Mick Answers DJ

The background chosen for this email answer, depicts Death Valley. The roads we travel are also indicative of the decisions we make. Which road should we take to arrive at our destination? Which organization is speaking the truth? Decisions, Decisions! The bells are also sending a signal/sound. Are we really listening?

Dear Sirs: This is not a malicious e-mail, but a sincere one. I was perusing your website after it being recommended for some articles (like the one on the "kids bill of rights") and I surfed through it for a bit. It seems like most all sacred name groups you review are wrong - though the one in Bethel gets high marks. It also appears you have had some very negative comments made you felt needed responding to - such as the one accusing you or someone on the web of being employed by one of the sacred name groups (I think that was bethel, as well). I don't really know either way, but felt compelled to write.

For many, many years I have searched for truth in bible areas and have been fellowshipping via print and Internet with well over a dozen groups. Most all the groups I interact with have substantial truth which can be verified biblically. Every spring, Yah must look down and smile at most of these groups who are debating the 14th/15th issue for Passover - NOT if we should be observing but when (within a day). Unlike modern chr--tianity, the majority of sacred name groups continue daily to search for truth.

There are two groups, however, that have caused me great concern - I believe both of them were mentioned on your site. One is a group in Abilene, Texas, and the other in Bethel, PA. The reason they cause me concern is because they are both led by ONE MAN on each - that one man believes in his heart he has all truth and no one, but that one man, is permitted to interpret the Bible. Unfortunately, what I have seen happen to both of these groups is, that one man in each group has a tremendous amount of truth. I know this to be true because my library contains just about every item they have published over the years.

That truth seems to have gone to their heads to where they have puffed themselves up over all others. All you need to do is look at their periodicals - never is there an article, opinion, anything by any other individual - just that ONE MAN over all else.

I actually e-mail the group in Texas questioning him about this and was told that he is one of the two to expect - that is scary.

See review here: (YahwebenYahweh)

Well, this was a for what it's worth e-mail and I will pray that you (and others) will come to the understanding that there is only one Assembly and we are (or can be) all in it - if we knew for sure which it is, there would never be any dissentions - we will know when the Messiah returns to "physically" head His assembly. Now, only Yahshua is the head and we can just continue learning daily. You know, if we all had absolute truth like those two assemblies claim, there would be nothing else to learn - that's not what I see as happening until Messiah returns. May Yah bless and guide you - DJ

Mick Answers DJ

DJ:
I commend you on your continuing search for Truth. As you have found out, it is not a task to be taken lightly. I am also happy to see that you are investigating the various groups and doctrines with warranted caution.

While it does appear that many of the Sacred Name groups are daily searching for more truth, it confounds me that they can come up with so many different, and mutually exclusive stands on a given doctrine. It seems to me that if two, or more, individuals or groups are truly being lead by the Holy Spirit they would arrive at the same conclusion though they started from radically different points of view.

This should be true of broad doctrines; for instance: should the Passover be kept, and of the finer points: on which day is it to be kept? Alas, even this is not to be; and I personally do not think Yahweh or Yahshua are amused. Such is the case with many doctrines: from the Sabbath to how many wives (or husbands) can an individual have at any given moment. Unhappily most are fulfilling 2 Timothy 3:1-7
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men
shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection,
trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who
are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of [Yahweh]; having a form of [righteousness], but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which
creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led
away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to
the knowledge of the truth." K.J.V.

One of the things we are looking for at TruthontheNet: "Is the group, or individual, BOTH learning and applying the truths found?' Keep in mind that Satan knows and uses truth as it suits him: Genesis 3 and Luke 4 are examples. Even his demons believe and tremble (Jacob (James) 2:19) but they remain in their rebellion. Seemingly all religions have SOME truth, some even have Great truth; but if they vehemently support an untruth they are to be rejected and are near to a curse; Hebrews 6: 7-8

"For the land which has drunk the rain that comes often upon it
(please see Deuteronomy 32:2), and brings forth herbs useful
for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing
from Yahweh: but if it bears thorns and thistles, it is rejected
and near to a curse; whose end is to be burned." S.S.B .
This may sound harsh but no one has time to waste on foolishness.

Next let us look at the two groups that cause you the greatest concern. Abilene, Texas and Bethel, Pennsylvania.

I take it that you are referring to the House of Yahweh in Abilene, Texas lead by Yisrayl Hawkins, his brother "Yaaqob" having died. This organization was founded by the older brother, who died. The younger brother (Bill) later joined with Jacob, and then he (Bill) began claiming they are the two witnesses of Revelation 11. There are several doctrinal problems with this group but the biggest problem, so far, has been the death of the one brother. What to do, what to do? Proof-text so that one of the witnesses is suppose to die before the other; after all the Scriptures don't say that they HAVE to die in the SAME PLACE and at the SAME TIME; or so now says the surviving brother. If this statement is true then we can look deeper into the organization; if this statement is not true (a fabricated lie) then we can go on to other, more likely candidates. In fact the Scriptures do say that the two witnesses are to be killed and their bodies put on public display at the SAME TIME and in the SAME PLACE! As it turns out (?) Mr. Hawkins conveniently dropped his commentary at verse 7; if we read further we find in Revelation 11:8-13:

"And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is
called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Master was impaled. [BOTH bodies
are to lie in the street of Jerusalem] And from the peoples and tribes and
tounges and nations do men look upon their dead bodies three an a half days,
and do not allow their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.[ obliviously the SAME
three and one half days or there would be no reason to mention them together]
And they that dwell on the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry; and
they shall send gifts to one another; because these two prophets tormented them
that dwell on the earth. And after the three and a half days the breath of life from
Yahweh entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell on
them that saw them.[not years apart but at the SAME time and place] And they
heard a great voice from heaven saying to them, Come up here. And they went
up into heaven in the cloud; and their enemies saw them. And in that hour there
was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed
in the earthquake seven thousand persons:[a specific earthquake] and the rest
were terrified, and gave glory to the Elohim of heaven." S.S.B.
Here is a major flaw making the group unworthy of entering into or of further investigation. But why make such a statement about one's self? Is it to maintain control of the group? And we didn't even go into their picking Abilene due to not knowing how to use a concordance.

The Assemblies of Yahweh in Bethel, Pennsylvania is lead by Elder Jacob O. Meyer. According to several sources this organization was founded by him at the urging of several leaders at a Feast of Tabernacles in 1963. I have read the materials, talked with several members and with Elder Meyer and at no time has he claimed to be one of the two specific witness of Revelation 11. This is not to say that he will or will not be one of them when this prophecy is fulfilled. For that we will have to wait and see.
As to there being only one man in charge in these (and other) organizations: this is pretty much how any organization runs. Even in the most "democratic" endeavor there must ultimately be one person to make a final decision when needed. How often and by what process leadership may change will vary, but in the final analysis there must be one person who bears the burden of final responsibility. This is not only necessary but it is also Scriptural, as can be read from articles on TruthontheNet.

If you have access to past issues of the Sacred Name Broadcaster you will find articles by a goodly number of different people covering many subjects. Also I might point out that in the "Government" section of the Statement of Doctrine there is in place a method of bringing knowledge into the organization by someone other than Elder Jacob O. Meyer. It is unusual, and refreshing to find any such methodology outlined by any organization, much less one that is "ran by one man" and so early in the organization's history. I have been much impressed by this aspect, as you can see.

We are certainly in agreement that there is only ONE, True Assembly and it is headed by Messiah Yahshua, and ultimately by Almighty Yahweh himself. It is also true that currently it must be headed here on earth by a human being who will be replaced by Messiah Yahshua when he returns (hopefully soon). Until then we strive to find the one, True Assembly and then, Yahweh willing, join it as faithful members. So far as we can ascertain, there is only one group that has qualified (please see the White Stone article).

May Almighty Yahweh bless and guide each one of us into greater knowledge; in Yahshua's name:

Finnegan

Finnegan AKA The Mick