THE SET APART NAME OF YAHWEH
By Richard
Meredith
Western
Samoa
“I
am the YAHWEH, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My
praise to carved images”. Isaiah 42:8
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
INTRODUCTION
It is appropriate
to start this study of the set apart name of YAHWEH with a prophecy from the
Book of Joel. No doubt many of you are familiar with this word.
“Be glad
then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD (YAHWEH) your God; For He
has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come
down for you; The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. The
threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new
wine and oil. So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has
eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust My
great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the LORD (YAHWEH) your God, Who has dealt wondrously
with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Joel 2:23-25
In these
last days YAHWEH has promised His people that He will restore all things that
ha Satan has stolen from His people. One of those things that the enemy has
stolen from us is the set apart name of our heavenly Father YAHWEH and His Son
Yahushua. In another great prophecy in Isaiah 52:5-6 YAHWEH proclaims that the
knowledge His name and the praise of His name will be restored to His people.
“Now
therefore, what have I here," says the LORD, (YAHWEH) "That My people are taken away for
nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail," says the LORD, (YAHWEH)
"And My name is blasphemed continually every day. Therefore My people
shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who
speaks: 'Behold, it is I.'" Isaiah 52:5-6
Thus, a
time is coming when YAHWEH’s sacred name will be known and hallowed through out
the Earth.
“But when
he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will hallow My
name (YAHWEH), And hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel.”
Isaiah 29:23
It is not
by accident that you are here listening to or reading this study. You are part
of the restoration movement of the restoration of YAHWEH’ s set apart name. You
are here by divine appointment. This study consists of 15 parts or lessons and
each part is a piece of the total revelation concerning His name. In order to
fully receive this revelation, it is a must that you read all 15 lessons
because each part is a continuation of the previous lesson.
Now a word
on how I will be presenting this study. I have structured the study by
addressing the many arguments made by various Christian scholars against
knowing and using the sacred name of the Father. From these very questions I
will reveal to you the truth concerning His name. I sincerely believe that this
study will open up for you a new understanding of Scripture and embark you on a
journey of great reward. May YAHWEH bless you as you shema (listen) to these
messages. AMEIN
Arguments
against using the sacred name:
1 The name
is too sacred for any common man to utter.
2 The
Scripture does not require us to use the sacred name.
3 The
sacred name has no real value for us today.
4 It is the
Hebrew name for the Almighty and it is not necessary for some
one to use
it if he does not speak Hebrew. We speak English and not Hebrew.
5 It is
name require only for the Israelite or Jew.
6 The
Messiah or the Apostles never used the sacred name which is reflected by the fact
that the sacred name is not found in the New Testament.
7 The name
of Jesus for Christians are now the required names for salvation. We are in the
Church age.
8 The correct pronunciation of the name over
the Centuries has been lost; therefore we are relieved of the requirement to
use it.
9 Our
heavenly Father allows us to use substitutes names like Lord, God, Adonai and
so on.
10 The
sacred name was not revealed until the days of Moses. Since there was no
knowledge of it prior to Moses, it stands that the name is not an eternal one.
Now that I
Have established these important questions let me first give you a short
introduction as to why the sacred name is important and then after through a
series of messages that will follow in the next few weeks I will address these
questions.
So why do we need to study the sacred name?
These are
but some of the brief reasons why we need to study the sacred name but a
clearer understanding of these reasons will be unfolded in greater detail as we
proceed through these lessons and further reasons will be illuminated.
1 The
sacred name is the key to KNOWLEDGE of the Torah.
Luke
11:52 "Woe to you lawyers!
(experts in the Torah) For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You
did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."
2 The
sacred name is the key to SALVATION.
“And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of
the YAHWEH Shall be saved.” Joel
2:32
See also
Psalm 18:1-6, 91:14-16 and Psalm 116:1-6
Note: that
in the original Hebrew it is YAHWEH and not LORD or GOD.
These are
merely substitutes of which I will discuss in greater detail next week. Notice
that it does not say Jesus.
That is why
there are numerous references in Scripture why we must praise and exalt the name
of YAHWEH.
3 The
sacred name is the key to INHERITANCE.
An
inheritance is a physical possession.
This is
about the LAND that was promised to Abraham that would be an eternal possession
in Genesis 15:7.
This
is “the land of Kanaan” a region
defined as “from the river Mizraim (Egypt) to the greater, the river
(Euphrates) Gen 13:14-17, 15:1-11, 15:17-21, 17:1-10
In Psalm
37:9-11, 27-34 we are clearly told that only the righteous will inherit the
land. The question that begs to be answered here is who is the righteous that
will inherit this land? A question that I will answer in a later part of this
series.
However,
hopefully these important reasons have created an appetite in you to learn more
or at least a desire to know the truth. It is not really a mystery why the name
of YAHWEH and Yahushua has been conspicuously dropped from the Scriptures.
There are compelling reasons why it happened and my research has led me to
these answers.
Where did the problem occur?
1 Cross
generational translations:
We know
that our present Scriptures were translated from Hebrew to Greek and then Greek
to English and then English to whatever language you speak. This is generally
the pattern although there are exceptions. This had created a many translation
errors through the Scriptures most especially in the King James Version.
The problem
that all of our early translators had was not reading Hebrew or Greek but not
understanding the construction, idiosyncrasy and grammar of the original source
language the Hebrew. Hebrew language is pictorial based language. Thoughts are
transmitted in Hebrew in the form of pictures and images. Many sayings and
words have different and alternative meanings.
While this
is not the focus of our discussion, many of these translation problems will be
brought out during this series only for the purpose of establishing our topic.
However, if
you wanted to read in my opinion a very accurate translation of the Scriptures
from a Hebraic understanding, I would get hold of a copy of the Restoration
Scriptures, the True name edition. In this edition all the original names have
been restored to their rightful place.
2 Hebraic
levels of Interpretation:
The second
problem that I believe caused the translators to error in their translation of
the Scriptures and caused them to remove the sacred name is because they do not
understand the four levels of Hebraic interpretation.
There are
four levels of understanding and interpretation in Hebrew thought.
- Pashat – the plain or literal
meaning
- Remez – hint meaning
- Drash – allegorical or
parabolic meaning
- Sod – secret or mysterious
meaning
For
instance when Yahshua taught his parables He spoke on the drash level and when
John presented Revelations it was on the sod level. Matthew often spoke on the
pashat level and Mark taught on the remez level. The problem with most
ecclesial (Church) scholars that they use hermeneutical techniques of
interpretation to interpret the entire Scripture of which is based on the
pashat level of understanding.
With out
this recourse to this understanding many sayings in Scripture are not properly
understood and often ridiculous assumptions are made especially from the Book
of Revelations and Daniel. As it is outside the scope of our studies to look at
these wild interpretations, I will say that because of this problem, ecclesial
scholars have not understood the sacred name and its value in understanding
Scripture.
3 Cross
cultural mindsets
The final
problem is our clear misunderstanding of the culture and traditions of the time.
We must never forget that Yahushua and all of the prophets are Hebrew and that
they were born into a Hebrew culture, hence they had a Hebrew mindset.
A proper
background understanding of Hebrew terminology is very important.
For
example: What does the term law mean in Hebrew? The term light? The term faith?
Etc unless we know these definitions, it is certain we cannot fully understand
the Scriptures.
The English
Scriptures of today are translated from the mindset of the Greek and Roman of
which is diametrically opposed to the Hebrew mindset. What does this imply for
the sacred name, simply it means that the original names will not have any
value at all because in the Greek and Roman mindset substituting the names of
their pagan deities with other names was an established cultural practice.
Next week
we will begin our exciting journey into the sacred name of YAHWEH and I tell
you will not want to miss what I am going to reveal to you.
Note: the
Symbols or letters that appears at the heading of this message. This is the
Palaeo Hebrew form of the set apart name of YAHWEH before it took on the modern
Hebrew.
PART ONE
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART ONE
Last week
we spoke about the arguments against using the sacred name and I briefly
introduced some of the reasons why the sacred name was dropped from the
Scripture.
Today we
will begin to address some of these arguments.
The
principle argument used by people to dismiss the sacred name of YAHWEH is the
notion or understanding that the Almighty has many names, that their is no
singular personal name for our heavenly Father, therefore we can use any name
to call on Him or substitute His name.
The notion of many names
It is true
that Scriptures uses many names to call on Him, but the Scripture also clearly
teaches that there is ONLY one personal name of our heavenly Father.
The
misunderstanding comes because of the not understanding the difference between generic
names, titles, and substitute names and the personal name.
For example
both the Hebrew Scripture uses the names eloha, Elohim, el, el Shaddai, elon,
Adonai etc and the English Scriptures uses the names, Lord, Jehovah, God and so
forth.
This
reasoning fails to take into account that these other names are merely generic
and descriptive titles, not personal names of the Father. When used in their
proper context they are meant to describe or convey an attribute, a rank or
title of the person. For example Mr. or Mrs. is title we would add to a person
name but that persons name is not Mr. or Mrs.
YAHWEH on
the other hand is our heavenly Father’s ONLY personal and PROPER name. A point
I will thoroughly establish in part two of our study. However, let us first
look at these other names to understand their meaning.
Generic names
Generic
names are name of His genus or kind.
These names
are eloha, elohi, Elohim (in Hebrew
eloha is singular, plural elohi, collective noun eloahim) For example Psalm
86:8, 96:4
Malakim
(Angels) are also called Elohim Psalm 8:5, Hebrews 2:6
In English
and generally in most languages we only use one term to refer to all three
usages. We use the word God or LORD.
The point
that must be clearly made is that generic or family names are never used in
Scripture as the Father’s personal name.
Titles
Titles are
class of names that is descriptive in nature or simply social titles.
Chief among
these is the Hebrew term el and its cognate form eli and elim.
For
example:
“And about
the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken
Me?"
Mathew
27:46
El means
“mighty one” or “mighty hero”
El can also
refer to a powerful ruler and can equally be applied to a wicked man.
In Ezekiel for
example the Babylonian king whom conquered Egypt is referred to as “el of the
nations” see also Ezekiel 30:20-26
The term is
also used to refer to the rulers in Israel.
To
demonstrate, in the book of Ezekiel Eli is applied to rulers in the land of
Jerusalem who were carried away captive by the king of by Babylon.
See other
uses of the term in Job 41:25 and Psalm 29:1
Scripture
also uses the term “el” to describe pagan deities Deuteronomy 31:12, Psalm 81:9
Malachi 2:11
Here are
some of the ways the title “el” is used to apply to YAHWEH:
El Shaddai
“the all powerful mighty one” Genesis 17:1, 28:3, 35:11
El Elion
“the most high mighty one” Genesis 14:18,19,20,22
El Dauth “
the mighty one of knowledge” 1 Samuel 2:3
El Olam
“the mighty one of eternity” Genesis 21:33, Is 40:28
El Roi “the
mighty one of seeing” Genesis 16:13
Other
titles used in Scripture are Adonai which means “sovereigns. The singular is
“adon” or sovereign. This term is also used to refer to pagan deities.
Other
titles used in Scripture to refer to YAHWEH.
The Holy
One of Israel. Psalm 71:22,78:41
The Ancient
of Days Daniel 7:9,13
And there
are many others, which is not relevant to the issue here.
Again the
point must be made that at no time are any titles ever referred to as the personal
name of our heavenly Father. In fact the use of titles in any culture is never
understood as personal names.
Substitute names
Substitute
names are names used in direct replacement of the Fathers personal name.
Some of the
substitute names that our English translations use to substitute YAHWEH are
God, GOD, lord, LORD and Jehovah (a hybrid form).
GOD or God
The word
God is a very loose and general English term that can also refer to a super
human being, a pagan deity or a statue. The Oxford dictionary defines God “as
someone who is worshipped as possessing powers over nature human fortunes etc
The
Encyclopedia Britannica 11th edition says, “GOD-the common Teutonic
word for a personal object of religious worship…applied to all those super
human beings of the heathen mythologies. The word god on the conversion of the
Teutonic races to Christianity was adopted as the name of the one Supreme
being…”
The word
God fails to distinguish between the singular and plural meanings of Hebrew. It
was first introduced into the Scriptures when the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures
were translated into English in the 15th Century by William Tyndale
and later in 1611 when the King James Bible was published.
The origin
of the word itself is clearly pagan.
LORD or Lord
The word
LORD has substituted the name of YAHWEH in our English Scriptures some 6823
times. The Short form Yah has also been substituted 48 times with Lord and only
in one place was it retained as Yah in Psalm 68:4 in the older and more literal
translations. Saul (Paul in the Greek) correctly points out in 1 Corinthians
8:5 that the word Lord is also applied to other deities.
The word
LORD and Lord is translated from the Hebrew word “Adonai” and the Greek word
“Kurios.” This is an incorrect translation of the word Adonai and Kurios. Adonai means “sovereign” it refers to the
basis or foundation of the government i.e. “who is on the throne.” An exact
rendering of Adonai and Kurios would be the word “master.” Interestingly Lord
in the Hebrew literally means “Baal.”
Jehovah
To avoid the misuse or miss pronunciation of the Fathers name, the elders of Israel invented the tetra gram “YHVH” as a substitute for YAHWEH and used the vowels of the name Adonai in the text to indicate to the reader not to pronounce the name of YAHWEH but to say Adonai.
Pope Leo during the 12th century is generally accredited as the first to introduce the name of Yahovah. A man by the name of Petrus Galatinus during the middle ages (about 1500 AD) changed this abbreviation to JHVH and substituted the vowels from the name Adonai to create Jehovah. The letter J is non-existent in the Hebrew alphabet; thus, the name of Jehovah is an invented or coined name.
It first appeared in the English language when it was used in the KJV. It was subsequently dropped from the NKJV because of the lack of scriptural evidence to support its use.
YHVH
YHVH or the
name “ha Shem” which means the name are valid alternatives and they are not
pagan names but are also clearly substitutes. Note: the four letters YHVH are
all vowels and not consonants.
Also the
short form, the name “YAH” is used as a name. YAH is the first Syllable of the
name of YAHWEH and it appears 49 times in the Old Covenant. This is also an
abbreviated name for the angel Yahu YAHWEH who became Yahushua the messiah.
See Exodus
23:20-21, Isaiah 12:2, 26:4 or Psalm 68:4
However,
these names are not the personal name of the Father. They are merely
substitutes that translators have used to avoid using the name of YAHWEH. A
topic I will discuss in some length in the next few lessons.
Several
prophets have this name YAH in their names:
Ab-yah or
Abijah means Fruit of Yah
Yesha-yah
or Jesaiah means Yah will deliver
Yerem-yah
or Jeremiah means Yah will arise
Zechar-yah
or Zechariah means Yah is remembered
Zede-yah or
Zedekiah means Right of Yah
Having said
all of the above what then is the personal name of the Father.
Personal name
There is
ONE name by which Scripture commands us to personally call our heavenly Father.
Exodus 3:15
“Moreover
eloahim said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The
YAHWEH the elohi (God) of your fathers, the elohi (God) of Abraham, the elohi
(God) of Isaac, and the elohi (God) of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My
name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.”
YAHWEH is
His personal name. We will continue this next week.
Before I
leave you might have noticed that I have not mentioned the name of Jesus or the
Holy Spirit or Ghost what ever your preference may be. We will deal with these
names later as we come to days of Yahushua in our studies. There is a great
amount of scriptural evidence that shows that Yahushua’s name has been changed.
Revelations 3:12 clearly tells us that Yahushua has a “new (personal) name.”
PART TWO
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART TWO
Last week
we spoke about the false notion or understanding that the Almighty has many
names (generic names, titles and substitute names) that is no singular personal
name for our heavenly Father therefore we can use any name to call on Him or
substitute His name.
Today I
want to look at why the translators changed the name of YAHWEH.
First if
you look at the forward or the introduction of any King James version Bible you
will see a specific notation saying that the name of YAHWEH or YHWH has been
substituted by the word LORD or GOD.
Clearly they admit what they have done. Lets us look at the evidence.
Refer to
the attached sheet below of Psalm 135 showing a word for word comparison from
the Hebrew to the King James Version. You will clearly notice that the Hebrew
word “YAHWEH” in the Hebrew has been replaced with the word LORD or lord and in
other places the word GOD or God. It is most conspicuous and cannot be denied.
Note:
Hebrew is read from the left to the right.
The
question now that we must answer is:
WHY did
they do this?
Before I go
on to answer this question, it is important to first set a foundation of why
the personal name is important. After all if we do not believe that the name of
YAHWEH is important, then we will not care by what name we use to call Him.
We cannot
really answer the why question until we know why the name is so important.
The Personal name of YAHWEH
The sacred
name of YAHWEH appears in the Scriptures nearly 7,000 times.
If a word
or a text appears that many times in any book, no matter what book it is, then
that is a clear indication of the importance or value of that word or text. In
deed we say that the name of Jesus is important because it appears through out
the King James version of the New Testament even though it is a substitute
name.
YAWHEH said
to Moses that His name is FOREVER and it is a memorial to ALL generations.
Memorial means something that MUST BE remembered and in this case to all
generations. Exodus 3:15 In this passage YAHWEH himself specifically states
that His name is YAHWEH.
See also
these references of YAHWEH confirming His own name.
Exodus 6:3, Exodus 20:2-3 (the ten
commandments) Isaiah 42:8, 45:5-7
Jeremiah
16:21-21,50:33-34
YAHWEH does
not say, “you can call me YAHWEH” or “this is one of MY names”
He clearly
and unequivocally states that “I am YAHWEH, this is my name.” At no time
does YAHWEH state that his name is eloha, elohi, Elohim, el or Adonai or any
such word. An interesting thought arises at this point, if we were to apply the
situation to our own names. If some body told you that His name is John how
would you feel if he called you Tom instead?
The prophets themselves testify that YAHWEH is His name
Because of
the brevity of our time I will give you the references and you look it up for
yourself.
For
references see below;
Moses:
Exodus 15:2-3
David: 2
Samuel 6:2 Psalm 83:16-19
Jeremiah: Jeremiah 33:2-3, 46:18
Amos: Amos
4:13, 5:8,27
Scholars also testify
Immanent
scholar G T Manley writes,
“Strictly
speaking YAHWEH is the only name of God.”
T Rees in
the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia writes,
“That
Yahweh is the personal proper par excellence of Israel’s God”
Harpers
Bible Dictionary notes that the almighty was known by
“the
individual and personal name YAHWEH translated as Lord….”
A B
Davidson in A Dictionary of the Bible states that YAHWEH “is a personal name”
The
Catholic Confraternity Text acknowledges “the word YAHWEH” is “the proper
personal name of the God of Israel.”
Why then was the name changed?
Now we can
answer the why question I posed at the start of our lesson.
Jewish
scholars confess that the Jews themselves changed the name in the later versions
of the Scriptures to these substitutes names and titles in order:
1 To avoid
its misuse.
2 To avoid
the name from becoming a common name. I.e. the name is sacred!
3 To avoid
the mispronunciation of the name.
They did
this not because of any scriptural precedent i.e. authority from the
Scripture itself but because of foreign influences that had come upon Israel
from pagan nations.
This
practice of substituting the sacred name originated some 200 years before
Yahushua was born but there is evidence it started even further back than this,
which we will cover in another lesson.
During the
reign of the wicked King Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 B.C)
Jews were
compelled under the penalty of death not to speak the name of YAHWEH
because
Antiochus wanted the Jewish people to follow Greek practices (This is called
Hellenization.) Greek as know was the dominant culture of the east during this
time.
Hence when
the Scriptures were translated into Arabic the words Eloha, Elohi, Elohim, el
and Adonai were used to substitute the name of YAHWEH.
When the
Scriptures were then translated into Greek, the Greek translators used the
words “Kyrios” meaning Lord and “theos” meaning God as substitutes for the
words Adonai and Eloha or el. The Church later adopted this practice into their
thinking and teaching and used the terms LORD, GOD and Jehovah.
Mohammed
the founder of Islam used the word, “Allah” which in Arabic is Eloha as the
Fathers personal name. The rabbis of the time who taught Mohammad did not
tell
Mohammad
that Allah was merely a substitute name.
This
history of substituting the Father personal name is called the ineffable
name doctrine. This is a man made doctrine. Thus, the sacred name of
YAHWEH was changed by MAN and not by heaven or under heavens authority.
There is
absolutely no Scriptural command or precedent anywhere that allows anyone to
change the Fathers name or use substitute names. I challenge you to find me
one.
The Mission of Yahushua
Yahushua
was born into a time when this doctrine was widely taught and followed and was
law according Jewish oral law. A topic I will explain in greater detail when I
reach the time of Yahushua.
Yahushua’s
plainly stated that His mission was to manifest the name of YAHWEH.
John 17:26
The word “manifested” means to make known or undo what had been done. Not only
did He teach in the sacred name but He prayed in the sacred name.
See Luke
19:36-40
Out of this
incident came forth one of the greatest prophecies of the Scriptures.
Yahushua
said unless we again learn to say the sacred name of YAHEWH He will not come
back.
"for I
say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in
the name of the LORD (YAHWEH)" Matthew 23:39
This
Scripture directly connects the second coming to the restoration of the name of
YAHWEH. Perhaps the motivating reason why you are hearing this message now.
Before I
leave our lesson let me insert here a brief explanation as to the pronunciation
of the name of YAHWEH. Many proponents against using the sacred name contest
that we should not use the name because we no longer know its exact
pronunciation, as it was lost but is this true?
Pronunciation
The
pronunciation of the name YAHWEH has never been lost!
The
Encyclopedia Judaica unequivocally states:
“The true
pronunciation of the YHWH was never lost. Several early Greek writers of the
Christian Church testify that the name was pronounced YAHWEH. This is
confirmed, at least for the vowels of the first syllable of the name, by
shorter form
YAH, which
is sometimes used in poetry (e.g. Ex 15:2) and the –yahu or –yah that serves as
the final syllable in very many Hebrew names.”
The Jewish
Encyclopedia comments:
“If the
explanation of the form above given be the true one, the original pronunciation
must have been YAHWEH or YAHAWEH. From this the contracted from Jah or Yah is
most readily explained.”
G T Manly
sometime fellow of Christ’s College in the New Bible Dictionary writes:
“The
pronunciation AYHWEH is indicated by the transliteration of the name into Greek
in early Christian literature, in the form IAOUE (Clement of Alexandria or iabe.”
Other
Christian’s works also agree that the pronunciation was never lost.
A New
Standard Bible Dictionary states the sacred name “is properly YAHWEH.” The
Revised Standard Bible testifies that the “name is YAHWEH.”
So how is
the name pronounced. It is to be pronounced as ee-ah-oo-ay.
Next week
we will discuss why the name of YAHWEH is so important.
The
significance and worth of the name.
PART THREE
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART THREE
Last week
we looked at scriptural proofs and scholars testimony on the name of YAHWEH. We
also answered why the translators changed the name of YAHWEH.
Today I
want to look at significance of the name of YAHWEH, in other words it real
worth!
Many
scholars casually dismiss the sacred name on the basis that there is nothing in
the name of YAHWEH that it is just another name. Meaning that it is does not
hold any real value. To deal with this assertion we must first understand what
Scripture teaches about the value of names and I mean any name.
The significance of Scriptural names
The
Scriptures tells us that names are very important.
For example
according to Proverbs 22:1 “A good
name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than
silver and gold.”
Ecclesiastes
similar advises 7:1 “A good name
is better than precious ointment…”
The word
“name” in Hebrew is Shem. In Hebrew the word shem means a lot more than just a
name in our present English sense of the term.
It serves not only as a mark or memorial of individuality but implies
honor, authority, character and renown.
In
Scripture personal names hold great significance.
1 They
have prophetic value.
In Scripture names carry prophetic destiny.
For example Abram was changed to Abraham (meaning
a father of multitudes)
signifying that he would become the father
of many nations.
Jacob name was changed to Israel meaning
contending prince with el because
he wrestled with el and won. As a result he
received a blessing. Genesis 32:22-32
There are many more examples.
2 They
have prophetic meaning.
In Scripture names hold prophetic
judgments.
The prophet Hosea was ordered by YAHWEH to
marry Gomer (completion) who
YAHWEH used to represent the harlot nation
of Israel. As this women bore
Children to Hosea, YAHWEH gave them names.
First son was called Yezreal (el the
mighty one) because he would bring judgment
on the house of Israel
Second child was a daughter names
Loruhamah (not pitied) because YAHWEH
would not again have mercy upon the house
of Israel.
Third son was Loammi (not my people) for
Israel would soon be disowned by
YAHWEH.
3 They
have social meaning.
4 They
have intrinsic value.
In Scripture names hold authority, power
and wealth. David used the name of
YAHWEH as the basis of his authority and
power to slay Goliath 1 Samuel 17:45.
Peter was questioned by the High priest
to reveal the name by which he had
preached and healed Acts 4:7
Considering
then what has been said above concerning the value of Scriptural names, it
clearly stands and follows that the name applied to the Almighty would be
highly important and in fact must be the most important name of all names.
So what does the name YAHWEH
mean?
Traditionally
the name is often translated to mean “the eternal” because it carries with it
the idea of self derived and self existence.
A accurate
way of translating the meaning of the name would be to say, “HE THAT ALWAYS
WAS, THAT ALWAYS IS AND THAT EVER IS TO COME.”
Scholar J A
Motyer said these three points about names in Scripture:
“The name
is the person, the name is the person revealed and the name is the person
actively present.”
YAHWEH
Himself explained the meaning of His name when He said to Moses,
“I AM who I
AM” In these words are all three attributes of YAHWEH’s person i.e. He is the
El, “who is, who was and who is to come.” See Revelations 1:8
Never the
less there are attributes in the Scripture of which are ONLY applied to the
sacred name of YAHWEH and not to any other name of which sets His name apart
and far above from any from any other name that is named.
The distinguishing features of the name of YAHWEH
The name of
YAHWEH has seven distinguishing features that place it in a category far above
any other name.
1 It is
sacred
It is the
only name in then entirety of the Scriptures that it is said to be sacred. No
other name in Scripture is called
sacred including the name of Yahushua.
For example
in Psalms we read, “they shall thank your great and fearful name, it is sacred”
and “sacred and awesome is his name” Psalm 99:3 and 111:9
Isaiah
refers to YAHWEH as “the high and lofty one who inhibits eternity and his name
is sacred. Isaiah 57:15
When the
Messiah taught his disciples to pray, the opening line said “Our Father who is
heaven, sacred be your name.”
Note: at no
times does the Scripture say that sacred is your name(S). Only one name is
sacred.
2 It validates covenant
It is the
only name that validates covenants.
The sacred
name was of such importance value that, when YAHWEH “lifted up”
His hands
in order to swear an oath validating the covenants he made with Abraham,
Isaac and
Jacob, he swore by His name. For example, in one act of confirming his
covenant, we read in Genesis “I have sworn by myself says YAHWEH” Genesis 22:16
The book of Hebrews confirm that YAHWEH
promises to Abraham were confirmed by an oath “since by no one he greater to
swear (he) swore by himself”
Hebrews
6:11-19
Another
example comes from Jeremiah 44:26 were YAHWEH states, “Behold I have sworn by
my great name” that a prophecy He spoke would come to pass.
Similarly
when parties in the Scriptures used the name of YAHWEH to confirm a covenant
they could not break it.
For example
when Abraham asked his chief servant to swear an oath he specifically requested
that it be done by the name of YAHWEH. Genesis 24:1-4
When the
Israelites promised not to attack the Gibeoni, even though they had entered
into the agreement by lying, the Israelites were unable to break the
arrangement because they has sworn to them by the name of YAHWEH. Joshua
9:19
Similarly
Jonathan and David remained friends despite the fact that Saul, Jonathan’s
father sought to kill David, for they had sworn to do so in the name of YAHWEH
saying “YAHWEH shall be between you and me and between my seed and your seed
forever.” 1 Samuel 20:42
Note: the
Scripture commands us to use the name of YAHWEH to swear our oaths.
Deuteronomy
6:13 and 10:20 warns us to break the oath is to invoke a certain curse.
3 It guarantees promises
It is the
only name that guarantees that YAHWEH will perform His promises.
Every
promise of Scripture is bound by the sacred name. On numerous occasions the
Scriptures inform us that YAHWEH will perform His promises, which He confirmed
by oaths, for the sole reason of His name’s sake. The following are but
a few examples, 1 Samuel 12:22 Psalm 23:1-3, 25:11, 79:9, 143:11
Israel was
never totally destroyed but a remnant spared because YAHWEH said it was for His
names sake. Ezekiel 20:8-9, 44 Many times He wanted to wipe them off the face
of the earth but the prophets intervened by using the promise of His name.
YAHWEH
promised He would return Israel to the land only because of His names sake.
Ezekiel 36:21 That is why there is an exodus back to Israel despite her enemies
because YAHWEH said by His great name that He will return them back to the
land.
Note: that
Torah (the first five books of the Old Covenant) automatically curses those who
do not obey and revere the name Deuteronomy 28:58-59
4 It is sanctioned by commandment
It is the
only name sanctioned by commandment. Exodus 20:7 No other name is protected by
commandment (written law). The word vain in the commandment comes from the
Hebrew word “Shaua” which means to destroy or devastate or ruin. In other words
we are not to lift up or carry the name of YAHWEH to worthlessness, thereby
destroying it. For example when we say that the name of YAHWEH has no value you
are already breaking the third commandment or if we speak it and then doubt.
The most common interpretation of this verse is to say that we are not to curse
using the name, which is only a limited application of the commandment.
Note:
YAHWEH also strictly commands us not to use the name of other gods whether in
prayer, worship or swearing an oath.
Exodus 23:13
5 It is sanctioned by death
blaspheme
or scorn the name. Leviticus 24:16 No other name in Scripture is sanctioned
with the penalty of death.
Note: the
word blaspheme means to do violence to it. In other words to scorn it
(to use it
with evil intent or meaning) This is not be confused with the ineffable name
doctrine which stated that the name was not to be pronounced at all. This is a
misinterpretation of Scripture.
6 It is
sanctioned by praise.
It is the
only name in Scriptures we are commanded to praise, magnify, glorify and exalt
and thank. Psalm 113:1, 135:1148:5, 149:3
Note: we
are also commanded not to praise the name of other gods Exodus 22:20
7 It is a memorial
It is the
only name in Scripture that is a memorial to all mankind. Exodus 3:15 The word
memorial means memento or commemoration. See also Psalm 135:13
No other
name is a memorial in Scripture including the name of Yahushua.
Other reasons for its worth
1 Those who
revere the name will be blessed Psalm 5:11
2 Will be
protected Psalm 9:10, 20:1
3 Will be
victorious Psalm 44:5
4 Will be
delivered Psalm 91:14
5 Will be
guaranteed an inheritance Psalm 61:5
6 Will be
allowed to enter the Promised Land Psalm 69:35
7 Will
experience His faithfulness and mercy Psalm 89:24
8 Will be
given favor Psalm 119:132
9 Will be
refuge to them Proverbs 18:10
10 Will be
exalted Psalm 89:16-17
PART FOUR
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART FOUR
In part
three we looked at the significance of the name of YAHWEH.
I listed
seven factors of which Scripturally distinguished the name of YAHWEH from any
other name in the Scripture including the name of Yahushua.
In this
part four of our study I want to look at the history of the name of YAHWEH.
The most
prevalent reason cited by various religious groups who claim that the Scripture
gives them authority to disregard the sacred name of YAHWEH is the conviction
that name only began from the time of Moses, it was never known to the
patriarchs or the prophets. Is this true?
His name is eternal
We begin
our examination with Exodus 3:15.
In direct
response to the question from Moses about what to tell his brother Israelites
as to the name of the eloahi who sent him, YAHWEH tells Moses that I AM the
eloahi of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and that His name is FOREVER. Notice the
term “forever” used in this passage, which does not mean that from that point
forward but it means eternal.
The Hebrew
word for eternity is “olam” which is generally translated as forever. In its
true sense it means a time of out of mind. It is immeasurably and incalculable.
Notice also
that in that same verse YAHWEH also tells Moses that this is His name from
GENERATION TO GENERATION. This verse is often translated into English as “unto
all generations.”
In Psalm
90:1-4 we read that He (YAHWEH) existed before “the mountains were born.” This
reveals to us that YAHWEH dwells in a time before time was born. Yahshua said to the Pharisees that, “before
Abraham I AM.” John 8:58
In Isaiah
63:16 we are told that His name existed in EVERLASTING before time. See also
Isaiah 57:15
The
implication of this truth is astounding. This clearly tells us that YAHWEH’s
name is not a Hebrew name because it existed before mankind was created. Those
speaking Hebrew were merely using the name that YAHWEH has revealed to them.
Isaiah 42:8 It was not an invention of men. This clearly disproves every
argument that the name is Hebrew and only for the Hebrew people. The name is as
old as the garden of Eden thousands of years before any Hebrew (Semitic) people
ever received it.
The History
From Adam to Moses
There are
many Scriptural references that report that not only did Abraham know the name,
but Adam and Eve knew the name.
The name
was used when the first man was conceived.
Refer to
Genesis 4:1
In
reference to a time when the sins of men was increasing upon the Earth men used
to name of YAHWEH to call upon Him.
Genesis 4:6
Lamech the father
of Noah called upon the name.
Genesis
5:28
Noah used
the name.
Genesis
9:26
These
references prove that prior to the flood (pre Flood) the name was widely known.
After the flood (post flood) there are more references proving that the name
was widely used.
Abraham
clearly knew the name and used it.
Genesis
12:8, 13:13-14, 15:2
In Genesis
15:7 YAHWEH clearly tells Abraham that His name is YAHWEH.
YAHWEH also
revealed Himself to Abraham as YAHWEH my provider (YAHWEH yireh.) Genesis
22:14
Sarai (Sarah)
also knew the name.
Genesis
16:5
Hagar, the
Egyptian handmaid of Sarah called upon the name.
Genesis
16:13
The servant
of Abraham used the name under oath.
Genesis
24:2-9
The name of
YAHWEH was also known by non-Hebrew people contemporary with both Abraham and
his son Isaac. For instance Abimelech, king of the Palestim and Abimelech’s men
are directly quote using the name while speaking to Isaac.
Genesis
26:28
Knowledge
of the sacred name of YAHWEH also continued after the death of Abraham.
Isaac used
the name.
Genesis
26:22
Rebekah,
the wife of Isaac used the name.
Genesis
27:6-7
Both
knowledge and use of the divine name YAHWEH was continued by Jacob the son of
Isaac.
Jacob used
the name to swear an oath.
Genesis
28:20
Jacob now
Israel used the name to bless his 12 sons.
Genesis
49:18
Even the
wives of Jacob used the name.
For example
Leah Genesis 29:31-35
Not only
did the household of Abraham use the name but Abraham’s Hebrew relatives living
in Aram Nahoraim (Mesopotamia) used the name.
For example
when Laban met Abraham servant he said, “come in blessed of YAHWEH. Why are you
stranding outside.” Genesis 24:31 see also 24:50-51
The prophet
Job the great grandson of Esau (Edom), the twin brother of Jacob spoke in the
name of YAHWEH. Job 1:20-21 See also verses 12:7-9
The prophet
Balaam who dwelt in the city of Pethor located along the Euphrates River in
Aram, a contemporary of Moses spoke the name of YAHWEH several times.
See Numbers
22:13,18-19, 23:3,8,12,21,26, 24:6
The king of
Moab in conversation with Balaam shows that he also knew the name.
Numbers
22:17, 24:1
So what can
we conclude from all of this evidence. It is clear that the personal name of
YAHWEH was known in Eden and after Eden. The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob clearly knew His name. Further the sacred name was in common usage among
members of their household, by their Hebrew kinsmen living in Mesopotamia and
Edom and was known by their Palestim neighbors, all these centuries before
Moses was ever born. Even the non-Israelites contemporaries of Moses like
Balaam of Pethor and Balak of Moab knew the sacred name.
Exodus 6:2-4
The main
argument supporting the belief that the Patriarchs (the Fathers of Faith) did
not know the sacred name rests upon this Scripture alone.
Anti sacred
name scholars contend that this Scripture supports the argument that the sacred
name was not known before Moses because of the statement that, “and by my name
I did not reveal myself to them..” Exodus 6:2-4
A closer
examination of the context of this scriptures shows that this interpretation is
in error. If the translation and understanding of this verse is in fact true,
then large portions of the Scripture would also be blatantly in error.
YAHWEH was
not informing Moses that the sacred name was unknown to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob but to the contrary that He in fact had revealed it to them as part of
His covenants of Promise.
The background of the situation leading up to
this Scripture reveals that YAHWEH was angry with Moses because of his repeated
attempts to seek reasons why he should not go to Egypt. YAHWEH in reply asked
Moses a RHETORIAL QUESTION in verse 3. Clearly it was not a statement but a
question. Recent editions of the Holy Bible and New International version
footnotes this sentence correctly with the alternative reading, “and by my name
the Lord (YAHWEH) did I not let myself be known to them?”
This error
was compounded by the fact that in ancient Hebrew there are no commas, question
marks, periods, quotation marks or other such devises. To understand a sentence
correctly it is essential to look at the context of the Scripture.
We will
continue our study of the history of the name next week.
PART FIVE
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART FIVE
In part
four we looked at the history of the name of YAHWEH from Genesis to Exodus.
In this
part we will continue our study of the history of the name of YAHWEH after
Moses but with a particular emphasis on the impact of the Baal worship on the
prophets and their use of the name.
Ball
worship was the most destructive force in the persecution of the prophets.
Unless we understand the power and influence of this force, we really cannot
understand why the prophets were persecuted for using the name of YAHWEH.
Baal Worship
Note: Baal
(singular) Baali (plural) and Baalim (collective)
The Baal
religion is one of the ancient religions of the Middle East.
Its origin
begins from the tower of Babel. Baal was both the sun god and storm-god. He was
worshiped as sun-god when the people wished to express thanks and gratitude for
light and warmth and fertility. Worship of Baal as storm-god took place to
appease the destructive nature of Baal, demonstrated by drought and storms that
devastated the vegetation of the worshipers.
When Israel
came out of Egypt Baal worship and Baal mindset was already well established
with in Israel. At Sinai they fashioned an image of a two-headed bull (not a
calf), a common symbol of Baal and they worshiped the image. This clearly tells
us that the mindset of Baal was entrenched in the people. YAHWEH knew this
therefore He decided to keep them wandering in the desert for 40 years until
one whole generation had passed.
However,
Israel continued to sin despite YAHWEHS chastisement and many elements of Baal
worship was combined with YAHWEH worship. So much so that the worship of YAHWEH
became indistinguishable from Baal worship during the time of Jeremiah. See
Jeremiah 23:13 In fact the prophets made the people to forget the name of
YAHWEH by calling YAHWEH Baal! See Jeremiah 23:25-27 A very similar situation
we have today with the mix of Greek and Roman paganism that has infiltrated the
Church and have made believers forget the name of YAHWEH and by calling YAHWEH
“LORD!”
Lord in the
Hebrew literally means Baal. Any good Bible encyclopedia will tell you that
Baal means Lord.
Jeremiah
identified the source of Baal in Israel as being ‘taught by their fathers’ See
Jeremiah 9:13-14 The plot to remove YAHWEH as the personal name of the Father
from the Scriptures did not begin with the Syrian empire but with the false
prophets of Baal. However, it was not until the wicked King Antiochus Epiphanes
(175-164 B.C) that it became a law not to pronounce the name of YAHWEH.
The Early Prophets and the name
Moses and
Aaron both spoke and preached in the name of YAHWEH Psalm 99:6 and they were
persecuted by the people because of the Baal influence upon Israel.
Elijah
Another
great prophet that suffered for coming in the name of YAHWEH was Elijah.
Elijah
lived in the time of King Ahab (870-849 B.C.) who had brought the nation of
Israel into complete Baal worship and had married the Baal worshipper Jezebel,
daughter of king of Zidonians.
Elijah
challenged the worshippers of Baal to prove whose name was Eloahi of Israel.
1 Kings
17-18 The worshippers of Baal called upon their Baal using the name of Baal
18:25-26 and Elijah called upon the name of YAHWEH 18:36-37.
Notice that
Elijah called upon the name of YAHWEH and was persecuted for it.
Zechariah, Son of Yahuida
The prophet
Zechariah during the reign of Joash (831-792 B.C) was murdered by
the leaders
of Judah for challenging Baal worship in Israel. The leader of Israel had
convinced the king to allow Asherah images and idols, which were symbols of
Baal.
2 Chronicles 24:17-20 Zechariah spoke and challenged them in the
name of YAHWEH and was stoned for it. Verse 21-22
Jonah
Another
prophet who spoke in the name of YAHWEH was Jonah. He lived during the reign of
Jeroboam 11 (792-752 B.C) Jonah was sent to Nineveh the powerful capital of the
Assyrian empire to cry out against their wickedness but he disobeyed.
During the
voyage his disobedience was discovered so he told the crew to throw him over
board to spare their lives and immediately the sea was made calm. The sign
impressed those abroad the ship that the men respected YAHWEH and they offered
a sacrifice to YAHWEH and vowed vows. Jonah 1:7
When Jonah
arrived at Nineveh YAHWEH spoke to Him in His name. Jonah 3:1-3
Jeremiah
The prophet
Jeremiah was also persecuted for speaking in the name of YAHWEH.
He was sent
to Judah to proclaim that Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed by
Babylon. In Jeremiah 11:18-21 he was warned not to use the name of YAHWEH. In
fact the threat of death and oppression became so great that Jeremiah
contemplated not using the sacred name. See Jeremiah 20:9
Zechariah, Son of Berechiah
After the
Jews returned to Judah after there Babylonian exile and established the state
of Judea in 583 B.C. the temple was rebuilt and the prophet Haggai and
Zechariah
prophesized
in the name of YAHWEH. See Ezra 5:1 Zechariah prophesied the rebuilding of the
temple which was welcomed by the people but when he prophesized that they would
be punished for their sins, they murdered Zechariah between the temple and the
alter. See Matthew 23:45
The early
prophets all spoke in the name of YAHWEH and were persecuted for using the name
of YAHWEH. James confirms this;
“My
brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as
an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure.
You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the
Lord; that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” James 5:10-11
Many of the
prophets were murdered for their prophecies in the name of YAHWEH. Hence, why
Yahushua made this charge against the religious leaders of Israel because they
had murdered the prophets that came in the name of His Father. Refer to Matthew
23:29-39, Luke 11:47-52 Stephen also charged the religious rulers for the
murder of the prophets and he inturn was murdered for using the name. Acts
7:51-53
The
prophets knew their mandate to use the name of YAHWEH comes from the Scripture
and it cost them their lives to use the name. A mandate we all share alike
because we too are under the same mandate. We are commanded by the Scripture to
use the sacred name when we praise, worship prophecy, preach etc.
Our mandate to speak in the name of YAHWEH
There are
many Scriptures commanding us to declare, praise, ascribe, magnify, bless,
thank, sing, worship and dance in the name of YAHWEH.
Refer to
Psalm 7:17, 9:1-2, 18:49, 20:5-7, 22-22, 27:6, 29:1-2, 30:4, 34:3, 35:27
44:8,
45:16, 54:6, 63:4, 69:30, 72:18, 74:21, 75:1, 80:18, 86:11-12, 89:15-16,
92:1,
97:12, 99:2-3, 100:1-5, 103:1-4, 106:47, 113:1-3, 116:11-14, 135:1-3,
138:2,
140:13, 145:1-4, 148:1-5.
These are
but a small handful of quotes of samples from Scripture, there are many, many
more.
Isaiah the
prophet commanded us to make mention among the people His name.
“And in
that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His
deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.” Isaiah
12:4
In other
words declare His name. This is exactly what Yahushua did and at the end of His
mission, He prayed and confirmed this, “I have manifested Your name to the men
whom You have given Me out of the world.”
John 17:6
Next week
we will continue on this and look at the mandate on the nations to use the name
of YAHWEH. Every nation is commanded in Scripture to address YAHWEH by His
name.
PART SIX
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART SIX
Last week
we looked at the history of the name of YAHWEH during the years of the prophets
and particularly the influence of Baal worship on the name.
In this
part we will look at the mandate for the nations to use the name and the name
during the period of the millennium.
.
One of the
arguments that non-Israelite nations and peoples argue is that the name of
YAHWEH is for the Jewish nation. Therefore non- Jewish nations and people are
not expected to use or praise the name. Is this true? Can it be supported from
Scripture?
All Nations
In Psalm
66:1-4 the psalmist states that “all the land sing out the honor of his
name”
Observe
that in this verse as in the others the term name is in the singular and not
the plural. YAHWEH has only one personal name.
In Psalm
68:32 “Governments of the earth” are instructed to sing and play music to
YAHWEH.
In Psalm
83:16-18 the Psalmist condemns the foreign nations of Edomi, Ishmeli, Moabi,
Hagarim, Gebali, Ammoni, Palestim, peope of Tyre, the Assyarians and the
Midiani for YAHWEH to punish them so that they will seek His name.
In the
following passages from the Psalm we are expressly told that the ALL NATIONS
are to give glory to YAHWEH’s sacred name.
Psalm 86:9
Psalm
96:1-8
Psalm 99:2
Psalms
102:12-22
In Psalm
79:6 the psalmist issues a call or an edict to destroy every nation that does
not call upon the name of YAHWEH.
“Pour out
Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not
call on Your name.”
The prophet
Jeremiah supports this admonition of those who do not honor the sacred name.
When discussing the wicked neighboring nations of Israel, Jeremiah states that
the nations that do not confess the name will be destroyed. Jeremiah 12:16-17 In another passage
Jeremiah states that the nations will come and confess the lies and vanity of
what they have learnt and YAHWEH will make them know His name. Jeremiah
16:19-21
In
Zephaniah 3:8-13 prophesies a time when YAHWEH will bring judgment upon all the
nations of the earth and at that time He will restore to the earth a clear
speech
(in the
King James it says a pure language) to call upon the name of YAHWEH.
This
confirms that Hebrew will be the main language of the Earth. The Scripture also
indicates that other languages will be spoken.
There is
evidence that suggests that the sacred name will in fact be restored to common
use before the Great tribulation.
According
the Revelations at the end of the Great tribulations un-repentant men will be
found speaking against the sacred name.
“Then the
fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to
scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they
blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did
not repent and give Him glory.”
Revelations 16:8-9
This
passage clearly suggests that during the tribulation the name of YAHWEH would
have been restored in the earth or how would they curse the name if they did
not know about it. This is with accord with word of Isaiah we quoted
earlier, “the earth shall be full of
the knowledge of YAHWEH as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9
During the Millennium
During the
millennium reign the name of YAHWEH will be the only name that will be praised
by all nations, by all flesh and all peoples FOREVER. The following Psalms
speak of the Millennium when the Messiah would reign in Jerusalem and at that
time Israel, “the gentiles” “all flesh” and “all creatures” are commanded to
praise the name of YAHWEH.
Psalm 117:1
Psalm
145:21
Psalm
148:7-14
You will notice that in this
last Psalm verse 13 the psalmist plainly declares that the name of YAHWEH ALONE
is to be praised. Note the word ALONE!
The prophet
Isaiah proclaims the same truth. Speaking of the future world under the Messiah
he writes:
“the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of YAHWEH as the waters cover the sea”
Isaiah 11:9
All the
Middle East nations will praise YAHWEH during this time. Isaiah 19:18-20
During the
millennium YAHWEH’s name will become “Achad” which means unified or ONE.
Meaning there will be One name, that is all of the generic names and titles
will be dissolved because all men will use the one name of YAHWEH.
Zechariah
tells us that the remnant of nations that remain after the tribulation will be
required to come up to Jerusalem during the feats of Tabernacles to praise
YAHWEH and those nations that do not come up to Jerusalem to praise YAHWEH will
have no rain. Zechariah 14:16-17 Thus, it will become compulsory during the
millennium to praise YAHWEH and address Him by His name if we want to survive.
See also Revelations 15:4
Malachi
tells us that during the millennium the name of YAHWEH shall be great among the
nations. Malachi 1:11 Notice that this passages esteems only the name of
YAHWEH.
Every the
foreigner (gentile) who wishes to join Israel will be welcomed into the kingdom
provided that they love the name of YAHWEH and honor His Torah. Isaiah 56:3-7
"Also
the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the YAHWEH, to serve Him, And to
love the name of the YAHWEH, to be His servants; Everyone who keeps from
defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant; Even them I will bring to My
holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall
be called a house of prayer for all nations."
In another
passage in Isaiah tells us that, “every
knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear and shall say, only in YAHWEH do I
have righteousness and strength.” Isaiah 45:23 Cited by Saul (Paul) in Romans
14:11and Philippians 2:10-11.
This
Scripture here in Isaiah is very important because this passage informs us that
every person regardless of their nationality, will one day have to confess the
name of YAHWEH. They will say, “as
YAHWEH lives.”
The name of the Millennium
In
Philippians 2:10-11 we are given the impression that it is the name of Yahushua
that every knew will bow and confess but closer examination of the preceding
verse 9
clearly
tells us that the name of Yahushua is now YAHWEH. Scripture does not contradict
scripture. This is line with declaration of Isaiah 45:23.
In
Ephesians 1:15-23 Rav Saul (Paul in the Greek) tells us that the name that
YAHWEH has given His son Yahushua is far above any power or name that is named.
“…far above
all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” Ephesians 1:21
In Hebrews
we are told that Yahushua has become “better than the angels, as mush as A MORE
EXCELLENT NAME HE HAS INHERITED THAT THEY”
Hebrews 1:4
In
Revelations 3:12 Yahushua speaking to the congregations of Israel (Church)
confirms that He has a new name and He would give that new name to every one
who overcomes.
“He who
overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go
out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the
city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new name.”
This name
according to Revelations 14:1 will be written on the forehead of the 144,000
elect.
“Then I
looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and
forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.” Revelations 14:1
The name of
the city during the millennium will be YAHWEH IS THERE.
"All
the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from
that day shall be: THE LORD (YAHWEH) Is THERE." Ezekiel 48:35
PART SEVEN
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART SEVEN
Last week
we looked at the mandate for every nation to praise YAHWEH by His sacred name.
That during the millennium all men everywhere will be required to use the
sacred name of YAHWEH. We also found out that Yahushua name has changed to
YAHWEH, the name by which He will be called during the millennium.
In this
part we will look at the sacred name during the years of the Messiah but more
specifically I will look at this period in the context of an argument that I
briefly mentioned at the end of our last lesson last week, which will take up
most of our subject today.
This
argument states that Yahushua and His disciples never used the name of YAHWEH
because the New Covenant they say comes to us in the Greek language. Hence, the
Greek does not use the name of YAHWEH but its uses the terms:
Theos
(which means GOD) and Kurios (which means LORD) therefore they argue it is
right for us to use such terms and their meanings. To refute this argument we
must look at the language of Yahushua’s day.
Is there evidence to show that Greek was the common language of Israel?
The language of Yahushua’s day
It is true
that the gospels and the epistles of the Apostles were written in Greek and
that most of the ancient manuscripts of the 1st and 2nd
Century are in Greek.
However,
there is a great amount of evidence that shows that the gospels (besarot)
and the
writings of the Apostles were written in Hebrew but later translated into
Greek.
First the
Apostles and disciples were of Hebrew descent. They clearly spoke Hebrew or
Aramaic as their mother tongue. Some scholars have suggested that Palaeo Hebrew
is the mother tongue of all languages.
Second most
all of the Greek manuscripts that have been found were found outside of
Palestine and not in Israel itself.
It would
have been natural for the followers of the Apostles to later translate the
original Hebrew manuscripts into Greek when the besarot (good news) started to
be dispersed among the gentiles. The lingua franca of the ancient western world
during that period was Greek.
Unfortunately,
the original Hebrew texts were later suppressed and destroyed by both the Jews
(who saw them as heretical) and the Christians who came to view them as
Judaizing. Thus, there are no surviving Hebrew originals but there are some
surviving Hebrew copies dated around the 3rd Century.
Third the
Jews of Judea and Galilee during the first Century despised the Greek language
because of the forced hellenization policy that was started by King Epiphanes,
which created the Maccabean revolt.
Fourth the
testimony of a priest by the name of Josephus who was of the ruling house
of the
Pharisees confirms that Greek was a foreign tongue in Israel during this time.
He said in his writings, (between 75 and 79 A.D) that Greek was a “foreign and
unfamiliar tongue” in Palestine. Josephus wrote the history of the Jewish wars
with Rome. Biblical scholars regard
him, as a very accurate historian.
In a later
work called “the Antiquities of the Jews” he confesses that he himself a highly
educated Judaean priest of his day did not speak Greek.
Fifth the
Talmudic condemns the use of Greek. The Talmud is the oral traditions of the
Jewish people. The oral law as distinguished from the Law of Moses. The oral law
disallowed the translation of the Hebrew into Greek in Israel because Greek
they regarded was a pagan language, which explains why there were no copies in
Israel.
Sixth
non-Jews also testify that the language of Jews living in the first century
Palestine was Hebrew and not Greek. Papaias (early second century) and Irenaeus
(second century) tells us that the apostle Matthew wrote his text “in the
Hebrew language” and “using the Hebrew in their own dialect.”
Jerome an
early Church father likewise writes that Matthew composed his work about the
Messiah “in Judea in Hebrew” and that it was afterwards translated into Greek.
Similarly
Eusebius (early fourth Century) speaking of the New Covenant book to Hebrews,
states that Saul (in Greek called Paul) had “spoken in writing to the Hebrews
in their native language.” Jerome tells us that:
“ He Paul
being a Hebrew wrote Hebrew, that is his own tongue..”
In Acts
21:40 and 22:2 Saul addressed the Judeans in Hebrew, although there is evidence
he also spoke Greek but he certainly did not write his letters in Greek.
Seventh
there is a great amount of evidence from the New Covenant itself that shows it
was written in Hebrew. Numerous words and terms remain in our Greek editions of
the New Covenant that are pure Hebrew. They were simply transliterated.
For
example: Amen, alleluia, messiah, Sabbath, maranatha, abba, rabbi, satan,
hosanna and so forth.
There are
also many mistranslations of words: For example Matthew 19:24 the word camel in
Greek is Kamelon which was translated from the Aramaic word Kamel which means
rope.
Interestingly
there is no reference anywhere in the New Covenant that the Messiah or the
Apostles spoke Greek but there is evidence that they clearly spoke Hebrew. For
instance when Yahushua later appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus the
Scriptures declares that He spoke to Saul in Hebrew. Acts 26:14
“And when
we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in
the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard
for you to kick against the goads.”
Yahushua
last dying words were, “Eli, eli lama
sabachthani?” translated as “My el my el, why have you forsaken me.” A direct quote from Psalm 22:1. See also
Mark 5:41 and Mark 7:34. This is clearly Hebrew.
Another
major reason why we know that Yahushua and all the Apostles spoke Hebrew is
because it is the language of the Torah and the prophets, which they read and
heard in their synagogues every Sabbath.
The fact is
Greek is not an inspired language period. F F Bruce a biblical scholar said
this:
“The
general religious vocabulary of the Greek language was pagan in character.”
Neither
does the Greek carry with it adequate power to transmit the original Hebrew
meanings.
An ancient
translator of the Hebrew book called Ecclesiaticus said, “for the originally
things spoken in Hebrew have not the same force in them when they are
translated into another tongue.”
If you are
not convinced by now with this evidence, then you must accept your premise of
Greek on faith because the evidence simply does not support the case that the
originals were in Greek. The truth is YAHWEH does not change, the New Covenant
must have been set in Hebrew in order to maintain the continuity from the old
to the new or the Scripture will be broken.
So what can
we conclude from this? Because the New Covenant was originally in Hebrew, it
would have certainly used the sacred name of YAHWEH from which the later Greek
translators clearly substituted the titles of God and LORD. In fact the present
oldest Aramaic copies we have of the originals perfectly preserves the name in
Arabic.
Now the
question we now need to answer is why did the Greek translators remove the name
of YAHWEH? I have in fact briefly answered this question in an earlier part but
now I will deal with it in greater detail.
The Prohibition against the sacred name
During the
time of the Messiah it was prohibited by Jewish law (based upon rabbinical
interpretation and not scriptural precedent) for all the people of the land,
except for the High Priest and a chosen few to pronounce or use the sacred name
and even they were permitted its utterance only under special circumstances.
Transgression
of this Jewish law was punishable by death.
Archaeological evidence as well as historical
records testify that from the time that the Israelites were first banded
together as a nation at the Exodus in 1439 BC to after the Babylonian captivity
in the late 6th century B.C, the Israelites commonly spoke and wrote
the sacred name YAHWEH (this is from Moses to Ezra)
The
Encyclopedia Judaica concludes,
“At least
until the destruction of the first temple in 586 B.C this name (YAHWEH) was
regularly pronounced with its proper vowels, as it is clear from the Lachish
letters shortly before that date.”
The sacred
name was commonplace in Judea and Galilee up until the 2nd Century
B.C.
So what
happen?
The pivotal
point came in the reign of the Seleucid king name Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164)
who was a member of the Greek ruling house that governed the Syrian empire, an
empire that included Galilee and Judea.
King
Epiphanes under the influence of Greek culture and some influential Jewish
citizens forced the Jewish people to adopt Greek culture and language. The Jews
were compelled under the penalty of death to depart from the laws of their
fathers and to cease living by the laws of eloahim. As part of the program of
forced hellenization the name of YAHWEH was disallowed.
The attempt
forced hellenization by Epiphanes and the liberal Jew resulted in a revolt of
the people of Judea and Galilee that brought to power the Maccabean priest
kings a line that survived from 167 to 37 B.C.
At the end
of this period and as a result of the Maccabean revolt there came into power
the three leading religious parties: the Pharisees, the Sadducees and Essenes.
They
strongly opposed the Greek culture but supported the prohibition against using
the sacred name of YAHWEH.
The
horrible blasphemy that had occurred during King Epiphanes reign could not be repeated.
The sanctuary in Jerusalem was to be polluted and called after Zeus Olympius
(the chief Greek god). Pagan sacrifices and Prostitution was practiced in the
temple. And the name of YAHWEH was blasphemed.
In the eyes
of the rabbis, everything possible had to be done to avoid the misuse of the
name of YAHWEH from ever occurring again. It was time to build a fence around
the Torah. Speaking of this transition period Yersalemi Yoma a Jewish scholar
states:
“In former
times the name (YAHWEH) was taught to all but when immorality increased it was
reserved for the pious.”
Thus, the
Jewish leaders pressed forward with an ultra pious interpretation of Leviticus
24:16 which commanded that anyone whether Israelite or alien who had blasphemed
(did violence to) the name should be stoned to death. A misunderstanding of
Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11 which commanded that no one was to carry the
name of YAHWEH to worthlessness (i.e. in vain)
These
passages were now understood to mean that it was profane even to utter the
sacred name and only the very pious were permitted limited use of the name.
Thus, it
became a Jewish law in the first Century that it was illegal for any common man
to pronounce the sacred name of YAHWEH. We will continue this next
week.
PART EIGHT
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART EIGHT
Last week
we looked at language of Yahushua’s day. We discovered that Hebrew was the
common language of Yahushua’s day and not Greek. However, Greek influence resulted in the prohibition against the
use of the sacred name in Israel.
In this
part we will look at the Messiah and the sacred name. We will examine in detail
the reason why Yahushua was persecuted and why He was killed. Some of the
truths I will reveal in the next few lessons will be a surprise for some of us
who have traditionally believed that the Yahushua was killed because of His
claim to be the Messiah. There is nothing like knowing the truth.
The Messiah and the sacred name
The
Scripture clearly shows us that not only did Yahushua know the sacred name but
He specifically came in that sacred name.
He told the
Jews who sought His life:
“I have
come in the name of my father and you receive me not; if another should
come in his own name, him you will receive.” John 5:43
Here in
this passage He clearly reveals the name that He came in and notice it is not
in his earthly name Yahushua or the Greek substitute Jesus. There is a
messianic prophecy in Psalm 89:24 that foreshowed that the Messiah would
specifically come in the name of YAHWEH.
"But
My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn
shall be exalted.”
Additional
support of that the Messiah would come in the name of His father, is found in
the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15-19 cited by Kepha (Peter) in Acts
3:22-23 Note the verse “He speaks in my Name”
“The LORD
your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your
brethren. Him you shall hear, "according to all you desired of the LORD
your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again
the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I
die.' "And the LORD said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. 'I will
raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My
words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.' And it
shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name,
I will require it of him.”
There have
been many Messiah’s who have come with signs and wanders and even with great
power but none of them spoke in the name of YAHWEH. That is how we know that
Yahushua is the Messiah because He came in the name of YAHWEH.
The
followers of Mohammad often quote this verse as proof that their prophet
Mohammad is the prophet that Moses speaks of here. Yet he does not meet that
one crucial condition because Mohammad speaks in the name of Allah.
A true
prophet that comes from heaven speaks in the name of YAHWEH. We had seen in
another lesson how Jeremiah rebuked the prophets of his day because they
prophesied in the name of Baal and the prophets were accused of trying to make
Israel forget the name of YAHWEH. Jeremiah 23:25-27
In Hebrews
2:11-12 Rav Saul (Paul in the Greek) identifies Yahushua as their expected
Messiah because He declared the name of YAHWEH to His brothers.
Rave Saul
was quoting Psalm 22:22.
“For both
He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which
reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare
Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise
to You."
Further
proof that Yahushua came in the name of YAHWEH comes from the last night He
spent with His disciples. The very night that Yahushua was betrayed by Judas
and taken by the Jewish religious leaders to be tried and executed, He prayed a
final prayer to His father, which is like a summation or a final report of His
earthy mission, He said these words,
“I have
glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work, which You have given Me
to do. "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the
glory which I had with You before the world was. "I have manifested
Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were
Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” John 17:4 -5
The word
manifest here means to make known. If the sacred name was not important
why would
Yahushua mention that He has completed the task of making them know
YAHWEH’s
sacred name?
Further on
in this prayer Yahushua specifically asks His Father to “keep them in His
name.”
“Now I am
no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy
Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they
may be one as We are. "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in
Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost
except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” John
17:11-12
If the name
is un-important why would He ask that they be kept in His name? I have already
mentioned the passage in Proverbs 18:10 that states that His name is a
“refuge.” Now notice at the end of this
prayer Yahushua again affirms His mission was to proclaim the name of YAHWEH.
"O
righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these
have known that You sent Me. "And I have declared to them Your name,
and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be
in them, and I in them." John 17:25-26
If the name
were already known in Israel why on earth would He declare something that is
already known? Unless the name was clearly unknown to the people.
Therefore
what can we conclude from the above. The name was clearly unknown to Israel. According
to a noted scholar C H Dodd, “According to John 17:6,26 the mission of Christ
in this world was to make known the Name of God.”
Under Roman
law it is not permissible or lawful for the state to put a person to death
unless they have clearly broken an established law of the state that is
punishable by the death sentence. In others words it must be a crime that is punishable by death before you can be
executed. That crime must be first established by legal process (i.e. trial and
judge.)
We know
from our previous lesson that it became unlawful or illegal in Israel to utter
or say the sacred name and to do so was a crime punishable by death. This I had
established was a misinterpretation of the commandments but it became the very
reason why they moved to execute Yahushua. I will establish this truth over two
separate parts.
PART NINE
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART NINE
Last week
we looked at the Messiah and the sacred name.
We learnt that Yahushua specifically came in the name of His Father
YAHWEH and that part of His mission was to make known the name of YAHWEH. I
concluded our message with the motive why the religious leaders of Judaea
wanted to murder Yahushua.
In this
part we will continue our investigations into the murder of Yahushua. It is generally understood among the
Christian Church that the reason for the murder of Yahushua was because of His
claim to be the messiah. I have already shown that they were many
self-proclaimed messiahs after and before Yahushua. None of whom were executed
because of their claim to be messiah, so why was Yahushua murdered?
The motive to murder Yahushua
I briefly
touched on the motive last week and today I will explain it in full.
There were
primarily three motives why they wanted to murder Yahushua.
They
were jealous of His ability and success
The rabbis
were insulted by the fact that Yahushua in their eyes was an uneducated man
having not learned under any rabbi or rabbinical school. When Yahushua taught
in the synagogues and temple for example, the Jews supporting the rabbis argued
“how does this one know having letters (knowing Hebrew) not having learned”
they reasoned. John 7:15 When Yahushua taught the people he did so as one
“having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29 Mark 1:21-22. Meaning He spoke as one knowing the meaning of the Scriptures,
whereas they could only guess. Their jealousy of Yahushua is clearly evident in
this passage, “For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because
of envy. ” Mark 15:10 In other words they were extremely jealous of him.
The people
everywhere were heralding Yahushua as prophet, King and messiah.
The signs
in which he performed were astounding and causing the multitudes to follow
him. The religious leaders of Judea
said of Yahushua, “the world has gone after Him.” John 12:19
They feared loosing the support and respect of the people
Which was
based upon the oral law (these are
laws, customs and traditions of which have been passed down from generation to
generation). Yahushua challenged their very source of power and authority.
They are
listed as follows:
Halachot: Are new laws added to the Scripture.
Minhagim:
Are Jewish customs that become law through widespread practice
Takanot and
Gezerot: Are enactments and decrees invented with out any justification.
Ma’asim:
Are deed or actions of previous “righteous” Pharisees that became law. often
called by Paul as “works of the law.”
Later
embodied in what is called the Talmud.
There were
literally thousands and thousands of these laws that made up the very customs
and traditions of the nation. Yahushua challenged their foundation and validity
and were turning the people from following these oral laws to following the
written Torah. For example Yahushua taught, “think not that I came to abolish
(to loosen in Aramaic) the Torah or the prophets. I came not to abolish but to
fulfill (in the Aramaic to bring correct interpretation.) For verily I say to
you heaven and earth will pass away in no wise shall pass away from the Torah
one iota or tittle (i.e. stroke making up the Hebrew letter) until all comes to
pass.” Matthew 5:17
See also
Luke 16:14-18
Yahushua’s
teachings were turning the people against the authority of the rabbis and
turning the people to the written Torah. For example when Yahushua was debating
with some of the Jews in the temple during the feast of Tabernacles, he
chastised them stating, "Did not Moses give you the Torah, yet none of you
keeps the Torah? Why do you seek to kill Me?" John 7:19 There were many such encounters where their was clear
violation of the written Torah in order to keep traditions and customs, as set
out in the oral law. See Matthew 15:1-9, Mark 7:1-9
They feared Rome and loosing their right to rule
They feared
they would loose their authority to lead the people and Rome would come and
dethrone them. This is what they said,
"If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the
Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." John 11:48 They were already an occupied
nation and all that remained of their autonomy was their religious rule. King
Herald was already a puppet king of Rome and he ha no real power.
Yahushua in
fact challenged the very authority of their leaders to even hold their posts.
He described the religious leaders as “serpents, a generation of vipers” “those
who murdered the prophets, holding them to be “hypocrites” full of “hypocrisy
and lawlessness.” Yahushua warned His disciples to beware “of the teaching of
the Pharisee and Sadducees” and ridiculed these religious leaders as being
self-serving men who were blind to the real intent and purposes of the
Scripture. Matthew 12:24-34, 21:33-36 23:13-39 Mark 12:1-12, 13-17 Luke
7:24-35, 11:35-54 , John 8:3-13
It was
against this background of motives that they sought to murder Yahushua BUT they
had a big problem, it was illegal to condemn anyone according to Torah and
their Oral law unless first they broke a clear written or oral law. See John 7:50-51 and if they found that person
guilty they then could not execute that person unless they clearly broke or
violated a Roman law. They had two hurdles to overcome.
First they
had to establish a Yahushua had broken a Written or Oral law.
Second they
had to establish that Yahushua had broken a
Roman law. To justify their murderous intent they had only TWO legal
remedies.
The first
was to claim that Yahushua broke the Sabbath. See Matthew 12:1-21, Mark
2:23-24, 3:1-2 Luke 6:1-2, 13:10-14, 14:1-3, John 5:1-16, 7:14-26, 9:13-16
Yet they
could not argue that he broke the Sabbath as pronounced in the Torah. In fact
Yahushua in all of the above Scriptures defended His course of action as
Scriptural. They only could claim that Yahushua was breaking the Sabbath
restrictions established by the “traditions of their fathers.”
For example
some of the Sabbath restrictions created under the category of the Minhagim or
Mishnah:
1 You
cannot travel more than 2000 cubits outside the city limits
2 One could
not trim their finger nails.
3 Nor a man
trim his beard or mustache
4 Nor a
women put on make up
5 One could
not climb a tree, ride beast, swim in water, clap their hand, slap their thighs
(to music) of stamp their feet (to dancing)
6 If a man
found two parchment boxes in the field he was required to take them back to his
house one at a time. If the man exceeded his travel limit he would have to hand
it to a man who had no exceeded his limit.
7 There
were limits on how far a scroll could unroll before one was no longer permitted
to roll it back up.
8 Creeping
things found in the temple could not be removed on the Sabbath.
9 One could
not draw water on the Sabbath while traveling or eat food unless it was
prepared before the Sabbath.
10 One
could not help his beast give birth or if it fell into a well to help it out.
There were
hundreds of these sorts of restrictions.
The second and
only excuse left was their interpretation of “blasphemy” with regard to the
sacred name. To accuse Him they needed
to stage a trial and Judas provided the opportunity to apprehend Him.
Yahushua’s trial
You will
recall from our previous studies that the religious leaders of Judaea had made
it illegal for anyone outside the high priest and certain chosen ones (who kept
it a secret) to utter the sacred name and then only in the temple. This was a
misinterpretation of Leviticus 24:16, Exodus 20:7 and Deuteronomy 5:11 which
made the mere act of pronouncing the sacred name blasphemy.
The Mishnah
tells us:
“the
blasphemer is not culpable (meaning condemned) unless he exactly pronounces
the (sacred) name.”
So the key
to the trial was to find witnesses that could come forward and testify that
Yahushua had pronounced the sacred name and they must do it according to a
pattern found in the Mishnah. They could not say the sacred name themselves but
they were required to use a substitute. If the person said the pronounced the
sacred name it was requirement under the Mishnah that the high priest “rent his
garment.”
Many false
witnesses came forward (Matthew 26:60)
but none could provide the kind of testimony they would justify the death
sentence. Finally two false witnesses came forward and said,
"This
fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three
days.'" Matthew 26:61
At first
the testimony required a substitute name in repeating the statement but later
in private the witness had to reveal the actual name used. Hence why the word
God is used here.
The phrase
“the temple of God” is a substitute for the temple of YAHWEH that appears
through out the Old Covenant. See 1 Samuel 1:9,3:3, 2Kings 11:10, 23:4, 24:13,
2 Chronicles 26:16, 29:18 Jeremiah 7:7, 24:1 Ezekiel; 8:16
In the end
the claim of the two false witnesses could not stand because their testimony
could not agree. Mark 14:59 Under
Scriptural law at least two or three witnesses are required before a person
could receive the death penalty.
Numbers 35:30 Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15 There are were Pharisees at the
trial like Nicodemus who had earlier defended Yahushua who wanted Him to see
Him have a fair trial. John 12:42-43
When the
witnesses could not agree the trail came to a stand still and they could not
proceed. At that point Yahushua would have won His trail because the witnesses
were in disagreement. Seeing that their case against Yahushua had not
succeeded, his adversaries now began to press him personally with an assortment
of questions, which he did not answer. Finally they gave Yahushua the one
question he was willing to answer. The one they had been waiting for and the
High priest asked it as a charge.
Are you the
messiah? He responded, “I AM”
But it was
not this statement that condemned Him it was what He said after this:
"Hereafter
the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."
Luke 22:69,
Matthew 26:64, Mark 14:62
The word
“God” here is YAHWEH and in the Hebrew version of Matthew the word el is used
and not power, which we know is a substitute for YAHWEH.
It was
immediately after Yahushua said these words that the high priest then according
to the Mishnah procedure rent his garments because this was the procedure
required at a trial of blaspheme when the sacred name was actually uttered! Let
me quote the Mishnah, “The judges stand up on their feet and rent their
garments and they may not mend them again.” Remember it must be exactly
pronounced.
What if
Yahushua had said “LORD or God?”
The high
priest then responded and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
"You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?" And they all
condemned Him to be deserving of death.” Mark 14:63-64
Yahushua
had used the sacred name in front of the entire tribunal what further witnesses
could be needed. They were all witnesses! It was unanimous decision BUT they
had a problem they were not allowed under Roman law to execute an person unless
they broke a Roman law. We will continue next week with the trail of
Yahushua.
PART TEN
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART TEN
Last week
we looked at the motive for the murder of Yahushua. We discovered that there
were three motives for murdering Yahushua but the reason why the religious
leaders of Judaea murdered Yahushua was because He had publicly uttered the
sacred name of YAHWEH during His trial.
In this
part we will continue our investigations into the murder of Yahushua.
Specifically in this lesson I will explain the dilemma that the trial had
reached.
Then I will
go on to look at other instances where Yahushua was accused of blasphemy
because of His use of the sacred name.
The trial Yahushua
I said last
week that even though the religious leaders managed to get a conviction (a
verdict of guilty) then only because Yahushua testified against Himself, they
still had a major problem. Under Roman law they could not put anyone to death,
they clearly knew this see John 18:31 because Israel was a conquered and occupied
nation.
They were
under Roman law and under Roman law a man cannot be sentenced to death unless
he was found guilty of breaking a law that was punishable by death and this you
had to prove beyond reasonable doubt!
Therefore,
it became necessary to find a way to convince the Roman Governor, Pontius
Pilate to carry their sentence out in the name of Rome. But how could they do
this because Yahushua had not broken a Roman law? Now here is where it gets
very intriguing. Let me tell you the religious leader of Judea knew what they
were doing. It was pre-mediated murder by divine appointment and I stress that
last part.
First the
religious leaders knew perfectly well that Yahushua would not be convicted
under Roman law because He had not committed a crime deserving the death
penalty under Roman law. In fact they lost their case and Yahushua was clearly
acquitted by both Herod and Pilate’s court. This is what Pilate said in his
final verdict.
“You have
brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. (notice that the charge
has been changed here) And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I
have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse
Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing
deserving of death has been done by Him.” Luke 23:14 -15
Second the
Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes knew perfectly well that there was a
time-honored custom in Israel, which Rome honored every year that during the
Passover, the most solemn of YAHWEH’s feasts, a prisoner would be released as
an act of mercy on the part of Rome; a political gesture. Pilate explicitly
referred to that custom during his trial of Yahushua. Notice what he said?
"But
you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover.
Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" John
18:39 See also Matthew 27:15 Notice he said it was the Passover.
The
religious leaders knew would not be successful at bringing about a
conviction of Yahushua under Roman law
BUT they could under this custom request an exchange of prisoners. Hence, why
they then prearranged for the crowd to vehemently shout against Yahushua when
Pilate made his public appeal. See Mark 15:11 Luke 23:21
However,
Pilate had assumed that Yahushua would be released because He has already been
badly scourged by his soldiers and he was further warned by his wife to have
nothing to do with Yahushua (Mathew 27:19) but when the crowd did not declare
Him innocent, Pilate absolved himself of the deed (Mathew 27:24) and the crowd
implicated themselves with the deed when they said,
“And all
the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Mathew
27:25
This was in
fulfillment of the word that Yahushua had spoken in Matthew 23:36 that ‘upon
this generation all the blood of the righteous prophets that Israel had killed
would be avenged.’ And what a cost they paid! Seventy years later Jerusalem was
ransacked and the temple destroyed, which saw the massacre of millions of Jews.
Yahushua
was condemned to death by a Passover custom and Barabbas the murder was
released, which is a picture of the trespass goat that was released during the
Passover. See Leviticus 16:24 The murderer Barabbas who was acquitted
represented us that was suppose to be executed on that stake. The stake was
clearly meant for us.
Under
Scriptural law (ha Torah) Yahushua was not convicted, under Jewish state law
which Herod administered He was not convicted either and finally under Roman
law He was not fully acquitted. By all counts of ALL law except the Talmud (the
oral law which had no power to execute Him) He was pronounced totally innocent
and should have walked free. So what really brought about His execution? John
3:16
"For
YAHWEH so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
YAHWEH
executed His own Son! He gave Him up. This is what the prophet Isaiah had said,
“All we
like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the
LORD (YAHWEH) has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed
and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the
slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His
mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His
generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the
transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with
the wicked; But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD (YAHWEH) to
bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an
offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the
pleasure of YAHWEH shall prosper in His hand.” Isaiah 53:6-10
No man,
human court, nation or political or religious system impaled our Messiah. He
voluntarily gave up His own life!
Here are
some interesting facts you should be aware of:
Under
Leviticus 24:16 one who was convicted of blasphemy or idolatry was not only
punishable by being hung on a pole (tree) but was stoned first. The Gospels do
not say Yahushua was stoned although the context in Luke 23:26-27 certainly can
suggest this. The crowds that lined the streets when Yahushua carried His stake
possibly stoned Him thus why He was unable to continue therefore a man named
Simon was made to carry His stake. Interestingly enough Rabbinical literature
claims that Yahushua was both stoned and hanged on a tree.
Yahushua
did not die on Friday as traditionally taught by the Church, He was in fact
impaled on a Wednesday, which was special Sabbath because it was the Passover. Leviticus
23:5 designates the 14th of Nisan to be the day for observing Passover. On this
particular year it fell on Thursday. Yahushua was placed in the tomb just prior
to sundown on Wednesday and spent his first full night and day in the tomb
beginning on the 15th of Nisan, the Feast of Unleavened Bread. When we count
from Thursday that is exactly three days and three nights. He rose on the eve
(evening) of the Sabbath and not on Sunday mourning.
Finally
Yahushua was not executed on a cross but He was executed on a pole or tree (a
stake). These words “cross” and “crucify” are nowhere to be found in the Hebrew
or Greek of the New Testament. These words are mistranslations, a later
rendering of the Greek words stauros and saturoo.
Vine
Expository Dictionary of the New Testament Words says, “Stauros denotes
primarily an upright pole or stake…Both the noun and the verb stauroo, to
fasten to a stake or pole are originally to be distinguished from the
ecclesiastical form of a two beamed cross. The shape of the latter had an
origin in ancient Chaldea (Babylon) and was used as a symbol of the god Tammuz…”
There are many more sources that can be
quoted but this is not the subject of our study. So lets get back on track.
Other accusations of blasphemy
The trail
of Yahushua was not the first time that an attempt was made upon His life
because of the accusation of blasphemy.
In John 10
an attempt was made on Yahushua’s life when a crowd picked up stones to throw
at Him because of two specific statements He had made. I quote,
"I and
My Father are one (echad)." John 10:30
"'You
are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God (YAHWEH)'?
John 10:36
The
specific charge the crowd made against Him was clearly blasphemy. Read it for
yourself.
“The Jews
answered Him, saying, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy,
and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God." John 10:33
Notice the
twofold charge of which one is blasphemy!
This crowd
clearly understood the penalty for blasphemy because they tried to kill Him by
stoning, which is exactly the procedure outlined in Leviticus 24:16 for
blasphemy against the sacred name.
If Yahushua
had merely said that He was “the son of Elohim” His adversaries would have had
no cause to stone Him but because He had mentioned the ineffable name in His
defense, they then saw fit to affect the death sentence of stoning upon Him. In
fact they tried to take the law into their hands.
However,
this was not the first instance the Jews tried to kill Him because He uttered
the sacred name. Right at the beginning of His ministry when Yahushua stood to
read the portion of Isaiah 61:1-2, shortly thereafter He had made His comments
in relation to this verse that they tried to seize Him and throw Him off the
cliff. Luke 4:27-28 What could have excited such a crowd to kill Him other than
His blatant use of the sacred name, which appears three times in that verse of
Isaiah.
Following
that incident Yahushua did not retrench from using the sacred name in public
but continued to use the set part name in many instances. Because of the
brevity of our time I have quoted some of those situations here for you to
review in your own time. Matthew 4:10, Luke 4:8, Mark 12:29, Mathew 22:44, Mark
12:36, Mark 12:11 and there are many more.
Recent
studies now also shows that Yahushua did healing and cast out demons in the
name of YAHWEH. I will quote one more verse then I will finish. John 10:25
“Jesus
(Yahushua) answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works
that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.”
Here is a
direct affirmation that Yahushua used the name of His Father to do His many
works. Works of which were classified as forbidden because it was associated
with the sacred name, the Mishnah specifically prohibited the use of the name
of YAHWEH in these instances. Yahushua was often accused of using the power of
satan to heal because in the Mishnah healing and deliverance was seen as an
activity of magic. Indeed many Rabbis of the time claimed that they healed by
magical powers often but not always associated by invoking the sacred name.
Next week we
will look at the sacred name during the time of the Apostles.
PART ELEVEN
THE SET
APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART
ELEVEN
Last week
we looked at the conclusion of the trial of Yahushua. We discovered that
Yahushua was killed through a Passover custom and that all three levels of the
law declared Him totally innocent. The only charge for which He was condemned
was because He had uttered the sacred name of YAHWEH during His trial.
In this
part we will look at the sacred name during the years of the Apostles and
disciples. Again one of the common arguments advanced by Christian scholars
against the sacred name is that the Apostles and disciples did not use the name
of YAHWEH but what does the evidence show?
The Early Apostles and disciples
A careful
examination of the records proves that, as with Yahushua the Messiah, His
disciples also both taught and used the sacred name. They too believed that
using the sacred name was a basic doctrine of Scriptures and like Yahushua were
willing to die for the sake of YAHWEH’s precious name.
We will
pick up our discussion of this period from John the Baptist (Yachanan), the
prophet of YAHWEH and supporter of Yahushua as Messiah. The Gospels tells us
that large crowds of people came to Yachanan from Jerusalem and all Judaea as
well as from the country around the Jordan river to hear his message of
repentance.
It is
certain that Yachanan preached in the name of YAHWEH because every prophet
genuinely sent by YAHWEH spoke in the name of YAHWEH without exception. We also
know that like the prophets before him, Yachanan quoted Scripture that contains
the name of YAHWEH. For example he quoted Isaiah 40:3-5.
An
interesting question arises here so then why was Yachanan not arrested for
using the name of YAHWEH? Yachanan did his teaching in the wilderness on the
borders of Judaea, along the Jordan in Aenon near Salim keeping himself outside
of Judaea and out of the reach of the Jewish political and religious
authorities. As it was with Yahushua, the political and religious leaders also
feared the crowd following Yachanan because they considered him to be a
prophet. (See Matthew 21:23-26 Mark 11:27-32)
Yachanan
was of course later arrested but it was not because of his use of the sacred
name but it was because of an incident with King Herod Antipas wife Herodias
that caused the arrest of the Baptist. Yachanan had condemned their marriage as
incestuous because Herod had married the wife of his brother Philip while he
was alive. See Mark 6:14-29, Luke 3:19-20.
The prophet
Malachi tells us that Yachanan the Baptist will return just before the Day of
YAHWEH and it is certain that part of his mission will be to restore the sacred
name of YAHWEH. Yahushua called Yachanan Eliyahu (Elijah). See Matthew 11:14
and then compare it to Malachi 4:5 to understand the connection.
Yachanan
the Apostle also preached the name of YAHWEH. In John 12:38 Yachanan pointed
out that Yahushua performed many signs before Jewish crowds yet they would not
believe Him. This Yachanan says was to fulfill the word of the Prophet Isaiah
53:1which clearly mentions the sacred name of YAHWEH.
Note: This
is something aside from our message but there is evidence that now proves that
the John (Yachanan) who wrote Revelations is not the John of the Gospels. There
are two tombs found at Ephesus both called John. Also John the Apostle would
have been over 100 years old if he had written Revelations because he was said
to have died during the reign of Trajan who ruled from 98 to 117 B.C. Scholars
also have questioned the textual difference (the styles) in their writings
which suggests they cannot be the same person.
The Apostle
Keph (called Peter in the Greek and English) taught and preached using the name
of YAHWEH. He quoted a number of passages from the Old Covenant that contained
the name of YAHWEH, for example in a speech to the Jews at Jerusalem, (Acts
2:17-21) Keph quotes the prophet Joel 2:28-32, Within this same speech Keph
cites Psalm 16:8-11 in Acts 2:25 and Psalm 110:1 in Acts 2:34-35. Keph also
quotes from Moses from the book of Deuteronomy 18:5 in Acts 7:37. All of these passages contain the name of
YAHWEH!
Both Keph
and Yachanan healed in the name of YAHWEH. A crippled man who sat at the gates
of the temple was healed in the name of YAHWEH. How do we know this? Having
heard of this work the priests and elders had them arrested, the implication
being that they had healed the man in the name of YAHWEH since there was no law
against healing as per se but there was a law against healing in the name of
YAHWEH. This is confirmed by the fact that when the priest brought the Apostles
before their court, the first thing they asked them “in what ability or IN WHAT
NAME did you do this (healing)” Acts 4:7.
Keph being
aware of what they were thinking responded by quoting Psalm 118:22 which refers
to YAHWEH as the corner stone that the builders had rejected. He then
paraphrased Joel 2:32 as proof of the name that had healed this man. (See Acts
4:11-12) If you look at the original
quote in Joel you will see the name of YAHWEH is in the text some three times!
Many
Christian clergy try to remove the name of YAHWEH out of this healing because of Acts 4:10 where they quote the
name of Yahushua. This is because they do not understand the fact that when
such expressions as “in the name of Christ (the Messiah) and the “in the name
of Jesus (Yahushua)” are used, they are metonymic (substitute names).
Yahushua often spoke in metonymic form. He often used the word “Abba” (Father)
to refer to His authority to teach or heal or cast out demons without directly
saying the name. See John 5:43, 10:25
The
practice of teaching or preaching in metonymic form by using a rabbi’s name was
a common practice during that period. For example the sons of Sceva who were
overpowered by demons for trying to cast out demons, “in the name of which Saul
preached.” Acts 19:13
It was also
a common procedure in the Talmud of that period to teach in the name of a Rabbi
or refer to a particular teaching in the name of that Rabbi. Yahushua was often
referred to as Rabbi not only by those following Him but by those who opposed
Him. See Matthew 8:19, 9:11, 26:5 Mark 4:38, 9:5,38 etc
Confirmation
of the use of metonymic form is seen here in this incident in Acts 4:18. The priest and elders specifically commanded
the Apostles to no longer “speak or teach in the name of Yahushua.”
Notice that they did not forbid them to heal in the name of Yahushua because
they knew that YAHWEH’s name had healed the man because the people were
praising YAHWEH for the miracle that had happened.
“So when
they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing
them, because of the people, since they all glorified YAHWEH for what
had been done.” Acts 4:21
Further
confirmation that they healed this man in the name of YAHWEH comes from the
Apostles refusal to obey the Priests and elders but to obey YAHWEH. For they
said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than
to God, you judge.” Acts 4:19 The ROSNB version correctly restores the true
name in this verse. It stands to reason that if the Apostles were obeying
YAHWEH, then they healed in His name.
PART TWELVE
THE SET APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART
TWELVE
In our last
study we looked at the sacred name during the years of the Apostles and disciples.
The evidence clearly confirmed that the Apostles taught and preached the name
of YAHWEH.
Today we
will continue on our study of this period with the Apostle Saul (Paul.)
Many
Christian theologians often present Saul as their imminent example that we are
not required to know and use the sacred name of YAHWEH. Saul they say was
primarily sent to the gentiles, therefore, he never taught non-Israelites to
know or use the name of YAHWEH. Again we must ask does the Scripture support
such a belief?
Saul
Saul out of
all the Apostles perhaps knew more about the costs of speaking the name of
YAHWEH. It was Saul who had persecuted the saints for their blasphemy of the
name of YAHWEH. Saul we know was present at Stephen’s execution and was
consenting to it. Nonetheless, to understand the man we need to briefly examine
His background.
Saul by
background was trained as a Pharisee and in his own words he had “… advanced in
Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” Galatians 1:14 Saul was
no ordinary Pharisee, he trained by Gamaliel Acts 22:3 the most prestigious
Jewish teacher of his day. Thus, he excelled in the traditions of his day, the
Talmud.
After the
death of Stephen Saul was converted on the road to Damascus, after seeing the
resurrected Yahushua in a vision. Acts 9:1-25 Spending three years in Arabia re
examining the Scriptures he came to the truth that the traditions taught by the
Pharisees were actually against the Torah. Saul was not converted from Judaism
to Christianity, as many believe. His conversion was to the written Torah
(Yahushua) away from the oral law, which the Priest and the elders taught.
Armed with
this renewed understanding of the Torah, he was sent primarily to the
circumcision (i.e. the Jews) and to the uncircumcised (i.e. the Israelites) who
had been scattered since in 721 B.C when the Northern kingdom was conquered and
led into captivity by Tilgat
Pilsger 111 the Assyrian King.
These scattered tribes
are the main subject of the great commission. In Mathew 10:1-6 Yahushua
specifically commanded his twelve Apostles, “Go not off onto the road of the
nations and into the city of the Samaritans enter not, but rather go to the
lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
The “gentiles” in the
writings of Saul refer to these scattered Israelites. Paul was primarily
writing to these people of who have become the fullness of the nations (goyim)
according to the word that was given to Abraham, that his descendants would
populate the nations. Genesis 13:16. It
is against this background that Saul was commissioned as an Apostle.
The fact is Saul used
the sacred name of YAHWEH more times in His writings than any other Apostle. Of
course this also has to do with the fact that Saul wrote most of the letters in
the New Covenant. Like the early Apostles Saul was persecuted for using the
sacred name. Proof that Saul used the sacred name begins with his earlier
persecutions against the followers of the messiah. He tells us that during this
period of his life that he actively persecuted the disciples of Yahushua
noting:
“Indeed, I myself
thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
(Yahushua the Nazaraean) This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I
shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when
they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.” Acts 26:9-10
The specific charge
that he lays against these disciples, is the next verse,
“And I punished them
often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being
exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
Acts 26:11
Did you notice that?
He compelled them to blaspheme! What could Saul have forced them to say that,
in the eyes of the Jewish rabbis, would be considered worthy of death and
persecution? The answer is that Saul forced them to utter the sacred name.
Confirmation of this
fact comes from what transpired with Ananias when YAHWEH spoke to him concerning
Saul. He thus replied,
“Then Ananias
answered, "Lord, (sovereign) I have heard from many about this man, how
much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. "And here he has
authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
But the Lord (sovereign) said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of
Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
"For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.”
Acts 9:13-16
Notice what Ananias
said Saul was commissioned to do? “to bind all who call on your name.” Ananias
like Saul clearly understood that the higher name of Yahushua is YAHWEH. In
Part 8 we discussed this aspect and I quoted Philippians 2:10-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, Hebrews
1:4 showing that Saul clearly understood that Yahushua’s name is now YAHWEH. At
the end of the above verse YAHWEH tells Ananias that Saul will be called to
suffer for His name.
Proof that Saul was then persecuted for using the sacred
name is revealed in the history about Saul being brought before Gallio the
Roman Proconsul of Achaia Greece in Acts 18. This record shows that the Jews of Corinth tried to have Saul convicted
before a Roman court for using the sacred name. The book of Acts reports the
following.
Note: that
phrase “a questions of words” should read “a question of A WORD.”
Notice that
the legal question at hand was based solely upon a “law” among the Jews. This
law dealt with a word (singular) and names. Only one Jewish law from this
period dealt with the use of a word (singular) that would create an argument
over the use of “names” between orthodox Jewry and the disciples of Yahushua,
the Jewish prohibition against using the sacred name YAHWEH.
The Jews of
Corinth were holding that Saul was teaching a doctrine that “persuades men to
worship Elohim contrary to the law.” This statement could only mean one thing,
that Saul was teaching men to use the sacred name. The Jews on the other hand
taught that the sacred name should be substituted with other names (generic and
titles)
like
Adonai, el, and eloah. Saul was on the verge of responding when Gallio
dismissed the whole case as irrelevant in his court.
That Saul
was teaching and using the sacred name is also shown in his letters. There are
many direct quotes from the Old Covenant that Saul uses that contain the name
of YAHWEH. For example Romans 2:24 (Isaiah 52:5) Romans 4:6-8 (Psalm 32:1-2)
Romans 10:13 (Joel 2:28) Romans 15:11 (Psalm 117:1) I Corinthians 1:31
(Jeremiah 9:24) I Corinthians 3:20 (Psalms 94:11) Hebrews 10:16-18 (Jeremiah
31:33-34) Hebrews 10:30 (Deuteronomy 32:35-36) Hebrews 13:6 (Psalm 118:7)
Besides
these passages Saul also taught a number of themes connected with the sacred
name. For example, the sacred name is emphasized in the book of Romans as the
only way to Salvation. In Romans 10:12 Saul is explaining that there is one
YAHWEH for both Greeks and Jews. He states,
“For there
is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord (sovereign) over all
is rich to all who call upon Him.”
He
justifies his statement by adding a paraphrase of the prophet Joel stating
“For
whoever calls on the name of the LORD (YAHWEH) shall be saved."
Both the
ROSNB and Restoration Scriptures restore the name of YAHWEH in this passage.
The English word LORD is clearly a gloss for the name of YAHWEH.
Also in
Romans 15 Saul quotes Isaiah 45:23 “… that to Me every knee shall bow, every
tongue shall take an oath, he shall say, 'Surely in the LORD (YAHWEH) I have
righteousness and strength.”
For this
reason Saul continues in Romans Chapter 15:9 and 11 a direct quote from Psalm
18:49 and Psalm 117:1 that all nation must therefore praise the name of YAHWEH
because salvation has come to them through Yahushua who is now YAHWEH. A
question therefore logically arises here in whose name are we then saved? A topic I will start next week.
PART THIRTEEN
THE SET APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART
THIRTEEN
Last week I
concluded our lesson with a very important question. In whose name are we
saved?
Christianity
claims that we are saved in the name of Jesus Christ and Moslems claim that we
are saved in the name of Allah and Jews though they recognize the sacred name of
YAHWEH, believe that people will actually lose their salvation if they dare
utter the sacred name.
Today I
will unravel this mystery and show you in whose name are we saved?
Before I do
this let me just briefly explain some elementary principles concerning personal
salvation.
Salvation is through Faith
The
Scripture teaches that salvation is through FAITH. The Apostle Saul said,
“For by
unmerited favor you have been saved through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is the gift of YAHWEH, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 Restoration Scriptures
We are all
saved through faith because salvation is a FREE GIFT!
Salvation is a Free Gift
That
salvation is a free gift is also confirmed in these words of Saul.
“For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of YAHWEH is eternal life in
Yahushua ha Messiah our master.” Romans 6:23 Restoration Scriptures
However,
faith of itself cannot save us UNTIL it is connected to something. As James
explains, “faith without works is dead” James 2:18. Notice the connection of
faith to works. Without works our faith is dead. In the same manner of
reasoning, until our salvation is grounded or attached to something other than
itself, it too is simply dead.
That
something by necessity must be greater or larger than itself.
Salvation is in the Sacred Name
The
Scripture teaches us that that great something is the sacred name of YAHWEH.
In Acts
4:8-12 Peter tells us that, “there is no other name given under heaven among
men by which we can be saved.”
Why do we
know that it is the sacred name of YAHWEH? Because Joel 2:32 tells us that
Salvation is ONLY in the name of YAHWEH.
“For it
will be that whoever calls on the name of the YAHWEH shall be saved. For in
Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be salvation, as the YAHWEH has said,
among the saved whom the YAHWEH calls.”
It is
interesting that David called the name of YAHWEH the rock of His salvation. 2
Samuel 22:47, See also Psalm 89:26 Again notice how David connects his personal
salvation onto something that is far greater than he and his kingdom, the name
of YAHWEH which he calls “the rock” of my salvation.
The Apostle
John also taught this connection. He said,
“But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of YAHWEH,
to those who believe in His name (YAHWEH): who were born, not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of YAHWEH.” John
1:12
What this
teaches us is that when we receive Yahushua and believe in His name YAHWEH we
have a right to become His children that is to be called by His name.
Revelations 3:12
Furthermore
the basis upon which YAHWEH in fact pardons our sins, transgression and
iniquity is because of His great name. David called upon YAHWEH and said, “for
your name’s sake YAHWEH even pardon my iniquity for great it is.” Psalm 25:11
See also Psalm 109:21-22 and 143:11-12. The prophet Jeremiah also confirms
this. Jeremiah 14:7
Thus, in
these three passages from the Psalms, the psalmist makes it clear that those
who are being saved call on the name of YAHWEH.
Psalm
18:1-6, 91:14-16 and Psalm 116:1-9
The
Scripture also tells us that those who have been saved praise the name
of YAHWEH.
Psalm
34:1-4, 145:18-21 and Isaiah 12:2-5
If you are
like me I would then be asking at this point, why then does the Scripture teach
in other places that in the name of Yahushua we are saved? For example in Acts
16:31 does it not clearly state, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
you will be saved, you and your household."
“For
"whoever calls on the name of the YAHWEH shall be saved."
Both the
ROSNB and Restoration Scriptures restore the name of YAHWEH in this passage.
I have also
mentioned in a previous lesson that Scripture often uses a technique called
metonymy to refer to a person by one name of which means another name. As I
have already proven the higher name of Yahushua is YAHWEH. In is in this name,
which Yahushua has inherited that we are saved.
Zechariah
tells us that the remnant of nations that remain after the tribulation will be
required to come up to Jerusalem during the feats of Tabernacles to praise
YAHWEH and those nations that do not come up to Jerusalem to praise YAHWEH will
have no rain. Zechariah 14:16-17 See also Revelations 15:4
PART FOURTEEN
THE SET APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART
FOURTEEN
During last
weeks lesson I answered a very important question, in whose name are we saved?
We learnt that the sacred name is indispensable to our personal salvation. We
also learnt that Christians that have no knowledge of the name are saved
through mercy but a day is appointed where everyone both Jew and Greek will
confess the name of YAHWEH because heaven has ordained such a day.
I concluded
our lesson by explaining that the Old Covenant saints were just as saved as New
Covenant believers because they looked forward through faith to the redeeming
work of the Messiah. Hence personal salvation is not a New Covenant advent.
Today I
would like to look at another aspect of YAHWEH’s salvation plan that is
indispensably connected to the name of YAHWEH. This aspect is known as
“national salvation.”
National Salvation
The
Scriptures teaches a twofold plan of salvation. YAHWEH has a personal plan of
salvation of which we have covered and a national plan of salvation. YAHWEH’s
national plan of salvation is re occurring theme of Scripture but it is seldom
ever taught in Christendom because without knowledge of the sacred name you
cannot see it in the Scripture. This national plan of salvation is intricately
connected to the sacred name.
There are
two aspects to this plan:
1 The
inheritance of the land
2 The
protection from the tribulation
I will deal
with these aspects separately in this lesson. First,
The inheritance of the land
The
inheritance of the land is intricately and in separately connected to the
sacred name. YAHWEH promised Abraham and His seed (descendants) that they would
inherit the land of Kanaan a region defined as “from the river (Egypt) to the
great river Pereth (Euphrates) as an eternal possession. Genesis 12:7,13:17-17,15:1-11 Deuteronomy
1:7-8 Hebrews 11:1-40.
The book of
Psalms 105:6-11 and 1 Chronicles 16:14-18 tells us that the land is an eternal
possession belonging ONLY the descendants of Abraham.
“O seed of
Abraham His servant, You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
He is the
LORD (YAHWEH) our God (el); His judgments are in all the earth. He remembers
His covenant forever, the word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac,
Saying,
"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the allotment of your
inheritance,” Psalm 105:6-11
The Church
as an entity is not an heir to this land. Only Abraham and His descendant
qualify for the promise of the inheritance of the land unless you believe in
replacement theology that Israel is now the Church.
However,
the book of Hebrews tells us that neither Abraham nor anyone else has yet
received the eternal promises. Hebrew 11:1-40 Since the dead possess nothing,
the burden now falls on YAHWEH to honor His promise to Abraham because the
promise is attached to His sacred name. Thus, for this to be possible YAHWEH
must raise Abraham and all his descendants from the dead and cause them to live
forever in order to inherit the promise forever.
This
promise of the inheritance of the land is a reoccurring fact of the Scripture.
See
Psalm
37:9-11, 37:27-34, Isaiah 49:8-10. However, in the following two specific
passages of Psalms a direct connection is made between the inheritance of the
land and the sacred name.
“For God
will save Zion And build the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and
possess it. Also, the descendants of His servants shall inherit it, and those who
love His name shall dwell in it.” Psalm 69:35 -36
“For You, O
God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear
Your name.” Psalm 61:5
In YAHWEH’s
plan of national salvation only the descendants of Abraham who love His name
and fear His sacred name will be entitled to the promise of the inheritance of
the land.
This raises
two questions we need to answer before we can move onto the second aspect of
this plan. First what is so important about this “Promised Land” and second who
really are the descendants of Abraham?
The reason
why the Promised Land will be prominent and important during the reign of our
Messiah YAHWEH is because of three primary reasons.
1 The Land
will be made sacred (set apart) to YAHWEH because His physical presence will be
in Jerusalem. Psalm 48:2,8, 110:2 It will be known as YAHWEH’s land.
2 The land will become the garden of Eden on
Earth. Ezekiel 36:35 It will be the most peaceful and restful place to be on
the Earth. Jerusalem and the surrounding areas will literally become the prime
estate of the World.
3 The land will be the center place of World
worship, World administration, World justice and World commerce. Isaiah
31:9-32:1, 40:10, 60:40, 62:1-5 Ezekiel 20:40
Only those
who will be associated with temple duties, who have a ruling and judging
capacity and those who will have economic functions will be resident in the
region.
This brings
me to the second question. Who then are the true descendants of Abraham who
will inherit this land? The true descendants of Abraham are those who obey the
written Torah. Only those who will be obedient to the Torah will inherit the
land. Thus, why they are called the children of Promise.
“For it is
written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout,
You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who
has a husband." Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
Galatians 4:27
Those who transgress Torah will be rejected
in the last day.
“Many will
say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast
out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
"And
then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!' Matthew 7:22-23
The word
lawlessness here is actually Torahlessness in the Hebrew.
This bring
us to the second aspect of YAHWEH’s national salvation plan.
Protection from the tribulation
It is
unanimous understanding among Bible scholars that the Earth will go through a
period called the tribulation and the Great tribulation, of which is a seven
year period. For a brief perspective of this day refer to prophet Zephaniah
1:14-18
It will not
be the subject of this lesson to discuss what will happen during the
tribulation or to the discuss the controversy of the rapture doctrine that
teaches that born again believers will
escape the tribulation. It is suffice to say that the teaching of the entire
Scripture is that ALL Israel will go through the tribulation whether you are
born again or not. However, not everyone will be subjected to the tribulation.
What I want
show you now is that the Scripture promises that those who love and fear the
name of YAHWEH will escape the tribulation either through divine protection or
through martyrdom.
Through
divine protection we will be saved out of the tribulation.
“Alas! For
that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's
trouble, But he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7
“Before the
decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger
comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's (YAHWEH) anger comes upon you!
Seek the LORD (YAHWEH), all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice.
Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the
day of the Lord's (YAHWEH) anger.” Zephaniah 2:2-3
The place
of YAHWEH’s appointed protection during the tribulation period will be Mt Zion,
which includes the portion of the land promised to the patriarchs.
"For
the day of the LORD (YAHWEH) upon all the nations is near; As you have done, it
shall be done to you; Your reprisal shall return upon your own head. For as you
drank on my holy mountain, So shall all the nations drink continually; Yes,
they shall drink, and swallow, And they shall be as though they had never
been."But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall
be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. Obadiah
1:15-17
There is a
suggestion in Scripture that this place will be Bozrah or Petra. Isaiah 34:6-8
Jeremiah 49:22
That the
sacred name is directly associated with the salvation of these individuals is
also seen in this passage of Joel of which I have quoted many times before.
“And it
shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD (YAHWEH) shall be
saved (delivered). For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be
deliverance, As the LORD (YAHWEH) has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD
calls.” Joel 2:32
Through martyrdom we will escape the tribulation
The book of
Revelations reveals that those who keep the commandments of YAHWEH, which
includes the command to praise His name and worship in His name will be
martyred for their testimony. See Revelations 6:9, 12:17 and 14:12-13
The prophet
Isaiah warns us that during the tribulation we will be persecuted for using the
name of YAHWEH. Isaiah 66:5-6
The Messiah
had also clearly warned His disciples that they would be persecuted and
martyred for speaking His name YAHWEH.
“Now
brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children
will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. "And you
will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end
will be saved.” Matthew 10:21-22
“But all
these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not
know Him who sent Me.” John 15:21
See also
Luke 21:12-16 and Matthew 24:9
PART FIFTEEN
THE SET APART NAME OF YAHWEH
PART
FIFTEEN
In our last
lesson I unfolded the national salvation plan of YAHWEH. In that lesson I
showed that YAHWEH also has a plan to save his children physically from the
wrath to come. During the tribulation
all Torah keeping Israel will be saved either through martyrdom or through an
escape that YAHWEH will provide in a place called Petra.
Today will
be the last study of this series and I would like to conclude our study by
looking at two final aspects of YAHWEH’s sacred name that seems to have also
suffered a barrage of misinterpretation.
The first
aspects is that there is now one family name for all those who seek and attain
salvation and second being that it is in that one family name that we are
commanded to baptize people.
The Inherited Name
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The
Sacred Name A Scriptural Study by La Yahweh Press 2002
Who is
Israel Past Present and Future Batya Ruth Wootten 1998 Key of David Publishing
1998
Come out
of Her My People C J Koster Institute for Scripture Research 1998
Restoring
Israel’s Kingdom Angus Wootten Key of David Publishing 2000
Today’s
Davidic Generation John Boyd Sons and Daughter of Zion 2001
the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Restoration
Scriptures True Name Edition Your Arms to Yisrael Publishing 2004
The Restoration
of Original Sacred Name Bible5th edition Missionary Dispensary Bible research
Windfield Alabama 1976
Galatians
Quick Reference Pocket Book Commentary Avi Ben Mordechai Millinium 7000
Communications 2006
Fossilized Customs Special Edition Lew White
The Sacred
Name Yahweh, by R. Clover (published by Qadesh La Yahweh Press).