The Heavenly Father's Great Name

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OUR BIBLE Only a Translation

Many don't stop to think that the King James Version of 1611 and other common Bibles are merely English translations from the original Hebrew.    Although the King James and some others are very accurate in preserving the meaning of the originals, translators took some liberties with certain words--especially is that true of the Name of the Heavenly Father and His Son.  An unfounded fear of using the sacred Name led to the use of substitute titles in our Bibles.    At top is the first complete English Bible translated from the Latin Vulgate version by Oxford scholar John Wycliffe in 1384. At right are samples of ancient language translations of the Bible. The oldest manuscripts are in Hebrew, followed by Aramaic (related to Hebrew) and then Greek.

HEBREW
	ARAMAIC
KOINE GREEK	The pottery frag-ment directly above contains a message to the commander of a garrison at La-chish, written about 586 BCD. The writer sends a greeting in "the name of Yahweh."
GREEK CODEX

Is the Sacred Name Really That Necessary?

   Some may say, "Oh, that name business is all foolishness. It is making a big thing out of nothing. You can call Him whatever you want.  He'll understand." But what some people call nothing, the Almighty may consider very important.

   When Yahweh makes a command, He expects it to be carried out to the letter. Throughout Scripture He makes it clear that we are to honor Him and call on Him by His personal Name. Can we then decide what we want to call Him, that it really makes no difference? Let's look at a few biblical examples of disobedience to what some men thought were trivial requests of Yahweh:

Name Proof at Qumran   Dramatic proof of the holy Name Yahweh came in the discovery of the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. The scrolls were 1,000 years older than existing Old Testament manuscripts, dating to 150 BCE. Top left, the Isaiah scroll. Above right, the scrolls caves.  At right, Israel's Shrine of the Book museum housing the scrolls.

• Aaron's sons Nadab and Abigu probably thought all fire was the same and it did not matter which they used in their offering to Yahweh (Leviticus 10). When they used their own fire instead of the holy fire of Yahweh in their sacrifice, Yahweh instantly burned them to death.

• Uzzah was driving the Ark of the Covenant on an ox cart. In a moment of reflex, he disregarded Yahweh's command not to touch the Ark (2 Samuel 6). Grabbing the Ark to keep it from falling, he was immediately killed.

• Leading Israel out of Egypt, Moses was told at one point to speak to a rock and it would gush forth water (Numbers 20). Instead, he struck it twice. Because of his disobedience, Moses was barred from the Promised Land.

• Saul was told to destroy the Amalekites and all their animals. Evidently he figured it was wasteful to destroy that much potential food and that if he sacrificed a few animals in worship, Yahweh wouldn't mind if he kept the rest. Under inspiration, Samuel told Saul, "Has Yahweh a great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams," 1 Samuel 15:22.

   Such examples are numerous in Scripture. Even when they knew better, men did what they themselves thought was acceptable to Yahweh--and reaped the terrible consequences. Can we call the great Creator of this universe any name we please, even after countless scriptural injunctions to call on Him by His only Name Yahweh? Does it really matter that we follow His wishes? The results of doing otherwise should be too frightening to consider!

   There is not a doctrine in the entire Bible that is more emphasized than the importance of the Name of the Heavenly Family. The Scripture explicitly commands, "Sing unto Elohim, sing praises to HIS NAME; extol Him that rides upon the heavens BY HIS NAME YAH, and rejoice before him" (Psalm 68:4). "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Yahweh's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3).

   Do you believe that? The Bible makes it very plain that salvation can be obtained only by accepting this Holy Name, using this Holy Name and living our lives in conformity to the character of this Holy Name.

   What is so important about Yahweh's name? Simply this:

• Salvation is in that name, and in that name alone (Acts 4:12).

• We are told to use that name in prayer and praise to Him (Psalm 68:4).

• We are informed that it will serve as a test in the future of our obedience (Jeremiah 10:25; Revelation 13:17).

• We are told that His victorious saints will be gathered in His name (Zechariah 10:12; 13:9).

• We are told that His elect will be sealed in that Name (Revelation 14:1; 22:4).

• The Holy Name is not God, Lord, Jesus, or Iesous--but the Name that the angel Gabriel told Joseph to name the Savior (see Matthew 1:21 and the column footnote reference for Hebrews 4:8).

Yahshua Spoke His Father's Name

   Not only did our Savior carry the Name of His Father, but it was prophesied that He would actually speak it to others while He was on earth: "I will declare Your Name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise you," Psalm 22:22.  Do you believe that He fulfilled this prophecy by declaring the Name of His Father "Yahweh"?  Or do you believe He declared the name of "God" and "Lord" as the pagan nations around Him were also doing?

   Scripture states that He magnified His Father's Name before all to whom He witnessed, "And I have declared unto them Your name, and will declare it:  that the love wherewith You have loved me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17:26 and Hebrews 2:12).

   If our Savior declared Yahweh's Name, then He used it. It was because He did declare it that He was charged with blasphemy, for the Jewish hierarchy had a traditional law prohibiting the common people from using this Name. It was thought too sacred to use. Only the High Priest used it performing his temple duties on the Day of Atonement and other holy days.

   Not only did our Savior use this Holy Name in witness, but all His disciples also witnessed in that holy name as previously pointed out. We can be certain that Paul did not use the Greek "Theos" or "Kurios," which are translated "God" and "Lord" in your Bible, when referring to the holy Elohim family. Paul's conversion originated on the road to Damascus. In relating that conversion to King Agrippa he said: "And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.' And I said, 'Who are You, Sire?'" If our Savior spoke His Name in the Hebrew tongue, His answer certainly was not "I am Jesus" as it is found in your Bible, but, "I am Yahshua whom you persecute," (Acts 26:14,15).

   Paul was blinded by the brilliancy of the light of Yahshua's glory, and he was sent to Ananias to restore his sight. Ananias was informed in a vision to restore Paul's sight, but he was somewhat reluctant to receive Paul because of Paul's reputation as a saint killer.

   What was the reply that was given to Ananias concerning his fear of receiving Paul? Notice what is said concerning proclaiming Yahweh's Name: "But Yahshua said unto him [Ananias], 'go your way:  for he [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear MY NAME before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him [Paul] how great things he must suffer for my NAME'S SAKE'" (Acts 9:15,16). The same Paul who had persecuted the saints was commanded by Yahshua to proclaim His Holy Name to the Gentile world.

   The Apostle Paul did declare that Holy Name, but the Greek copyists and scribes in the second and third century removed it while recopying the original manuscripts and inserted the titles of "Theos" and "Kurios." Paul was persecuted for using the sacred Name, but he was delivered from death time and time again until his life's mission had been completed.

The Name that Has Real Power

   Deliverance is a factor in knowing the Name of Yahweh and using it in worship. Scripture reads, "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore, will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My Name" (Psalm 91:14).

   It is not in knowing His Name and never using it that there is protection, but we must witness that Name before others. It is better not to know His Name than to know it and never witness it in prayer and song to Him. We are told to call on that Name. "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be delivered..." (Joel 2:32).

   Most people in the last days will be walking in the name of the common titles of "God" and "Lord," but His elect will be walking in the Name of Yahweh. That is what your Bible says: "For all people will walk every one in the name of his god [elohim], and we will walk in the name of Yahweh our Elohim for ever and ever" (Micah 4:5).

   Joel 2:32 indicated that those who call on the Name of Yahweh are saved, but Jeremiah pronounces that those families who do not call on the Name Yahweh will receive the wrath of Yahweh. The order that will go out to the angel of destruction will be "Pour out your fury upon the heathen that know You not, and upon the families that call not on Your name..." (Jeremiah 10:25). Does your family use the Holy Name in prayer and praise to Him?

   Do you consider His Name unimportant? Scripture says otherwise. "The Name of Yahweh is a strong tower:  the righteous runneth into it, and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

   Will His saints be calling on His Holy Name? Evidently the remnant of Israel will do so in accordance with these words: "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: THEY SHALL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL HEAR THEM: I will say, 'It is My people:' and they shall say, 'Yahweh is my Elohim'" (Zechariah 13:9).

   Do you refuse to use His Name because you are fearful that people will think you are some kind of quirk or because your church doesn't use it? If so, you are denying the only Name whereby you can be saved. Notice the promise given to those who use His Holy Name in prayer and praise to Him: "Then they that feared Yahweh spoke often one to another: and Yahweh hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Yahweh, and that THOUGHT UPON HIS NAME. And they shall be Mine, says Yahweh of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I WILL SPARE THEM, as a man spares his own son that serves him" (Malachi 3:16,17).

   It is true that the use of the Name "Yahweh" and "Yahshua" will in the future bring real persecution upon those who use it in the last days, as it brought persecution upon the early disciples. Our Savior in speaking of the last generation stated, "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated of all nations FOR MY NAME'S SAKE" (Matthew 24:9).

   The world dictator or "Beast" of the last days will have the allegiance of all the world (Revelation 13:3,4). The entire controversy in the last days may not be over the Sabbath-Sunday issue as many think, but over His Name. Either you will be forced to honor and worship under the name (mark) of the Beast or you will be denied the right to buy and sell (Revelation 13:11-18).

The Truth is Traditionally Unpopular

   All through scriptural history the majority religious view has been in the wrong. From the start, Yahweh has revealed His truth only through a relatively few people in His plan for the world. Why? Because the truth is not popular. The majority reject it. The end-time true assembly--the Philadelphia Assembly--will also be small and insignificant in the eyes of the world. Read Revelation 3:8, speaking about the Philadelphia Assembly: "I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept My word, and have not denied My Name."

   People sometimes give all kinds of reasons for not using the Sacred name, (some of which are found beginning on page 3). We take up one of them here because it is based on a poor translation of the King James Version and many refer to it. Their reasoning goes like this: "If we know the Father's nature--His justice and holiness, His love and mercy, His saving grace and His power--we know His Name and we know that to know Him is life eternal." They seek proof for this type of reasoning from Psalm 138:2, which seems to indicate that His Word is above His Name. "...for You have magnified Your Word above all your Name." But when we read this text in the Hebrew, the meaning is quite different. Both His Word and His Name are placed on an equal basis as supported by most other versions of Scripture.

   The Revised Standard Version renders Psalm 138:2, "I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou has exalted above everything thy name and thy Word." The New International Bible translation reads, "I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your Name and your Word." The Smith and Goodspeed translation does not compare His Name with His Word, but translates the Hebrew as follows: "I prostrate myself toward thy holy temple; and give thanks to thy name for thy kindness and thy faithfulness; for thou has magnified thy name over all."

   None of these translations state that His Word or character is to be exalted above His Name. His Name stands for His Word and character and it is impossible to separate them as some try to do.

   Most Sacred Name believers agree that His Word and character are all-important, but we believe that the use of His Holy Name is of equal importance. We readily agree that it is vital to have His Holy Name sanctified in our lives. If we fail to live our lives in conformity to the character of His Holy Name, we are taking it in vain just as much as those who ignore it by the substitution of improper titles.

   It is easy to find reasons for believing something that one does not want to do. What many overlook is that Yahweh named Himself (Isaiah 42:8), and desires to be identified by that sacred Name (Zechariah 13:9). We are to extol Him by this Name (Psalm 68:4). We are told to call upon Him in the time of trouble by the use of His Name (Joel 2:32). We are told that the families who refuse to use His Sacred Name prior to our Savior's Second Coming will be destroyed with the wicked (Jeremiah 10:25). John was shown in a vision of the last days people gathered on the Sea of Glass singing a Hallelu-Yah chorus, Revelation 15:1-5 and 19:5-8. HalleluYah means "Praise You Yah."

   Are you preparing to sing that HalleluYah chorus by praising that Holy Name now, or are you still singing in the name of "God" and "Lord"? We are told to hallow His Name in prayer--"Hallowed be Thy Name," Matthew 6:9. How can one hallow it in prayer when not once is it ever used in prayer or song to Him? The Name is vital to your salvation.

In Review

Yahweh to Remove Substitute Titles

   Practically all modern scholars recognize "Yahweh" as the best possible English transliteration of the Holy Name of our Almighty One. Because our Savior "came in the Name of" His Father, we use "Yahweh" or the shortened form "Yah" (and not "Je" as in "Jesus") in the Name of His Son. The last syllable "shua" derives from Hoshea, meaning "save" in the Hebrew and carries the meaning that the angel told His earthly parents to give Him. He would "save his people from their sins," Matthew 1:21. The "sus" in Je-sus does not carry the meaning of salvation.

   The scholars who translate the Bible into the English language know that His Name is not Jesus, but they continue to use it because it has for centuries been accepted as His Name. Tradition has made it more popular than His true Name.

As the Centuries Passed
The Name Yahweh is commonly expressed by the different period alphabets shown at right. Reading from right to left, the Tetragrammaton--Yothe, He, Waw, He--is depicted in Paleo Hebrew, top. In the middle are the four letters in square Aramaic, which came later. The corresponding letters YHWH express in English the ancient consonant-vowels.

   In center column reference Bibles, the name is usually rendered more correctly. For example, in the center column of the King James Version on Hebrews 4:8 you will see a footnote before the name Jesus. If you look down to the reference you will see a note that reads: "That is, Joshua."  The spelling is different from "Yahshua," but the pronunciation is practically the same. Correctly pronounce the "J" as a "Y" and the "o" as in "top" and you have pronounced our Savior's Name so He could recognize it. Recall that the Hebrew has no "J" in its language, and the "J" is pronounced "Y" as in the word "Hallelu-Yah." Our "Joshua" will lead us into our Promised Land as His namesake led the children of Israel into the land of Canaan.

   Remember that "Jesus" is a Latin-Greek name transliterated from the Greek "Iesous." Our Savior was not a Greek, but had a Hebrew Name. The name "Jesus" carries no more the meaning of "Yahweh is our Salvation" than the Greek "Jason" (which means healing) carries the meaning of the Hebrew "Jesse" (which means wealth). For the sake of accuracy, if for no other reason, we should use the Name that the angel of Yahweh told His parents to call Him. Any other is not His Name.

   Hosea was inspired to write of the near future, "And it shall be at that day says Yahweh, that you shall call Me Ishi...." Why call Him "Ishi"? Because this term that means "husband" has never been used in association with pagan idols, and because spiritually speaking, He is our Husband. His saints are married to Him. The rest of this text gives a startling prophecy of the future age. "For you shall call me no more Baali [My Lord]. For I will take away the names of Baalim [God and Lord] out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name" (Hosea 2:16, 17). Scripture states, "I am Yahweh, that is My Name and My glory will I not give to another [name], neither my praise to graven images" (Isaiah 42:8).

   Is it acceptable to use titles for Yahweh's great Name? Notice:

• The First Commandment states: "I am Yahweh your Elohim...you shall have no other elohim before Me."  (Exodus 20:2,3)

• Yahweh says: "In all things which I have said unto you be circumspect and make no mention of the names of other elohim, neither let it be heard out of your mouth," Exodus 23:13.  (See also Joshua 23:7; Psalm 16:4.)

• Yahweh is going to take these pagan title names out of people's mouths in the Kingdom, so why not voluntarily do it today and receive His blessings and salvation?

   "What's the difference?" you ask. The difference is either obedience to His will or disobedience. The decision is yours, but if you love Him, you will call Him by His correct Name. You will call the Messiah by the Name His Heavenly Father gave Him, the Name that He came to proclaim, the Name that He kept His disciples in, the Name that assures us of salvation, and the Name in which we are sealed.

To review questions and answers regarding the Heavenly Father's Great Name, click here to continue.