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 Pastor and Overseer is Yisrayl Hawkins (formerly "Buffalo" Bill Hawkins). The group has membership of all peoples from nations all over the globe and welcomes all "who will repent of sin and follow Yahweh's Law."

Beliefs

The House of Yahweh (HoY) believes that it is the one true faith, as instituted by the Creator Yahweh, set forth in the Bible, and now re-established in what is the prophesied end times. The organization is not affiliated with any other faith and asserts that all other faiths, most noteably Christianity, are corrupt and false.

The House of Yahweh recognizes Yahweh as the name of the Creator and Heavenly Father and Yahshua as the name of Yahweh's Son and Messiah. The House Of Yahweh uses the names of Yahweh and Yahshua exclusively. The House Of Yahweh teaches that all other titles, such as God (El, Elohim, Theos, Deus, etc.), Lord (Ba'al, Adonai, Kyrios, Dominus, etc.), Jesus and Christ are names or titles of pagan beings that have been ascribed to him. Hawkins refuses to even call Yahweh a god. They believe that Yahweh is not a god,and that he never will be. The HOY teaches that the scriptures refer to Satan, not Yahweh, as "the god of this world".

They believe that the use of the names "Yahweh" and "Yahshua" are essential to salvation since they believe that the name "Jesus" is a "transliteration" and can't stand in the stead of the word which means "salvation (noun form)". This is substantiated in the HOY by the Apostle Peter who is attributed to have said so in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved". So in their minds there is no salvation to be found in translating the it. The name "Jehovah" (and its variants) is shunned as an error dating from the Middle Ages. (See the article Jehovah for more information.)

The House of Yahweh believes in following the 613 laws.

Similarities to Judaism

Like Judaism, the HoY teaches the keeping of the Torah (consisting of the body of 613 laws and rules found in the Pentateuch). Members adhere to a kosher diet, free of pork, shellfish and blood. They also wear garments similar to the Jewish yarmulke and tallit (but only in worship services and private prayer). Members regularly perform ritual ablutions and were baptized and blessed when they became members. (Christian baptism is seen as an Old Testament concept stemming from these ablutions). They believe that the keeping of these laws is the answer to all the world's problems (sickness, poverty, war, hatred, crime etc). The very core of their religious belief is that these laws promote peace and teach true love for Yahweh and ones fellows.

Feasts

Like Judaism (and some christian groups), the HoY keeps the seventh-day Sabbath as opposed to the Sunday "Lord's Day". Christmas, Easter, and birthdays are not celebrated, but the House of Yahweh keeps 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.

In addition, once a year on the evening before Passover, members hold a solemn observance they call Yahshua's Memorial. This is done in memory of Yahsua Messiahs horrendous death on the stake. The members of The House Of Yahweh partake of unleavened bread and wine as symbols of the body and blood of Yahshua Messiah. It is not to be confused with the joyous Passover celebration on the following evening, but is observed on the night before when Yahshua Messiah was betrayed and is a time of quiet introspection. Members also wash one another's feet and the woman who poured oil on Yahsua's head is remembered too.

HoY members believe that The House of Yahweh Sanctuary, located in Clyde, Texas (though, their main headquarters is located in nearby Abilene), is the place established by prophecy as the only place on earth where Yahweh's Feasts are to be observed at this time, and three times a year they make a pilgrimage from all over the world to Abilene to celebrate Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Like Judaism and Christianity, HoY teaches tithing as found in the Bible. Even though it is considered one of the 613 Laws, it is reported that tithing and all other offerings/donations are strictly voluntary.

Rejection of Trinitarianism

Unlike Trinitarian Christianity, they teach that Yahshua Messiah is the Son of Yahweh but was begotten in the flesh, being born a man. He became the son of Yahweh at the time he was baptized by "Yahchanan the Immerser" (John the Baptist). Yahweh confirmed this when He spoke from out of the heights of the sky. He lived a perfect life as our example by keeping Yahweh's 613 Laws (sin is defined as the breaking of any of these laws, and by keeping them Yahshua was without sin).

HoY members believe that he was said to be framed for insurrection but his true "crime" was the heresy of openly using Yahweh's name (which by this time was considered too holy to say) and keeping the old Laws while rejecting new customs. Further they believe that it was an illegal trial that lead to where he was flogged, tormented, nailed to a pole (not a cross) and executed by the civil authorities. Common to Christianity he died for the perceived sins of man as an atonement offering or blood sacrifice and in so doing he became a Passover Lamb. (His execution is said to have taken place on the preparation day for Passover when the lambs were being slaughtered and prepared for the Passover Seder which commenced after sunset.) He was buried in the late afternoon on a Wednesday just prior to sunset. Three days and three nights later just prior to sunset on Saturday evening, he was resurrected from the dead. Subsequently, some 40 days later, he ascended into Heaven to sit as High Priest over the House of Yahweh. They believe that he is waiting until the prophesied "end-time" to return as King of Kings, establishing Yahweh's Kingdom on Earth and preventing humankind from ultimately destroying themselves.

Yahweh's exclusivity

In HoY theology, Yahweh is the only one who deserves worship or adoration, and is the sovereign and only creator and ruler of the universe. Yahshua Messiah gave all glory, honor and obedience to Yahweh who is not a trinity, but one individual being with no equal or partners. (The trinity doctrine is a horrible blasphemy to adherents of HoY who claim that its origins are not found in scripture, but in ancient pagan religions.) Yahshua is not seen as a divine being, nor did he preexist before his conception and that the Holy Spirit is Yahweh's creative force, not a personal being.

Unlike either Judaism or Christianity, they make no distinction between the "Old" and "New" Testaments, claiming the "New Testament" (or covenant) is not new but is a continuation and "renewal" of the Old Testament, reaffirming and reestablishing it. They interpret Yahshua's teaching that "I have not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it" (Matthew 5:17-18) to support this belief. In addition, the HoY rejects religious customs and traditions that they feel conflict with their interpretation of the Torah.

In the attempt to purify "true" 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, 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.[10] 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- [11] Most recently, he has stated the 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

File:Hoy botnb.jpg

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 labour charges. Hawkins was given a fine and probation.

See also

• Sacred Name Movement
• Yisrayl Hawkins

External links

• February 2006 Newsletter
• The House of Yahweh Homepage
• Yisrayl Hawkin's Home Page
• The Peaceful Solution Character Education Program
• 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
• Watchman Expositor Profile
• Yahweh.com prediction on the end of times.
• ABC News coverage of the end of times prediction