As we’ve reported, Texas-based House of Yahweh cult leader Yisrael Hawkins (formerly known as country singer Buffalo Bill Hawkins) is predicting the beginning of global nuclear war on September 12. He’s gotten enough people in Kenya worked up about it that they caused a near-riot attempting to sell all their worldly possessions.
From The Watchman we learn of the way in which Hawkins finds support for his prophecies in the Bible:
Yisrael Hawkins and the House of Yahweh believe that God’s name was deleted from the biblical manuscripts. In fact, Hawkins criticizes the Watchtower Society for acknowledging that Yahweh is the Hebrew pronunciation of the divine name, but nonetheless deciding to use Jehovah. Hawkins extends his criticism to the anglicizing of Hebrew names: “By changing Yeremyah, which means, ‘May Yahweh lift up,’ to Jeremiah, which means nothing, the later translators effectively hid the Name of Yahweh; therefore, not even a hint of Yahweh’s Name remains in this name.”
In order to rectify this perceived sacrilege, Hawkins created The Book of Yahweh (BOY), a new Bible with the sacred name allegedly restored to the Scripture. Hawkins states regarding the goal for the translation:
It has been our purpose and goal to go far beyond all other conscientious Scholars. We who have worked on this Translation have purposed, not only to replace Yahweh’s Name in all the Scriptures in which it was inspired to be written, but we have also purposed to replace Yahweh’s wonderful Name in each of the hundreds of places where it was used in compound with place names, and within personal names. As you read these Scriptures, you will see how many times the Name of Yahweh was honored by our forefathers. and [sic] how many times the translators HID this wonderful Name.Hawkins is emphatic the changes he made in his version of the Bible restore the Bible to its original textual purity:
“However, the Scriptures themselves have been thoroughly studied, compared, and critiqued; every Scripture that has been changed from the King James Version can be PROVEN beyond any shadow of doubt; thereby building your faith and trust in Yahweh our Heavenly Father, and Creator of the universe. We have purposed to REPLACE the many vital words which were deliberately left UNTRANSLATED in today’s modern English versions; words which, untranslated, disguised the true message which Yahweh inspired to be written, or else perpetuated the many ‘traditions of men’–not according to the Scriptures–but rampant in this world!
We have also purposed to remove all words and WHOLE VERSES that have been ADDED to the original Scriptures (such as the ‘footnotes’ that became ‘inspired’ Scriptures, as a later copyist included them in the Holy Writings).
Most of the time, these added words change, hide, or contradict the original message of Yahweh; effectively confusing the reader, who is in search of the Truth of Yahweh. We have not omitted these Scriptures arbitrarily; indeed, the commentaries of the Religious Scholars themselves have stated these Scriptural facts. We, only, have acted upon the facts presented.
We have purposed, as well, to clearly translate the many verses that have been left unclear, and not understandable, in other translations. The Book of Yahweh is written in modern English; yet, at the same time with the thought of presenting all the truth of Yahweh. One of the most frequently heard complaints about the translations today, is against the hundreds of unintelligible verses they contain.
Hawkins’ additions are rather colorful, to say the least. Full article, about revisions of the Bible by various groups, including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons, here.
October 6, 2006 at 7:19 pm
The Bible is under attack from all sides. Satan knows it tells the truth about him, the victory that Jesus had at the cross, and what will happen in the future. As such, Satan has and still is making every attempt to destroy the Word of God. What better way to do this, than to change the meaning of the Bible over time with different bible versions; each version as it comes along claiming it is the truth and the most accurate of all the versions up until that point.
The line must be drawn where we say, “If the King James Bible was good enough for 400 years, then it is still good enough for me.” For by it men and women have been saved and the knowledge of God imparted unto them. When new bible versions come along, they always take something away that is never replaced, only to be lost forever. If you believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then stand up for it. Take a stand and speak out against these new bible versions. An objection often raised against the “King James Only Crowd” is that people learn something from the other (modern) versions, too, and that some even get saved: but I dare say that this occurs in spite of these errant versions, not because of them!
The Authorized Version of 1611, or, in other words, the King James Bible, stands alone in its uniqueness, integrity, and fidelity to the truthfulness of God’s Word. Among reasons why this writer holds this conviction is because of the great harm done not only to the Word of God, but the detriment wrought in the local church in its public worship, and, of course, because of the confusion created in countless group and individual Bible studies. After all, it could be said: How do you think your professor would think or feel if all of his students used different textbooks in his class?! In our case, God is our Great Professor! He alone is the one true God, who has walked among us upon this earth and left us the living and enduring legacy of His Word and His Spirit. Until He comes, Amen.
October 7, 2006 at 11:55 pm
KJV,
Well put! That has been one of my pet peeves for years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! So it’s a bit hard to read. That’s where education takes over. Why is it that so many want the “easy button” for everything in their lives? Instant this, immediate that. Now, now, now!!! Too many folks with “Type A” personalities and the rest with no patience.
Just chill, my brothers! Take a deep breath, look around you, and see the world. Take time to smell the roses.
March 7, 2007 at 8:32 pm
For the record, the KJV was 1)not the first english translation of the Bible, 2) translated from younger texts than we have used for many modern translations, and 3) written for a specific time period. If we should stop moving forward, why not before the KJV? Shouldn’t we all learn Koine Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic to read the Bible if we’re supposed to stop with the King James.
The real need for modern translations is that language changes over time. There are words used in the KJV that no ordinary person would use in modern times. One verse says we are to, “girt our loines”. When is the last time you said girt? That word no longer has meaning. Therefore we need a new translation to get back to an even older meaning.
March 10, 2007 at 1:59 am
Re: Dan #3: The word is “gird” where the word “girdle” comes from. In this case a wide belt much as weight lifters wear today when power lifting. The “girding” actually helps support the lower back, gives the stomach muscles something to brace against, and in combination, increases strength and ability. Women actually took the item of combat and turned it into an accessory in the battle of love. Thus the tummy is drawn in to provide a more pleasing sillouette to the male eye.
April 16, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Did you know in the error of King James, the kings always had a peasant boy and had sexual relations with them King James was gay, also there are over 2000 mistakes in the King James do the studies, the Torah is the most acurate…
June 21, 2007 at 5:08 am
YISRAYL HAWKINS IS THE LAST REMAINING WITTNESS OF THE TWO WITNESSES. YOU SHOULD PAY ATTENION TO HIM. YOU COULD LEARN SOMETHING!
December 11, 2007 at 2:33 am
I purchased the Book Of Yahweh and read several of Hawkins books (pamphlets) and also herd many sermons from web site. Time has proven his interpretations of end time events; including tribulation time line; to be WRONG. Things did not happen as he prophesied. However, I don’t think he’s a tare.
Yah Bless……
May 8, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Fist of all, you people realy need to overstand something here..the BIBLE as we know it, is nothing more that a astrological text. It is based heavily on the worship of the sun, for instance, the risen saviour can be seen every morning, without the sun/son life as we know it could not exist. Please, don’t prove yourself to be ignorant and closed minded, do abit of research and alow yourself to see the truth, and stop being empty barrels, only to be filled by other with lies and deceptions.
August 14, 2008 at 8:01 am
It is really sad that God Yahweh commanded for us to seek and instead we sit around waiting for someone to teach us not even sure if the info we get is correct. Then we gang bang on religion.I don’t know about you but my teachers love when I bring and study from more than one book. They appreciate my seeking desire. So for me it is bias to say its not broke don’t fix it. Because its new and came from somewhere.True seekers of christ want to understand the old and the new. People don’t want nothing new yet they study from the newest and youngest king james bible.Don’t gang bang on religion.Don’t be unteachable like the scriptures speek on.
March 16, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Just an observation concerning the KJV, not that its not an adequate translation, but we should be aware; our forefathers, the Pilgrims and Puritans, disdained it. Think about it; King James was persecuting the Pilgrims! no wonder they didn’t care much for his Bible!
April 25, 2009 at 5:14 am
I think its sad that Muslims know more about the errors in the Kjv then Christians do…Yisrayl Hawkins may be wrong about prophecies (we should never set dates that only Yahweh knows) but a lot of his teachings are dead on. The KJV is broken and needs to be fixed as well as the Christian religion. The Messiah himself said the only way to inherit eternal life is to KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!!!