Assemblies of Yahweh Ministries Newsletter

Issue No. 02                                               India                                                           Oct. 2002  

Tabernacles Update

Greetings Brethern, in the Name of Yahshua Messiah, our Saviour and King.  The Festival of Tabernacles is here this month, it will be celebrated, in Hyderabad, at the Medipally assembly of Yahweh prayer hall, from Oct. 22-29.  All of good will are welcome to attend.   We plan on having morning and evening meetings, literature distribution, and showing of Bible video's.

The festival of Tabernacles points forward to Yahshua Messiah's return, when He will Tabernacle with His people in the New Yerushalayim for 1000yrs., see John 14:1-3;  1Thess. 4:16,17;  Rev.19:7-9;  20:4,9;  21:1-3.

The feast of Tabernacles also celebrates the birth of our Savior Yahshua Messiah, being that He was born about this time of the year.  John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us," (The Interlinear Bible)  Diety left heaven and tabernacled in human flesh for thirty-three and a half years, "and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father".  Humanity recieved a revelation of the Law of Yahweh, lived out, in human flesh. 

Dt. 16:13-15 says, "Thou shalt observe the feast of Tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:  And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.  Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto Yahweh thy Elohim in the place which Yahweh shall choose:  because Yahweh thy Elohim shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice."  Notice Yahweh says that a man's whole family was to come for seven days and rejoice, because of  the blessings He had given them. 

The feast of Tabernacles actually had eight days, Lev.23:36,39 and the eighth day was referred to as the last great day by the Apostle John, Jn. 7:37.  It was as if this day was completely different from the preceding seven;  this is because the eighth day symbolizes the reunion Yahweh will have with His saints in the new heaven and earth.

It took alot of planning for the ancient Israelites to be able to travel and keep an eight day festival.  The travel was not as easy as it is today and much time and money had to be expended in the endeavor, but Yahweh enables us to do all that He requires and He gives blessings to those who diligently seek to know and follow His ways, Dt.11:13-15;  28:1.  Here in India the worshippers of Hindu gods will dress in black for many days and make great expense in traveling to some place in Kerala for many days to do puja to their god.  If they are this diligent in doing worship to pagan gods, how much more diligent should we be to worship the one true living Elohim*?  I pray that all will be making plans now to keep the upcoming festival days.

(*Elohim is one of the Hebrew words for the English word God.)

For more information on the feast of Tabernacle to be held in Hyderabad, contact Y. Sunith Premanand at:  040-407-2976.

Sacred Name Telugu Bible Translation Project

The work of translating the Bible into Telugu with the Hebrew Names of the Father and Son is in going forward under the hand of G. B. Ben Oni in Eluru, W.G. Dt. A.P.  We are attempting to translate from the original Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek languages as closely as is possible and practical.  At present the books of Genesis and Daniel have been completed.

Learn Hebrew through Telugu Medium

A new booklet has been written that teaches the basics of the Hebrew language through the medium of Telugu.  This book is at the printers right now and we hope to have it available sometime in October.  It has been written by Mr. Joseph Kennedy of Palakollu, W.G. Dt. A.P.  If any would like to recieve a copy of this booklet, send 30Rs. to the address at the end of this newsletter.

Why learn Hebrew?

When Yahweh created mankind all people spoke one language, but because man rebelled against Yahweh and sought to establish a coalition without Him, Yahweh changed the languages of the peoples, that were in rebellion, to keep them from establishing their lawless goals, Gen. 11:1-9.  Thus the many different languages that we have in the world today were the result of man rebelling against Yahweh.  In order to bring His people back into unity in the last days, Yahweh promised to return to all peoples a pure language that they might call upon His Name and serve Him in Unity.  Zeph. 3:9 says, "For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of Yahweh, To serve Him with one accord." NKJV, (sacred Name restored).

What is this pure language that mankind has lost?  What was the original language that all mankind spoke in the beginning?

Abraham was the ninth generation descendant of Shem(Noah's son), but yet, Shem outlived Abraham, as Shem lived to be 600 years old, whereas Abraham only lived to be 175.  Abraham is called a Hebrew man in Gen. 14:13.  In order for Abraham to be able to communicate with his great great...grandfather Shem, he would have needed to speak the same language.  Since Abraham was a Hebrew man it makes sence that his "grandfather" Shem was also.  Where else would Abraham and his forefathers have learned righteousness, than from grandpa Shem?  So we see that Hebrew was the original language that was spoken before the confusion of the languages at the tower of Babel.  This is the language that mankind lost, that Yahweh promises to restore to the peoples of the earth.  Zeph. 3:9 says that the purpose for restoration of this language, is that the peoples of the earth may serve Yahweh in unity and call upon His Name.

So now we see the reason for learning the Hebrew language.  Yahweh's word to mankind was originally inspired in Hebrew and by learning Hebrew you can more perfectly learn Yahweh's will and thus come into harmony with your Creator and  your fellowman.

Second Fundamental Belief – YHWH's Name

Last month we looked at the first fundamental belief of the Assemblies of Yahweh, this month we will look at number two.  Why do the Assemblies of Yahweh put so much emphasis on the original pronunciation of the Name of the Father?  Is it a salvational issue?  The third of Yahweh's ten commandments says, "Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy Elohim in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain."NKJV(Hebrew Name and title restored).  The third commandment is basically telling us that we should not have anything to do with the Name of Yahweh in a light, frivolous, desolating way, His Name should always be used with utmost respect and reverence, Ps.111:9. 

Does the Biblical definition of the word "name" include pronunciation?  A study on the word "name" in the Scriptures, will show that the definition includes authority, reputation, person, power, spelling, and pronunciation.  Many Bible verses show that the definition of the word "name" includes pronunciation, see Ex. 15:3;  Ps.83:18;  Gen.2:11,13,14,18;  4:19 etc...  Being that the Biblical definition of the word "name" includes pronunciation, pronunciation of the Creators Name is a part of the third commandment.

Many times whenever the spelling or pronunciation of a name is changed it also changes the meaning, for example Yahweh changes Sarai's name to Sarah, Sarai means dominative, where as Sarah means princess.  This was a small, but significant change, as it changed the whole meaning of her name.  The name Jehovah was made up about 500 years ago and all scholars know this is not the Creators original Name.  The word "hovah" actually means, ruin- mischief according to Strongs Concordance #1943.  Being that sin is transgression of the law of Yahweh(1Jn.3:4) and no willing sinner will be saved, the issue of the correct pronunciation of the Fathers Name is a salvational issue. 

Many authoritative Hebrew reference sources give the correct pronunciation of the Creator's Name as Yahweh.  The Brown, Driver and Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon, page 217, says- "Yahweh - the proper name of the God of Israel.... The pronunciation Jehovah was unknown until 1520, when it was introduced by Galatinus...." 

A thirteen page article has been written by brother Tony Suckla, that gives all reference sources on the Father's true Name and it can be sent via snail mail or email by contacting the address at the end of this letter.

Response from a Reader

A reader of the first issue of this newsletter, responded by saying, "I feel that the strict observance of the annual festivals of Leviticus is not warranted now... Our Messiah, though he had much to say about the sabbath, was silent about the annual feasts!..."

Brother Mattithyah's answer:  "Yahshua Messiah observed the feasts and He is our example, Jn.7:10, 14, 37;  4:45;  5:1;  1Pet.2:21,22.  When Yahshua acsended to heaven He said, go teach all nations..."teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you" Mt.28:19,20.  Yahshua said that we should do and teach even the least of the commandments, Mt. 5:19.  Being that the annual festivals are part of the commandments of Yahweh, it is part of the law that Yahshua has commanded us to do and teach.  see also Mt. 23:23;  Lk.16:10.

Contact information:

G. B. Ben Oni

Eluru, Navabpet

W.G. Dt. A.P. 534001

tele- 08812-50404, 35109

email (bro. Mattithyah)-  Yahweh@vsnl.com

Y. Sunith Premanand -  sunithy@rediffmail.com