What is the House of Yahweh?

Response

The House of Yahweh (HOY), based on a compound in Eula, Texas, is a sect established in 1980. In some aspects, the movement is similar to the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), from which it separated. Its primary emphasis is on adhering to Old Testament laws for justification. The group’s focus on obedience to rules and the belief in an impending apocalyptic event is reminiscent of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ teachings. Their endorsement of polygamy and the elevated status of House of Yahweh elders also hints at Mormon influence.

In 1974, J. G. Hawkins, later known as Yaaqob, visited Israel and asserted that he had discovered evidence that Yahweh was the only recognized name of God. His younger brother Bill legally changed his name to Yisrayl and initiated the House of Yahweh in his residence. The brothers declared themselves to be the two witnesses prophesied in Revelation 11, tasked with preparing the world for the second coming of Christ, whom they refer to as Yahshua. According to Revelation 11:3–6, the two witnesses “will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. . . . If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. . . . They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.” Neither brother has ever performed any miracles, and the 1,260 days have long passed. Yaaqob has also passed away. The elder Hawkins brother died in 1991. However, this has not dissuaded Yisrayl or the House of Yahweh.

Yisrayl Hawkins considers himself to be a prophet of the end times sent to save the world from the impending destruction. Only those who belong to his sect will survive. He deems all Christian churches as heretical and influenced by Satan. He concentrates on interpreting apocalyptic prophecies according to his own understanding. The group exhibits cult-like characteristics with its strict authoritarianism, insisting on complete obedience to the House of Yahweh.The use of Yahweh leaders is rebellion against Yahweh Himself. They teach that salvation can be obtained by strict adherence to the Torah, obeying all of “Yahweh’s 613 laws,” and keeping the Jewish feasts and festivals. They observe the Saturday Sabbath and categorize all traditional Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter as “pagan.”

The House of Yahweh is not a Christian group. Some of the critical issues that distinguish the House of Yahweh from true Christianity are as follows:

1. The Nature of God. They refer to the Creator as “Yahweh” and believe all other names by which He is commonly known (God, Elohim, Lord) are actually names of idols or pagan gods mistakenly applied to Yahweh. They reject God’s triune nature and claim that Yahweh had a wife, Lucifer, who rebelled against Him and became Satan.

In reality, the ancient manuscripts from which all sound translations are derived use numerous Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words to identify God. He Himself provides many of those names such as El-Shaddai, “and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3), I AM, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14), and Elohim, “And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 34:31). In Psalm 91:1–2, the psalmist uses five different names for the Lord. Moses referred to Him as “the God of gods and the Lord of lords,” “For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” (Deuteronomy 10:17).

1. The House of Yahweh. The House of Yahweh is a religious group founded by Yisrayl Hawkins. They claim to follow the Bible, specifically the King James Version, and believe in keeping the commandments of Yahweh. They emphasize the importance of using the Creator’s Name, Yahweh, and the Savior’s Name, Yahshua. They base their beliefs on scriptures such as (Deuteronomy 10:17).

2. Jesus. The House of Yahweh teaches that Jesus (Yahshua Messiah) is not God, nor was He pre-incarnate with God before coming to earth. This teaching contradicts John 1:1 and Philippians 2:6–7. Jesus Himself said, “Before Abraham was, I am!” (John 5:58). He also stated that seeing Him was seeing the Father «Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? », (John 14:9) because “I and the Father are one” «I and my Father are one. », (John 10:30). First John 2:22–23 says, “Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” If this single doctrine was the only way in which the House of Yahweh differed from Christianity, it would be enough to classify it as a false religion.

3. The Bible. The House of Yahweh has produced its Bible translation, The Book of Yahweh: The Newly Restored Original Bible, which they claim to be the only accurate translation. They state that all other translations have been corrupted by pagans and idol worshipers. However, Yisrayl Hawkins is neither a Hebrew scholar nor a professional translator and has twisted his book to fit his agenda, removing or adding words as desired.

4. False Prophecies. Yisrayl Hawkins has made numerous “prophecies” predicting the end of the world. Those dates come and go with no fulfillment of his words. He predicted that the Israeli Peace Accord signed on October 13, 1993, would begin a seven-year tribulation period «for then shall be great tribulation».

ion, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” , (Matthew 24:21) that would end on October 14, 2000, with the return of Christ. His most recent failed prediction was that a nuclear war would begin on Thursday, June 12, 2008.

God has harsh words for those who falsely prophesy in His name. Deuteronomy 18:20 says, “But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” Jeremiah 29:8–9 says, “‘Do not let the prophets . . . deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.” In Ezekiel 33:33, the Lord says, “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” The reverse is also true. When a so-called prophecy does not come true, the “prophet” who spoke it is not of God.

5. Salvation. The Bible presents salvation as the forgiveness of sin and conciliation with God “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: “, (Romans 5:1). The goal of the House of Yahweh is peace on earth and the appeasement of Yahweh by strict adherence to the Mosaic Law. It is very clearly a works-based theology.

Yisrayl Hawkins has been under investigation for sexual misconduct, suspected polygamy, and child-labor infractions. According to his former wife, Kay, Hawkins began to preach polygamy after he was caught in an affair with a church secretary. In 2008, according to an ABC News article, “The 73-year-old founder and pastor of the House of Yahweh, was charged by the Callahan County district attorney with having multiple wives . . . charges of sexually abusing a teenager, bigamy, and welfare f

raud. Questions have also been raised about at least two deaths within the sect.” Authorities suggest that this sect closely resembles the Branch Davidians.

Galatians 5:4 says, “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Scripture is clear that nothing we can do will justify us before God. Salvation is a gift of God bought for us by the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). We find peace with God by repenting of our own attempts to justify ourselves and accepting God’s gift by faith (John 3:15-18). The House of Yahweh has failed to heed Scripture. “No one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law” «Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. », (Romans 3:20). Acceptance of that truth alone would dismantle the House of Yahweh.