Did Enoch and Elijah Die?

The heart of the conjecture that, at death, the “pious-go-to-heaven” comes from the histories involving Enoch’s translation and Elijah’s trip into the heavens in a whirlwind of fire.1 Yet, the evidence proves that such an interpretation is inconsistent with clear scriptural statements.

Centuries after either of these two events, Yahushua proclaimed that no human, except for himself, had ever been in the heavens wherein father Yahweh dwells.2 Further, it is impossible that Enoch and Elijah could ever have gone into the third heavens because father Yahweh dwells in unapproachable light, “whom no one of mankind did see nor is able to see.”3

Still, another point is ignored by the advocates of the “pious-go-to heaven” conjecture; neither Enoch nor Elijah was dead at the time of their experience. Yet Scriptures proclaim that all humans have sinned and that “the wages of sin is death.”4 Continue reading “Did Enoch and Elijah Die?”

The Lying Pen of the Scribes

As early as about 600 B.C.E., the prophet Jeremiah wrote concerning scribal tampering of Scriptures:

How do you (scribes) say, We are wise, and the laws of Yahweh are with us? Certainly, behold, the pen has practiced deceit, a lie of the scribes. The wise are put to shame; they are terrified and are captured. Behold, the word of Yahweh they have rejected and their wisdom is their own. (Jer. 8:8-9)

There are 134 times when Jewish copyists (Sopherim) of the Masoretic text, believing that certain passages were too often quoted that used the sacred name Yahweh, changed the primitive Hebrew text to read adonai or eloahim instead of Yahweh. Continue reading “The Lying Pen of the Scribes”

The Ancients Pronounce YHWH

Ancient writers were not negligent in preserving for us the correct pronunciation of the entire sacred name. Despite Jewish and Roman Church prohibitions against its use, the vocalization of the complete name was revealed and is preserved by some of these writers.

The following are various sources which attest to the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton as Yahweh (Yah-oo-ay).

JOSEPHUS
Before any serious discussion can take place regarding the true pronunciation of the sacred name, it is necessary to recognize that the Tetragrammaton consists of four Hebrew vowels. Josephus writes:

His (the priest’s) head was covered by a tiara of fine linen, wreathed with blue, encircling which was another crown, of gold, whereon were embossed the sacred letters, to wit, FOUR VOWELS (φωνήεντα τέσσαρα; phonhenta tessara).1

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA
Clement of Alexandria (2nd century CE), for instance, tells his readers that the sacred name was pronounced ’Ιαουέ and ’Ιαουαί,2 both words which approximate the sound Yah-oo-ay.

Continue reading “The Ancients Pronounce YHWH”

Multiple Names of Salvation?

According to Scriptures, is there more than one name that can be called upon for salvation?

This question arises from the belief that “Yah,” as seen in the Messiah’s name (Yahushua or Yahshua), contains a shortened form of the Father’s name, Yahweh. Thus, “Yah” is equivalent to “Yahweh.” For salvation, this implies that both Yahushua and its variant, Yahshua, are equivalent to Yahweh.

Many people hold the view that, besides Yahweh, the various names used all carry the same significance, suggesting that any of these names could effectively lead to salvation. Names like Yeshua and Jesus are also considered sufficient for this purpose.

While this reasoning aligns with the beliefs of many, a deeper examination of the Scriptures reveals a different conclusion. This study aims to explore what the Scriptures truly say about this matter.

What Name?
Let’s start with some basics. One may ask, “What name was being utilized for salvation before Yahushua the Messiah came in the flesh?” Continue reading “Multiple Names of Salvation?”

Why Yahushua Instead of Yahshua?

This spelling brings attention to the first part of the messiah’s earthly name: Yahu-shua (Yhw-shua). At some point, the “waw” was stripped out of the name, rendering the spelling Yah-shua.

It is important to recognize that the change from Yahushua to Yahshua began in the mid-2nd century B.C.E. with the ineffable name doctrine of the Jews. Continue reading “Why Yahushua Instead of Yahshua?”