! There is absolutely no Scripture that says if we do not speak the names in Hebrew, it is a "sin" and "blasphemy"!

COMMENT: Here is the problem with these two paragraphs, as I said before, you are utilizing philosophical reasoning, but you have not presented a true, in-depth, Scriptural study. You are supposed to "Search the Scriptures daily whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11). Yes, you must prove it, but you haven't really proven anything. All you have done is excuse yourself from any Scriptural study on the issue due to fear.

I have shown you above that Yahweh's name is a memorial, which one of the meanings of that word is "to mention,” which would also mean “to speak."   JH

Bill: Everyone must stand before the Eternal's judgment seat (Romans 14:10-12). No matter whether you accept this teaching or not, Matthew 7:1-2 warns us not to judge (Greek: condemn) one another. Everyone must come to his own conclusion. We are all adults and should be mature enough to study and go to the only source of infallibility for truth, the Bible, and not to reasoning of men. One thing is as sure as the rising and setting of the sun: our Creator and Saviour has existed eternally. The fact is, that He is alive today at the right hand of the Father, has all power, controls the entire universe, and has power over life and death. His people are in His hands, and if you believe, or if anyone tells you, that using the names "God" and "Jesus Christ" is "blasphemy," you had better make sure that it is right and that YOU are right! You could be on very dangerous ground!!

Read Revelation 3:8. Could YOU have denied and called His name Satanic by putting a blasphemous connotation on it? II Peter 1:20 says that no Scripture is of any private interpretation, translation, or language solely. Could YOU have limited the Creator and therefore deny the works of the Holy Spirit? Could you be denying the power of the Almighty and be in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit? THINK again!!! You had better be sure! There should be no shadow of doubt! BURN THIS INTO YOUR MEMORY . . .

"Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation . . ." (Mark 3:28-29).

COMMENT: Here is the truth, brother....The name of the Savior could never have been Jesus. The name Jesus did not exist until the 17th century when the English alphabet acquired the letter "J, j" into its repertoire. It has never existed in the Hebrew, nor the Greek alphabets.

Here is what I fear....that men like yourself will continue to resist the truth, teaching others what the kings of the earth say, rather than what our Creator Yahweh says. I am also concerned for you and others like you because you have been a Sabbath keeper, you observe the annual holy days, observe many of the principles of the Scriptures including the Commandments, but you are taking the holy things of Yahweh, and hanging them upon false names and titles (false gods). This may be worse, in the long-run, than nominal Christianity. You were on the right track, but you stalled, you stopped, and can seemingly go no further into the truth. (Because of HWA.)

Remember the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy Elohim in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain," Ex. 20:7. The word "vain" is translated from the Hebrew word "shav" and is defined as; from the same as 7722 in the sense of desolating; evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively idolatry (as false, subjective), uselessness (as deceptive, objective; also adverbially, in vain).

Let me ask you....if you replace His name with another term, is that not taking His name in vain? If you give the credit to "the LORD" (l[Bh/ha-baal) then aren't you turning it into idolatry? Thinking that it isn't really important to know His true name, isn't that considering it to be unimportant? You are in violation of that commandment! You are offending in one point of the law, therefore, you are offending it all. (Jas. 2:10)

The name Yahweh is first revealed in Genesis 2:4, "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh Elohim made the earth and the heavens." I am going to present to you the Rabbinic commentary on Genesis 2:4 from the Stone Edition of the Cumash, "This is the first mention in the Torah of the Hebrew four-letter name h-w-h-y, which denotes God in His Attribute of Mercy. At first, God created the world exclusively with the attribute of justice [Elohim], because the ideal state is for man to be judged according to his deeds without a need for special mercy but God knew that man cannot survive without mercy and forbearance. Therefore He added the Name signifying mercy, to teach that He would temper justice with compassion (Rashi to 1:1). The Name h-w-h-y also signifies the eternity of God, because its letters are also those of the words hyhyw hwh hyh, He was, is, and will be. In the words of Rambam's fourth principle of faith, God "is the very first and the very last." Everything in the created universe must have a moment when it came into existence, but God is infinite; He transcends time. In recognition of this concept, the Four-letter Name is often translated the Eternal One. This is the proper Name of God. (p. 11)

Do you understand what has been said here? The name Yahweh is the name of mercy, compassion. Elohim (God) has to do with judgment. The serpent has deceived the whole world to take away the name of mercy (Yahweh) so that the world will come under judgment (God). The Psalmist decrees, "Pour out Thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon Thy name," Psa. 79:6.

Jeremiah cries out, "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate," Jer. 10:25.

There it is! When something is stated at least twice in the Scriptures, it has to do with an emphatic statement. Those who don't know Yahweh, nor call upon His name will have wrath poured out upon them. Your article here and Richard's additional comments are certainly aiding in wrath being poured out upon yourselves and the others who follow you.

The Hebrew letters are also pictures/hieroglyphics. The yod (y) is the picture of a hand, the hei (h) has to do with revelation, a window, behold, lo, the waw (w) is the picture of a nail or tent peg, and finally the last hei (h) again has to do with revelation, a window, behold, lo. Therefore, we get the idea of hand (y), behold (h), nail (w), behold (h). In the English we would say "Behold the hand, behold the nail" which is what Yahshua told Thomas to do, "Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing," Jn. 20:27.

What was Thomas' response? "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Master and my Elohim," v. 28. The Hebrew would have been Adonai Ve Elohi (yhlew ynda). When he saw the resurrected Yahshua with the holes made in His hands by the nails, and the hole made in His side with the spear, he knew exactly Who He was. Has it revealed anything to you?  JH

 written by Bill Phillips

Bill, I hope that this will turn you around to the truth. If not, You have been witnessed to….Jerry Healan

Additional Notes by Richard C. Nickels

Exodus 6:3 does not contradict other plain scriptures. Eve knew the name Yahweh, Genesis 4:1. In Seth's day, men in general knew the Eternal's name, Genesis 4:26. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob built altars to Yahweh and called upon the name Yahweh, Genesis 12:8, 13:18, 21:33, 26:24-25, 28:20-22. Notice in the KJV for Exodus 6:3 that "the name of" is in italics and not part of the original. It should say, "and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by El Shaddai, but by my name Yahweh was I not known to them." The word known is from the Hebrew yada (Strong's #3045) and means "to be revealed, gain intimate knowledge of, let oneself be seen, be discovered." Abraham ate a meal with the Eternal. Jacob wrestled with the Lord. But Moses was unique. The Almighty Yahweh spoke to him face to face, Exodus 6:2, Numbers 12:6-8. Moses saw the burning bush, and even the very glory of the Eternal, Exodus 33:11-23, who proclaimed His very name and power, Exodus 34:5 such that Moses' face shone, Exodus 34:29-35. Moses, unlike Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, knew THE NAME OF Yahweh, he saw the Eternal's glory.

"Sacred Name" proponents go too far when they say that "Yahweh" is the "name of everlasting life" and that "we cannot receive everlasting life unless we call upon this name. It is the Name that will restore to life those who are the righteous dead" (Sacred Name Broadcaster, 6/80). My Bible says that the Spirit is life (not the name Yahweh). If I have this Spirit of everlasting life, I will be resurrected from the dead, or changed, to Eternal life at the return of the Messiah, Romans 8:10-11, I Thessalonians 4:16-17. Some "Sacred Name" believers seem to be open minded, serious students of the Bible, having a spirit of love and meekness, but we strongly reject Sacred Name exclusivism.

COMMENT:  Richard, You are right that the name Yahweh has been known from the beginning. The patriarchs knew His name. The Holy Spirit is the life and Seal of Yahweh. Revelation 14:1 destroys your argument quite effectively, "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." His Spirit imparts His name to His people.

But you are also involved in "double speak." How can I say this? You say that "Sacred Name" proponents go too far when they say that "Yahweh" is the "name of everlasting life" and that "we cannot receive everlasting life unless we call upon this name." Let's see....don't you call Him "the Eternal?" Doesn't "Eternal" mean everlasting, everliving? Can we receive eternal, everliving, everlasting life through a name that isn't eternal, everlasting, everliving? As Tim the tool man's sidekick Al used to say, "I don't think so, Tim (Richard in this case)."

You reject exclusivism? So you reject Acts 4:11-12, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." You reject the Apostle Peter speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This is getting more dangerous, Richard, because now you are rejecting the clear words of the Holy Spirit.  JH

Richard: I often use the name of "Yahweh," and "Yahshua" as a matter of respect and reverence to my Creator, not judging those who do not. I have not found a Scripture stating that we must use the Hebrew names. I am nauseated by Sacred Name advocates who can talk of nothing else, neglecting the great commission of repentance, conversion, baptism, and a changed life. The Sacred Name doctrine of itself has practically nothing to do with how we live. But it is the all in all to some of its adherents. Place a list of religious material on a wide variety of practical, down-to-earth topics before some Yahwehists, and they will spurn them in favor of material relating to the name of Yahweh. Yahwehists who say nobody but they have the Holy Spirit and can talk of almost nothing else but this one doctrine are in our opinion, idolaters.

COMMENT: I have given you and Bill some Scriptures that do say that you must call upon Yahweh's name for salvation. Here is the situation, a messenger is sent to deliver a message from the one who is greater than he. The message is delivered in the name of the one who has the power. Such as an ambassador of the Queen of England serves in his capacity in the name of the queen. Authority comes from the one in power. It comes forth in his name.

Your charge that all that the Yahwehists focus on is the name is an outright lie! They love the Torah. They love the commandments. They love Yahshua. They love the New Testament. The only difference between them and you is that they uphold the truth about the names!  JH

Richard: "Proof" offered that the names God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Church, etc. are of pagan origin are very tenuous. I haven't seen one shred of proof that the word "Jesus" came from Zeus, since all the sources I have seen show it came from Joshua = Yahshua. Pagan idolaters in Canaan worshipped YAHWEH, but it was idolatry! LORD and GOD are titles, not names. Our language is full of names used in the past for pagan deities. Yahwehists use the term "Heavenly Father" when the dictionary shows "father" comes from the Latin pater, a title of pagan deities! Anyone who has ever studied Biblical Hebrew would have to admit that it is an imperfect language! Hebrew has been so corrupted through the ages that there are many words, like in the English, that do not spell like they sound.

COMMENT: If pagan idolators who were using the name Yahweh in their worship, then they were blaspheming His name, and taking it in vain. Since you know the true names and refuse to utilize them exclusively, then you are worshipping in a "syncretized faith" which is not acceptable to Yahweh. You are sitting on the fence. I have given proof for you above, whether you want to believe it or not. JH

Richard: "Proof" that the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew is absent. Most Sacred Name believers distrust the Greek New Testament as a "tampered with" translation that cannot be accepted as divinely inspired. This is an extremely dangerous and false concept. We do not have a Savior if the official record of His existence is not to be trusted. Matthew 4:4 and Revelation 22:18-19 warn against this.

COMMENT: Here is some proof for you, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Messiah: for it is the power of Yahweh unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek," Ro. 1:16. Isn't it evident that the good news went to the Jews first? The ones who wrote the New Testament were Hebrews. The ones who wrote the Old Testament were Hebrews. Does Yahweh change? According to Yahweh's own principle, everything had to go to the Jews first, who were Hebrews. It wasn't even revealed that the evangel was offered to non-Hebrews until about seven years later.

There are writings that reveal that Constantine, along with the unbelieving Jewish Rabbis, did everything that they could to destroy all New Testament Scriptures written in Hebrew. The Talmud gives various descriptions of how to destroy the writings of the Minim (believers in Yahshua) which did have the Sacred Name recorded in them. They were worried about being judged in destroying anything with the Sacred Name written on it.  JH

Richard: "The name of YHVH is a strong tower: the righteous run unto it, and are safe" Proverbs 18:10. What does this mean? Just using the name Yahweh? Or doesn't it mean to obey Yahweh in everything? Not everyone that says Yahweh, Yahvah, or Yahshua, Yahoshua, or however they pronounce the Creator's names, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of the Heavenly Father.

COMMENT: Here is where you are off base. The people who embrace Yahweh's name always seek to honor and obey Yahweh more than any other people. Your assumption that they just trust in His name only is erroneous. Bill noted that the Yahwehists believed the same way he did except for the Sacred Names. You are trying to accuse Yahweh's people of only believing in His name. You are in grievous error.   JH

Richard: People debate on whether or not YHVH or YHWH should be pronounced Yahweh, Yahvah, etc. We follow the tradition of Herbert W. Armstrong in often using "the Eternal" instead of "LORD," etc. People's ears are often dull of hearing the words, Jesus Christ, Lord, God, etc. A different form of the words for the Supreme Being will help to keep up interest.

COMMENT: Herein is your problem, you are following the tradition of Herbert W. Armstrong rather than the clear commands of Yahweh Himself. HWA knew that the Creator's name was Yahweh back in 1934 when he came in contact with Dugger and Dodd, but he refused to accept it. Yet, he is the one who always said that when truth comes, we must embrace it and turn away from error. Before His death, he announced that the name of the Creator was Yahweh, but he still refused to embrace it. You are following his example of turning away from the truth.

By the way, you shouldn't be confused on the issue since Herbert declared that the study that he personally commissioned determined that the name of the Heavenly Father was "Yahweh."  JH

Richard: The "Sacred Name" doctrine is not the key to all Truth, because Yahweh groups are splintered, divided and recently two of the largest groups were involved in a lawsuit against each other. They should stop short of name worship idolatry, and not cause the name of their Creator to stink by their vile actions. True respect for the Eternal's Hebrew name is shown by obedience to His laws, being a shining light in a dark world.

COMMENT: This is like the kettle calling the pot black. Look at the multitudinous number of groups that WWCG has split into. Herbert W. Armstrong put himself between the Savior and the people, just like the Pope at Rome, and you say the Sacred Name people stink? May your own words return on your own head!   JH

Richard: There are many more important issues: marriage, family, Sabbath, Holy Days, tithing, etc. Pronunciation of Yahweh, Yahvah, Yehowah, etc. is not to be compared to the weightier matters such as mercy, judgment and faith. Satan knows the exact pronunciation, but he does not obey the commandments! W

COMMENT: Here you go again, making statements of ignorance. I have been among the people of WWCG, and among the Sacred Name believers. I have discovered that Herbert W. Armstrong was a FALSE APOSTLE. No matter where we go, there are problems to deal with. Marriage, family, Sabbath, Holy Days, tithing, etc. are just as important among the Sacred Name believers as they are, or were to WWCG or anyone else.

Let me give you both some other Scriptures to think about:

LOVE HIS NAME

 "Let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee," Psa. 5:11 (last part). "For Elohim will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein," Psa. 69:35-36. "Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name," Psa. 119:132.

SING PRAISE TO HIS NAME

"I will praise Yahweh according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of Yahweh MOST HIGH," Psa. 7:17 "I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou MOST HIGH," Psa. 9:2. "Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Yahweh, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name," Psa. 18:49. "In Elohim we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever," Psa. 44:8. "I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Yahweh; for it is good," Psa. 54: 6. "For thou, O Elohim, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations. He shall abide before Elohim for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows," Psa. 61:8. "Make a joyful noise unto Elohim, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto Elohim, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name," Psa. 66:1-4. "Sing unto Elohim, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name YAH, and rejoice before him," Psa. 68:4. "I will praise the name of Elohim with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please Yahweh better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs," Psa. 69:30-31. "Blessed be Yahweh Elohim, the Elohim of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen," Psa. 72:18-19. "O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name," Psa. 74:21. "Among the elohim there is none like unto thee, O Yahweh; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Yahweh; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art Elohim alone. Teach me thy way, O Yahweh; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Yahweh my Elohim, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore " Psa. 86:8-12.

I feel that I must stop here, but I have only gone a little over half of the way through the book of Psalms and there is much more to come. Besides, with a name like ANSWERS, RESEARCH & EDUCATE, you now have a very good example, and you should be able to proceed from here.

You both talk of not judging, yet you did judge anyway. Am I able to judge? Yes, I can judge in, by, and through the Word of Yahweh. My judgment is that you both have fallen short of the truth. You yourselves have judged in following the tradition of a man, or traditions of men, and not Yahweh's tradition. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to repent, confess your shortcomings, and turn to Yahweh with all of your heart. Study these Psalms given here and the many, many more, along with the other Scriptures that will get you focused on the importance of His name.

Remember that wrath is poured out on those who don't know His name. How much more wrath will be poured out on those who know it, but excuse themselves and others from speaking, using, and teaching its importance? Something to think about!

This has gone far longer than I intended, but I could be going on with much, much more. I do hope that this is a good lesson for you, but if not, at least for the others who will read it and take it to heart.  

Pastor, Elder, Evangelist Jerry Healan

Yahweh's Evangelical Assembly

Atlanta, Texas

A branch of

Messianic Assembly of Yahweh 7th day

Nairobi, Kenya

Bill & Richard: For a further understanding of the Sacred Name doctrine, we recommend the following articles:

"The Sacred Names Question" by Answers Research & Education, P.O. Box 612440, San Jose, CA 95161.

"The Sacred Name - Is It Sacred Or Mystical?" by Church of God, The Eternal, P.O. Box 775, Eugene, OR 97401.

COMMENT: I recommend that the above articles be discarded, or studied out much more carefully and re-written.  JH

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