What's the True Name of God?

[Vic]

Sarah when you use the phrase the 'tetragrammaton' you are going beyond the name of God in the Scriptures, which was written as Adonai for the people who believed it too sacred to speak. People reverenced and feared God, especially after they were allowed to feel His presence.

Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Deu 18:16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
Deu 18:17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. [/b]

They didn't just flippantly say His name or use it as a 'normal' word. It is believed by those who use the term tetragrammaton within Judaism's kabbalah, that knowing the 'true' name of God also means having power, those who 'knew' the name were holy and more spiritual than others.

Quoting again from one of my articles> http://www.seekgod.ca/practicalkab.htm

Quote:Much of the interpretation and mystical practices of the oral Torah are related to the Name of God. The Tetragrammaton or Schem Hamphorasch refers to what Kabbalists and many Orthodox Jews call the Ineffable Name. The four-lettered name of God, in Hebrew is, "yod, he, vau, he", or in English capitals YHVH, although some occult sources say it's IHVH. Others also state that the YHVH is "yood, hey, vood, hey." According to various writings, the true ancient pronunciation is now unknown since it has been believed that the Name was too sacred to be written or pronounced by the profane. In reading the sacred writings, the term 'Adonai' was substituted for that reason. That teaching is also why Hebrew Roots and Messianic adherents write God as "G-d."

We read in Exodus 33:19 and then 34:5-6

"And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

And in the New Testament: Philippians 2:10 -11

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Quoting various sources, Nesta Webster states that the 'real' Name of God was hidden from the people for the reasons stated above.

"…The Tetragrammaton might only be uttered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest in the Holy of Holies amid the sound of trumpets and cymbals, which prevented the people from hearing it. It is said that in consequence of the people thus refraining from its utterance, the true pronunciation of the name was at last lost. The Jews further believed that the Tetragrammaton was possessed by unbounded powers. "He who pronounces it shakes heaven and earth and inspires the very angels with astonishment and terror."2. "The Ineffable Name thus conferred miraculous gifts; it was engraved on the rod of Moses and enabled him to perform wonders, just as, according to the Toledut Yeshu, it conferred the same powers on Christ…" 27.

From other information, we know that the sages, who promoted this belief, were mystics, many of whom also believed the entire Torah was the Name of God. Through gematria permutations and other practices, "72 names of God" could also be discovered. The Divine or Ineffable Name is believed to be known only by those adepts that qualify for that secret initiation and knowledge and these are believed to become endowed with "magical powers" by uttering or writing it.

Cathy Burns again quotes Albert Mackey, who refers to the male/female aspect of God as represented by the Tetragrammaton:

"[The Tetragrammaton]...is supposed to denote the hermaphroditic essence of Jehovah as containing within himself the male and female principle." 29.

From articles such as, Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism, we learn of legends in the Talmud and Zohar about rabbis who uttered or wrote the Tetragrammaton and thereby "created an artificial man." There are also Talmudic and Kabbalist stories of rabbis creating animals for food and other such legends by use of the "Name".

"The Talmud and other sources ascribe supernatural activities to many great rabbis. Some rabbis pronounced a name of G-d and ascended into heaven to consult with the G-d and the angels on issues of great public concern. One scholar is said to have created an artificial man [Golem] by reciting various names of G-d. Much later stories tell of a rabbi who created a man out of clay and brought it to life by putting in its mouth a piece of paper with a name of G-d on it. However, this area of Kabbalah is known by very few, and practiced by even fewer." 30.

Many sources claim that these "golem" did not have a real soul, because that would be unacceptable—to create what only God is able to do. These acts were considered permissible and are not considered to be the same as those involved in Black magic, although no explanation is given as to the difference. Some suggest it simply showed the adept's ability to be close to God's wisdom and creative ability. These sages are considered to be Holy men and above reproach. Others state that these 'creations' were a form of initiation and proved the adepts knowledge of the Name and other issues.

....According to the Toledot Yeshu and similar writings, the miracles of Christ are a reflection of His possession of this same "mastery" over the Name, no different than any other "adept."

....Historical records reveal many Jewish adepts who made an impact on their peers by their magical abilities, although many orthodox Jews rejected their feats as charlatanism. However, their magical abilities were also the impetus for various movements which divided the Jews over whether the particular adept was indeed the long awaited Messiah.

These adepts were called Masters of the Name or Baal Shems. The term, "Baal Shem means that the person was regarded as expert in the 'practical kabbalah' or magic. 'Baal Shem means literally one who is master of the name of God, who knows how to employ it." 31.

You see Sarah, many of your posts permeate gnostic concepts or under Christian doctrine, heresy. You seem to be tossed to and fro by the things you post and go after every wind of doctrine, either with or without understanding why it is incorrect based on the Scriptures.

The pursuit of the tetragrammaton can only be put into the perspective of those who call it that and also desire the same knowledge, and the beliefs surrounding it. Yehovah or Jehovah are recognised as the closest and most accurate pronunciation in english from the OT, as shown in Exodus 6:2,3. God was the translated word for Elohiym, etc. Hebrew or aramaic into English in the OT. But in the NT and under the New Covenant, God gave Jesus as the way to know Him, and said at the name of Jesus--in English rather than Koine Greek---that every knee will bow.

Sarah you never seem to be satisfied with the Truth as found in the Scriptures. You always appear to want that extra bit of info that comes from outside the Scriptures and then apply it and try to make the Scriptures fit that doctrine. That's called being gnostic. What Mary is saying is accurate, based on your posts and what we know based on the Scriptures and information on the tetragrammaton historically and factually. You really need to sort through your beliefs and start hearing what is being said to you Scripturally and factually.

You appear to feel you are here to teach everyone what you have learned in '9' or 2 or 3 yrs depending which post we refer back to, as sheep had pointed out to you. The contradictions, as noted by Mary and Rose, are throughout all the threads you post to. But Sarah, while every person who believes Jesus Christ can edify and encourage one another, you don't even seem to know who Jesus Christ is and deny His divinity and so on.

The Scriptures say, aside from your off base doctrinal issues that are so apparent to other Christians, that as older Christians--and I can claim that having been a believer for over 35 years, and still have so much to learn-- as you have presented your beliefs on so many issues in such a way as to appear to teach us the 'truth', but Sarah, maturity in Christ comes over time, and discernment between truth and error comes from spending time studying the Word and applying it to discern between truth and error, good and evil by full use of the Scriptures as the litmus test.

Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

That is why time and again you have posted error, and it has been refuted; you have sourced heretical writings and doctrine and posted them, and they have been refuted, and so on, but it does not seem to make an impact on you at all. You just move forward on to the next item on your 'list'. I just get the feeling that you are so set in your beliefs which you developed somewhat on your own and also in the forums like Followers of Yah, and nazarite.net, that you have this mission to convey all the heresies from there and never hear anything we might say to show it all for what it is. False doctrine. I don't want to offend you Sarah, but I want to be honest with you and say what I think is important for you to hear. I hope you can receive it.