House of Yahweh

For the Biblical term House of Yahweh, see House of Yahweh (Biblical term).

The House of Yahweh is a religious movement based in Abilene, Texas. Its founder and pastor is Yisrayl Hawkins (formerly "Buffalo" Bill Hawkins), a former member of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG). The group has membership around the globe. The church has been controversial, and is referred to as a cult by at least one former member.

Beliefs

The House of Yahweh believes that it is the one true faith, as instituted by Yahweh, according to the Bible. Many of the church's teachings are similar to those of Herbert W. Armstrong, as the group split from Armstrong's WCG in 1980.

Similar to Armstrongism, the House of Yaweh believes the world will soon experience the Tribulation and that the Bible refers to Satan as the god of this world.

The House of Yahweh believes Yahweh is the name of the creator of the world, and that Yahshua is the name of the Son of Yahweh, and that he is their messiah. They teach that many other titles -- such as God (El, Elohim), Lord (Ba'al, Adonai), Jehovah, Jesus and Christ -- are names or titles of pagan beings or idols, or are mistakes, that have been falsely ascribed to Yahweh.

Its beliefs are also similar to those of Judaism, as the church follows the Torah, the 613 laws and rules found in the Pentateuch. Members adhere to a kosher diet, free of pork, shellfish and blood and wear garments similar to the Jewish yarmulke and tallit in worship services and private prayer.

Members regularly perform ritual ablutions, and are baptized when they join the assembly. They believe the observance of these laws promotes peace and love, and is an answer to many problems in the world.

Feasts

Like Judaism and Armstrongism, the House of Yahweh keeps the seventh-day Sabbath and the annual feasts of the Old Testament including Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and The Feast of Tabernacles.

Once a year on the evening before Passover, members hold a solemn observance they call "Yahshua's Memorial" in memory of Jesus' crucifixion. The assembly shares unleavened bread and wine as symbols of the body and blood of Yahshua, and members wash one another's feet. The following evening, the church celebrates Passover.

Christmas, Easter, and birthdays are not celebrated.

The House of Yahweh instructs its members to tithe.

Unlike Judiasm and Armstrongism, The House of Yahweh believes The House of Yahweh Sanctuary in Clyde, Texas is the only place on earth where celebratory feasts are to be observed, and three times a year they make a pilgrimage to Abilene to celebrate Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Rejection of Trinitarianism

Unlike Trinitarian Christianity, the House of Yahweh teaches that Yahshua was born a man, and became the son of Yahweh when he was baptized by John the Baptist. They believe that he was framed for insurrection, received an illegal trial, and was then flogged, tormented, nailed to a pole (not a cross) and executed by the civil authorities. Similar to Christianity, they teach that he died for the sins of man as an atonement offering or blood sacrifice, and in so doing he became a Passover Lamb. The House of Yahweh teaches that he was buried at sunset, and three days later, he was resurrected from the dead, subsequently ascending into Heaven 40 days later. They believe that he is waiting until the prophesied "end-time" to return to Earth, establishing Yahweh's Kingdom on Earth and preventing humankind from ultimately destroying themselves.

Yahweh's exclusivity

According to the church, Yahweh is the only one who deserves worship or adoration, and is the sovereign and only creator and ruler of the universe. Yahshua is not believed to be a divine being, and is not thought to preexist before his conception. They believe that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh's creative force, not a personal being.

Unlike either Judaism or Christianity, and similarly to Armstrongism, they make no distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament, claiming the New Testament is a continuation of the Old Testament, reaffirming and reestablishing it. In addition, the House of Yahweh rejects religious customs that conflict with their interpretation of the Torah.

In an attempt to purify their religion from pagan elements, all pagan names, words, and concepts are eschewed. They also publish an edition of the Bible (The Book of Yahweh), which removes any and all words or concepts which are thought to be pagan corruptions, including removal of God/Elohim in favor of "Yahweh", as well as changing names to remove these influences (e.g. Yliyah for Elijah, Yechetzqyah for Ezekiel, Riyyah for Ruth, and Yahchanan for John).

Failed "End Times" Predictions

September 12, 2006- Hawkins announced in the "House of Yahweh" newsletter (February 2006) that nuclear war would start September 12, 2006. He claimed it is a part of the HoY's commission to warn the nations and the people of the world. Hawkins was interviewed on the Channel 4 web show "thisisaknife" about his apocalyptic predictions. Among other things, he claimed that Abilene, Texas would be saved from the impending destruction and invited the show's presenter to join him there so he would be safe.

June 12, 2007- Hawkins amended his prediction to state that a nuclear war was only conceived on September 12, 2006, and that it would follow the natural birth cycle of a woman, finally being "born" nine months later on June 12, 2007. On May 7, 2007 a new counter was put up on his website, counting down to the June 12 date when supposedly, the "Nuclear Baby" (conceived September 12) would be born.

Whether the entire nuclear event was to take place on that date, or in the months leading up to was never made clear. He also stated that by four months after June 12, October 13, 2007, four-fifths or 80% of the human race would be dead from nuclear war.

June 12, 2008- Most recently, Hawkins stated nuclear war would begin on Thursday June 12, 2008. Since the passing of this date without incident, Hawkins has yet to predict another date for a nuclear war.

Current events

Cover of Birth Of The Nuclear Baby: The Explosion Of Sin

Kenyan followers of the House of Yahweh believe in a prophecy that the end of the world began on or before September 12, 2006, and that members of the House Of Yahweh would have survived the coming nuclear catastrophe. The specific prophecy appeared on the front page of the House of Yahweh prior to the date. It is also addressed in the publication The End by Yisrayl Hawkins. Recently the leaders of the sect in Kenya were arrested, and subsequently released on bail after giving assurances that they would refrain from inciting fear in the local population. Following the predicted "doomsday" date predicted by the Kenyan sect, leaders of the group have reportedly fled Kenya.

• The group claims that nuclear war did start on September 12, 2006 but that it didn't start with bombs dropping in the book Birth Of the Nuclear Baby: The Explosion Of Sin.

• In October 2006 a former House of Yahweh member pleaded guilty to injury to a child by criminal negligence for performing surgery on her 7-year-old daughter, which led to her death, according to authorities.

• On October 16, 2007 Yedidiyah Hawkins, an Elder at the House of Yahweh and purported number-two spiritual leader for the group, was arrested for sexual assault of his 14 year old stepdaughter. During a forensic interview at the Abilene Police Department's Child Advocacy Center, the child disclosed that the abuse began when she was eight. Documents released by the Callahan County District Attorney's Office following the arrest allege that Yedidiyah Hawkins was preparing to marry the unnamed stepdaughter. Yedidiyah Hawkins was subsequently indicted by a Callahan County, Texas Grand Jury on December 12, 2007 and remains incarcerated while awaiting trial.

• On February 13, 2008 Yisrayl Hawkins was arrested and then moved to the Taylor County Jail on four counts of bigamy. His bail was set at ten million dollars, and later reduced to one-hundred thousand.

• On Monday, October 27, 2008, a jury for the 42nd District Court found Yedidiyah Hawkins guilty of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The judge sentenced the religious sect's elder to 30 years in prison.

• On October 29, 2009, bigamy charges against Yisrayl Hawkins were dismissed after he pled no contest to child labor charges. Hawkins was given a fine and probation.

See also

• Sacred Name Movement
• Yisrayl Hawkins
• List of groups referred to as cults or sects in government documents

External links

• February 2006 Newsletter
• The House of Yahweh Homepage
• Yisrayl Hawkin's Home Page
• BBC News article
• A short bio of Hawkins
• The Cult of the House of Yahweh
• Yisrayl Hawkins of Abilene, TX — A evangelical Christian critique of Hawkins and his group
• Yahweh.com prediction on the end of times.
• ABC News coverage of the end of times prediction
• Rick Ross: House of Yahweh List of newspaper articles about the House of Yahweh