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Taking The NAME, The MARK 

& The NUMBER

Please note: Research into the Hebrew Roots & Messianic movements constitutes research into Judaism as well as the occult. We fully respect each persons right to believe or utilize what resources they choose. We however, see a clear distinction in believing the Messiah has come versus utilizing resources which still await His coming. That is how and why we must evaluate all to Christ and the New Testament as well as the Tenach. We do not wish to edit or criticize Judaism, but recognize it as distinct from our Christian beliefs, just as many in Judaism also see a distinction and separateness from our beliefs, and we jointly have mutual respect for our differences and each other. 

Revelation 13:17

"And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." 

Part 1: Taking the Name

Acts 4:17-19

"But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach  in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John answered and said unto them,    

Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."

The Name of the Savior

Columbine High School and numerous other murders and resulting controversies have brought to the forefront the reality of death. While many debate that guns are the cause for the loss of life, those that understand the times know that spiritual barrenness is the real problem. While ires were raised at various memorial services concerning the preaching of Jesus Christ, many found the very mention of the Name of Jesus deplorable. New Ager's, Jewish rabbis and not surprisingly, liberal Lutherans and many other so-called 'Christian' groups have entered into the rising flow of protest that a more universal sounding purveyance of "God" is needed on a community or national and international level.

Many Christians could ask why, in the name of tolerance and acceptance of others and with the formation of the universal religion, it is the precious name of Jesus Christ that is deemed offensive and necessary therefore to be eliminated. However, we know, as indicated in the article "Persecution Free Christianity", that we are not destined to be promoted or upheld by non-believers. 

If we consider the question of tolerance in light of Christians and the Hebrew Roots controversy, we find that many proponents in these groups wish to replace the name of Jesus Christ, and thus eliminate it. The Introduction and also Part 9 of the series "To Embrace Hebrew Roots" briefly considered the Sacred Name issue as it relates to Christians.

If we accept their proposed teachings, would changing the name of our Savior and embracing another name become the rejection of Jesus Christ and His salvation? To what end does it benefit to change His Name or is there a Biblical concept equated to eliminating the name of our Saviour? It is imperative that we understand the significance of the Sacred Name issue, for Scripture tells us in:

John 14:6:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Acts 4:12:

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Unbelievably, some claiming to be Christians --Evangelicals, Charismatics and Hebrew Roots -- say the Scriptures are filled with errors that only now have come to light because of the scholarship of various "enlightened leaders". The Hebrew Roots organizations have used the uninspired Westcott and Hort Greek Text as a pretext for casting doubt upon the inspiration of the Greek New Testament. They have then proceeded upon this false premise to construct their Hebrew New Testament from a purported "original Hebrew". 

One merely has to compare verses from the Authorized King James version, which was based on the Received Greek Text, with the new corrupt versions to understand that the intent of their message is to remove the name of Jesus Christ, the need for redemption through the Blood and many other basic Christian doctrines.

The Greek Texts were and are translated into other languages so that "...the Gospel is published in all nations". It is absurd to think that God would be incapable of inspiring the translation of His Word into other languages. It is also unthinkable that He would be unable to protect the needed messages in those languages. 

For English speaking Christians the translation found in the Authorized King James Version is more than satisfactory. In fact, to suggest that it holds errors which must be corrected, would cast doubt upon all verses including:

2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

Mark 13:10 "And the gospel must first be published among all nations"

What Name?

If the name, 'Jesus Christ,' is invalid, mistranslated or unacceptable for whatever reason, which Name, is the name of our Lord and Savior? Is "the Name" of our Saviour found in this list--which does not hold all of the numerous translations and transliterations deemed acceptable by those in various Hebrew Roots, Messianic or Sacred Name groups---

"Jeshua, Yeshua, Yeshuah, Yehshua, Yehshuah, YESHUA, YESHUAH, YEHSHUA, YEHSHUAH, Yeshouah, Y'shua, Y'shuah, Jeshu, Yeshu, Yehoshua, Yehoshuah, YHVHShua, YHVHShuah, Yhvhshua, Yhwhshua, YHWHShua, YHWHShuah, Yhvhshuah, Yhwhshuah, Yahvehshua, Yahwehshua, Yahvehshuah, Yahwehshuah, Jahshua, Jahshuah, Jashua, Jashuah, Jahoshua, Jahoshuah, Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Yashua, Yashuah, Yahshua, Yahshuah, YAHSHUA, YAHSHUAH, YASHUA, YASHUAH, Yahushua, Yahushuah, Yahoshua, Yahoshuah, Yaohushua, YAOHUSHUA, Yaohushuah, Iahoshua, Iahoshuah, Iahushua, or Iahushuah?"

For an in-depth discussion from a reader about the various Names, please see: Yahshua, Yehoshua, Y'shua, Yeshua, Iesous, Iesus, or Jesus The Sacred Name or True Name

An example of the baseless and irresponsible statements regarding this issue is found in the teachings of Peter Michas of Messengers of Messiah. He states the Name of our Savior and the translation of it is a personal preference--but the enlightened like himself, would use the "proper" name, Yeshua.

"…I am not one of these that feels that we cannot uses the name Jesus nor am I one who thinks we have to use the name Yashua verses Yeshua, or any other spelling to speak to our Lord or be saved!! Since in the world today everyone knows who this name applies to I see no real difficulty using it. I just prefer to use His real name not one created by the early church fathers from Greek…I do not think that any of the original Epistles had the Greek name of Iesous in them. I do not believe for one second that any of them would have ever used that name, especially Shaul/Paul…I also do not believe that the word Christ was ever used by any of them either. Not one Jew would have used either word, never! Iesous is actually a derivative of dios which was another way of writing the name of Zeus when speaking of him as the head god of the Greek pantheon. This derivative was incorporated into the Greek language from the travels of Alexander the Great. He apparently while in India used this form of the name when speaking of Sheva the great god of the Hindus. It became the word used to describe Zeus/Dios as the savior of mankind. Therefore during the transcribing and copying of the texts over the years the names Iesous Christos of the ancient Greco-Roman pagan saviors were summed up in the name given to Yeshua HaMashiach." 1

In contradiction to Peter Michas' protests that a Jew would never have said Iesous/ Jesus or Christ, Matthew 16:16 records the words of Peter: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Mr. Michas' and other Hebrew Roots leaders further contend that Iesous/ Jesus and Christos/Christ are aligned with the Greek paganism of Zeus and Dios, which seems to presuppose the idea that Jewish people never spoke Greek. This assumption means discounting the fact that the New Testament was written in Greek by Greek- speaking Jews and that many Greek- speaking Jews were saved. See: The James Trimm & Michael Rood Factor

Contrary to what some Hebrew Roots and Messianic proponents say regarding Iesous being a false name, Strong's Concordance cites the Greek Dictionary definitions of Jesus and Christ :

2424 Iesous (ee-ay-sooce) of Heb. or. (3091); Jesus (ie Jehoshua the name of our Lord and two (three) other Isr.:--Jesus

5547 Christos (kris-tos) from 5548 ; anointed  ie, the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus-Christ.

The Greek definition of 'Christian' discards the idea promoted by such notables as Uri Marcus of Nehemiah Trustees Covenant Fund,  that the 'offensive' term Christian must also be removed. In Uri Marcus' view, this is so as not to offend various Jewish people--both orthodox and so-called messianic, who follow the Jewish beliefs about Jesus.

5546 Christianos (khris-tee-an-os) from 5547; a Christian, i.e., follower of Christ:--Christian

Belonging to Jesus Christ defines the Christian. The term Christian came into use when Paul, who was also called Saul, was in Antioch where Greek speaking Gentiles and Jews, became believers. Acts 11:26

"And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."

Matthew 12:21 "And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."

The idea that no one would use the name Jesus or that Jews would never have spoken or written in Greek challenges the history of that time. The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible states that between the period of the Old and New Testament, "Greek thought and culture penetrated deep into Jewish society." "Coins were struck with Hebrew on one side, Greek on the other."2 When Caesar occupied Jerusalem in 63 B.C. "...the Romans absorbed Greek ideas, language and culture."3

Matthew 4:15-16 reminds us that Jesus started His ministry, after John was cast into prison, from Galilee, which was known to be populated not with Jews, but Gentiles, "...beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles." Many places were in fact Greek centers. Matthew 4:23-25 mentions that Jesus also spoke to many in Syria and there were, "...multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan."

Also, due to Alexander’s influence, "...Greek became the international language. More than 300 years later, when the New Testament came to be written, it was common language Greek rather than the Aramaic which Jesus spoke. City-states were built and organized on the Greek pattern, with a strong and lasting impact in Syria and Palestine...Just a few miles from Galilee,...was an area known as ten towns, the Decapolis: these were Greek city-states." 4

Jesus spoke in words the people understood as indicated in the rest of the chapter. It is to Him that all must turn to for salvation. Hebrew scholars admit that the Hebrew language was all but lost to general use until this last century, which saw a resurgence as part of building the Hebrew nation of Israel. Norman Berdichevsky is a translator from Hebrew and Danish into English. He is a regular contributor to several journals in Britain, the United States and Israel on culture, history, geography and linguistics. He states,

"Although Hebrew ceased to be the spoken language of the majority of Jews in their Judean homeland between the second century BCE and the second century CE, it remained the central language of Jewish religious commentary, and  heavily influenced the hybrid languages which arose in the Diaspora, such as Yiddish (Judeo-German),... " 5.

Since God provided the languages in Genesis 11:7, He is more than able to provide the means that all would have His Word. The proof that Jewish people spoke more than the Hebrew or Aramaic language even in Jerusalem at the time of Christ is found in Acts 2, at the time of Pentecost:

v.5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

v6"...because that every man heard them speak in his own language."

The list of places or people groups for the languages included in the subsequent verses: Galilaeans, Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judaea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians..

The reason these people were hearing and understanding in their own languages is the same reason that God has made it possible for His Word to be protected and translated for all people.

v12 "...we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

Acts 21, verses 37 and 40 record Paul's fluency in both Greek and Hebrew. The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible states: "Paul, a Jew born in Tarsus on the south coast of Turkey in the first century AD was able to quote the Greek philosophers and poets." 6 Perhaps, the most important verse that shows the variety of languages being spoken of and read by the people of the time, is found in Luke 23:38, when Christ was crucified.

"And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."

When a teacher states that something in God's Word is inaccurate, that is a very good indication he is a false teacher. God's Word tells us:

Psalm 119:151-152 "Thou art near, O Lord: and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them forever.

The Father

Exodus 6:2-3

"And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: 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."

The assault against Christianity and the Scriptures is not limited with the Name of Jesus Christ. Many wish to change the name of the Father for various reasons. There are many sincere, wonderful Christians who have stopped using the English translation of Jehovah and are now using Yahweh or some other variation found in the Sacred Name Directory, as being "the" Name. Some of those advocating the changing, or who reject as inaccurate the Name of God, also include the English translation of Father and even Lord. Due to the various contradictions, one must carefully weigh what Name to use.

In Luke 10:42, Jesus said when we pray, we are to say, "Our Father..."

Some of the many variations which are being proposed for the Name of God are listed at http://www.revelations.org.za/HeresGod.htm 

This "Bible Revelations" website advocates the use of "Yahveh" which they say means, "Yah Hoveh"--"i.e. Yah is" . This group suggests that just some of the following transliterations of the Sacred Name in use by various Sacred Name groups are acceptable and should be acknowledged:

"YHVH YHWH Yahweh Yaveh Yaweh Jehova Jehovah Jahova Jahovah Yahova Yahovah Jahowa Jahowah Yahavah Jahavah Yahowe Yahoweh Jahaveh Jahaweh Yahaveh Yahaweh Jahuweh Yahuweh Iahueh Jahuwah Yahuwah Yah Jah Yahu Jahu Yahvah Jahvah Jahve Jahveh Yahve Yahwe...."

There is much bitter controversy over the correct translation and use of Yahweh, the most common, versus the accepted Jehovah or Yehovah. Strong's Concordance states that in the Hebrew Dictionary:

3068 Yehovah (yeh ho vaw)...[means](the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God-Jehovah the Lord.

According to a 1940 Webster's Dictionary, the term Yahweh was a contemporary or modern literation for Jehovah 7 which is used in Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, Isaiah 12:2 and Isaiah 26:4. JAH is found in Psalm 68:4 and said to be a shortened version of Jehovah.

One source stated that Jehovah is the correct translation and the letter 'v' in Hebrew is pronounced the same as the English 'v' . It does not translate to a 'w' sound, hence could not be translated as Yahweh but as stated in Strong's as Yehovah. Some suggest that the Yahweh pronunciation was from an influence by Germanic languages with Jehovah being the English counterpart. This writer is hard pressed to find sources advocating change from the English Jehovah, that are in consistent agreement as to what the Father's Name is, a consistent time frame for its use, and the reasoning behind it.

Of the various groups, The House of Yahweh (www.yahweh.com) asserts the Father's Name to be falsely translated in Scripture. The House of Yahweh solution is the promotion of their NEW Translation called "The Book of Yahweh" and various other publications. They denounce all reference to anything but the name of Yahweh, and in other statements insist that saying "the Lord" is praying to Baal or Satan.

" Many phrases have been deliberately mistranslated in order to hide their true meaning, so that Scripture would not bring to light the deceitful teaching of the established, and popular, religious organizations.

The alteration of Yahweh's Scriptures, either by untranslating or mistranslating, has caused the True Work, which His Prophets spoke of, to be hidden in most translations of the Scriptures, and has been damaging to those who are searching the Scriptures for the way to Eternal Life.

However, the most damaging error in all the Scriptures, was the error of removing Yahweh's name from the very scriptures He inspired to be written, and writing in its place the pagan titles of GODS, and SATAN HIMSELF! Because of this grave error, those who are calling upon the name of gods and Satan, even though ignorantly, are actually worshiping the gods and Satan --for they are not calling upon, and with, The NAME of YAHWEH!" 8.

Scripture reminds us that God's Name was proclaimed as the Lord many times in the Old Testament.  Judges 16: 28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD > the LORD <Y@hovah >, and said , O Lord <'Adonay> GOD <Y@hovah>

There are many more titles throughout Scripture ascribed to Almighty God.

Part 9 of the series, To Embrace Hebrew Roots, discussed the Tetragrammaton and it's significance not only in Jewish beliefs but also Kabbalism and Freemasonry. Because Hebrew had no vowels, God's Name was written as YHVH, and was called the Tetragrammaton in Greek. The kabbalists taught that this name was too sacred to be spoken, thereby depriving the Jews of the name of the LORD. Many believe that the Tetragrammaton is actually composed of 42 letters, while others claim it is 72 or other numbers. Quoting from Part 9,

"...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. "

In her Theosophical Glossary, Madame Blavatsky provided the esoteric meaning of IHVH, according to the Sephirot of the Kabbalah and part of the "Secret Doctrine. 9

The whole concept of the Name of God being unknown or inutterable, which is contrary to Scripture, is promoted by Hebrew Roots and many Messianic proponents through their use of the terms G-d and YHVH which many say as Yahweh. According to the Dictionary of Canadian English the term "ineffable" means:

Ineffable:..1.not to be expressed in words; too great to be described in words. 2. that must not be spoken. 10.

It becomes a contradiction of terms to write G-d and then state that the ineffable name should be said as Yahweh. However, we find in the Theosophical Glossary the esoteric or hidden reason for describing the name of God as "ineffable", namely that Kabbalists consider it to be "no name" and God to be androgynous:

"Ineffable Name. With the Jews, the substitute for the "mystery name" of their tribal deity Eh-yeh, "I am", or Jehovah. The third commandment prohibiting the using of the latter name "in vain", the Hebrews substituted for it that of Adonai or "the Lord". But the Protestant Christians who, translating indifferently Jehovah and Elohim -- which is also a substitute per se, besides being an inferior deity name -- by the words "Lord" and "God", have become in this instance more Catholic than the Pope, and include in the prohibition both the names...neither Jews nor Christians seem to remember, or so much as suspect, the occult reason why the qualification of Jehovah or YHVH had become reprehensible;...The truth is, that the name they bring forward as "ineffable", is not in the least so. It is the "unpronounceable", or rather the name not to be pronounced, if any thing; and this for symbological reasons. To begin with, the "Ineffable Name" of the true Occultist, is no name at all, least of all is it that of Jehovah. The latter implies, even in its Kabbalistical, esoteric meaning, an androgynous nature, YHVH, or one of a male and female nature. It is simply Adam and Eve, or man and woman blended in one, and as now written and pronounced, is itself a substitute...." 11

In "Cabalism, slavery and the B'nai B'rith: the case if A.E.Frankland," Anton Chaitkin writes of the infamous Abraham Ephraim Frankland, who not only hated the Jews but revealed the occult basis of the Kabbalah, Freemasons and the Tetragrammaton.

"Abraham Ephraim Frankland was the principal leader within the southern states of the International Order of B'nai B'rith, during the period of the Civil War and Reconstruction (the 1860's and 1870s). He was also a spy for the Confederate Army of the slaveowners; a leader of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, conspiring with the organizers of Ku Klux Klan; and an avid Cabalist--a hater of Mosaic Judaism,. . . Frankland's 1870 Kabbalistic Researches (unpublished manuscript in the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati) is a compendium of espionage cyphers, black magic symbols, masonic ritual, and pagan religion. . ."

"On pages 38-39 of Kabbalistic Researches, Frankland lists assorted gods passed down by tradition from ancient times, including "Four of the thirteen great Gods of Assyria," plus the god "Bel," and, perhaps as an afterthought, "Ayel Shad-ai," or the God Almighty of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Frankland's god "Bel" is of intense interest to Masons. Scottish Rite Grand Secretary Albert Gallatin Mackey says in his 1874 Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry that "Bel is the contracted form of Baal, and was worshipped by the Babylonians as their chief deity." Baal is also the false god which the Old Testament Jewish prophets warn the people against!"

"Mackey continues that "Bel" "has, with Jah and On, been introduced into the Royal Arch [masonic] system as a representative of the Tetragrammaton," and that since 1871 this three-part Name of God--JahBelOn--has been officially "permitted to be retained as merely explanatory" of God within Freemasonry. "Jah" stands for the Hebrew God Jah- weh or Jehova, while "On," Mackey explains, was the name of an Egyptian city, and has come to signify the Egyptian sun god. "JahBelOn," or some transliterated variation, became a masonic black magic word; in substitution for God. . . "

"On page 745 [of Morals and Dogmas], Pike declares magically; 'One is filled with admiration, on penetrating into the Sanctuary of the Kabalah, at seeing a doctrine so logical, so simple, and at the same time so absolute . . . the Trinity of Words, Letters, and Numbers; a philosophy as simple as the alphabet and infinite as the Word . . . a philosophy summed up by counting on one's fingers . . . ten ciphers and twenty-two letters, a triangle, a square, and a circle--these are all the elements of the Kabalah. These are the elementary principles of the written Word, reflection of that spoken Word that created the World!" 12

The following images were from Frankland's work, Kabbalistic Researches, showing the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the Sephiroth, with the triad of Crown, Wisdom and Understanding within a double circle and Hebrew words representing the four elements. The small grouping list below are some of the names of pagan gods Frankland and Albert Pike taught to be viewed as equivalent to God. [Click to enlarge]

A disturbing account from an ex-psychic, who is now a faithful Christian, reveals how very important are these issues. Recounting an incident in which this person was asked to do a "reading" for friends, she states that although she expected to say the name of Jehovah, what came forth was the name Yahweh. She shared her experience that the chanting of the name, Yahweh, was totally out of her control.

"...the wife had grown up a Jehovah's witness, which I knew. I remember I was trying to do a reading for her while we were sitting on the floor. I was very upset and began to cry and speak, Yahweh, over and over, not Jehovah. It upset everyone. I was unable to stop for a few minutes. I had never done anything like that before, nor after...I think that if it was to impress the wife with the name of her god, it would have been Jehovah."13

It makes no sense to this writer that demons would chant what many are referring to as being the name of Almighty God. We must question what is taking place with these various groups who do not belong to Jesus Christ and promote the use of the name Yahweh.

When God said "....I am the Lord: 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," it is clear that this was new information given to Moses which was to be remembered. God did not say His Name was ineffable. We are to honor it.

Psalm 29:2

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."

The importance of the Name and Biblical soundness is seen in the following:

Update: August 14, 2003

Inspection of Isaiah 44:5 reveals these most important variations in Scripture concerning the mark, the name and tattoos.

Isaiah 44:5 in the King James Bible says, 

"One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel."

The NIV reads: "One will say, "I belong to the LORD"; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, "The LORD'," and will take the name Israel."

The NASV, NIRV, NLT, ASV (in the footnotes), NWT, Bible In Basic English, RSV,  all have it.

The TEV (Good News Bible) has: "...They each will mark the name of the LORD on their arms..."

The Amplified Bible: "...and another will write [even brand or tattoo] upon his hand, I am the Lord's..."

JPS  Jewish Publications Society Bible "One shall say, "I am the Lord's"
Another shall use the name of "Jacob", Another shall mark his arm "of the Lord's" And adopt the name of "Israel"."

footnote on mark his arm - customary for slaves to be marked with owner's name

Changing Names

Some promote the idea that names stay the same from one language to another, hence the Hebrew form of Jesus would never have become Iesous, which in turn would never have been translated Jesus. The Book of Acts records many instances of dual names for people. ex. Acts 13:1, 6,8, 9 and many more. Norman Berdichevsky states that many names did stay the same from Hebrew to English and other languages. However, he also states that many names were and are translated according to the ability to say the name in a way common to that particular language.

"Many of the most common personal (Christian) names used throughout the world are directly derived from Hebrew, such as Jonathan (Yonatan), Joseph (Yosef), David, Isaac (Yitzhak), Jacob or Jack (Ya’akov), Sarah, Esther, Eve, Rachel, Deborah, Rebecca (Rivka) and Leah." 14.

In the "Petit Larousse Illustre 1979", a French mini Encyclopedia and Dictionary, it states the name Jesus Christ is translated from Greek and in French becomes, 'Jesus-Christ'.15. In other words, it is widely accepted that the Christian religious faith is based on the Person and Name of Jesus Christ and His followers are known as Christians. While various languages may say that Name in various ways, for example, Greek -Iesous, it is indeed the Name of Jesus, by which all must be saved.

When asked, " In the Polish version of the Bible, what is the name for "Jesus?" , a Polish Christian stated:

[In Polish], "The Name for Jesus is "Jezus" [Yazoos - rough phonetic reading]. The old Bible - Biblia Gdañska was translated from the Textus Receptus - it is like KJV. "

The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible addresses the issue of the translation of Names by providing the following insights:

"...in the later period, when several languages were spoken in Palestine, a name was often translated and the person was known by 2 names, as Cephas after the Aramic; Peter after the Greek; Thomas and Didymus, both names meaning twin; Messiah and Christ, both meaning anointed. At this time also names were transformed, the Hebrew Jehohanan became Greek Joannes, and Joseph became Joses. Surnames were lacking among the Hebrews; persons were designated by adding to the personal name of their city, as Jesus of Nazareth...." 16

The significance of changing the name of the Father and eliminating or changing the Name of Jesus Christ can easily be understood in light of Revelation 13:15 which in part states, "...that the image of the beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." Verses 16 and 17 state:

KJB "…And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Revelations 13:1 emphasizes the potential for blasphemy which attends the improper use of the name of God.

"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy."

We learned from research for the article, The Talmud and Jesus Christ, that in the past there were many translations of the name of Jesus Christ which were intended to mean something else, in some cases blaspheming the name of Jesus Christ. While it has been suggested through various correspondences since then, that the Talmud does not say these types of things against Christ or Christians, the documentation was from historical sources. Those sources also say that the contents have changed somewhat in today's translations and versions of the Talmud.

"Many people believe that the name for Jesus in Hebrew is Jeschua or Yeshua. However, the complete,

"…name in Hebrew would be Jeschua Hanotsri--Jesus the Nazarene.He is called Notsri from the city of Nazareth… In the Talmud Christians are also called Notsrim. [Amongst other things]. 'Since the word Jeschua means 'Savior,' the name Jesus rarely occurs in the Jewish books. It is almost always abbreviated to Jeschu…"3.

In the Talmud, the name "Jeschu [Ieschu]" can apparently be translated [by the Kabbalist practice of Gematria]:

"…as if it were composed of the initial letters of the three words Immach SCHemo Vezikro-- (meaning)- -'May his name be blotted out.' 4. "

Outside the Talmudic definition, the actual name of Yeshua [short form] for Joshua or Yehoshua [long form], translates into Greek as Iesous. Jesus is a transliteration of Iesous [Greek] and it came about from the Hebrew/Aramaic. We have no problem with the Name Yeshua, as it means He is salvation or He saves in Hebrew. 

What we have a problem with, is those who try to deny the Name of Jesus, a Name that billions have attained salvation using, and try to tell other believers that YAHshua, or numerous other variations,  a name that is not even found in the Old Testament, is the only name of the Messiah. 

Referring again to the name of Christ, the apostle Peter reminds us in:

1 Peter 4:14: If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified"

It would be very naive and inadvisable for Christians, in this case English-speaking Christians, to speak a 'new' name or word from another language they did not fully understand. The Name of our Saviour and Lord is so exclusive that Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:9-11:

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Next Section:  Part 2: Taking the Mark

 FOOTNOTES

1. Peter Michas; From:[Ha-Talmidim] Fwd: the name of Jesus; Thu,18 Jun 98 17:13:37
2. The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible, Lion Publishing, 1986; p. 335
3. Ibid.,p.336
4. Ibid., p.334
5. http://www.israel.org/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00nj0 ;The Mother of Languages ; The Influence of Hebrew on other Languages; Norman Berdichevsky
6. The Lion Encyclopedia of the Bible, Lion Publishing, 1986; p. 335
7. Websters Giant Illustrated Dictionary; 1940
8. House of Yahweh (www.yahweh.com); The Book of Yahweh;
9. H.P. Blavatsky ; Theosophical Glossary: , Theosophical Publishing Co, London, 1892.
10. Dictionary of Canadian English; Gage; 1967
11. H.P. Blavatsky ; Theosophical Glossary: , Theosophical Publishing Co, London, 1892.
12. EIR Executive Intelligence Review --Vol. 20 No. 28; p.64-66; Cabalism slavery, and the B'nai B'rith: the case of A.E. Frankland by Anton Chaitkin, July 23, 1993
13. Private correspondence
14. http://www.israel.org/mfa/go.asp?MFAH00nj0 ;The Mother of Languages ; The Influence of Hebrew on other Languages; Norman Berdichevsky
15. "Petit Larousse Illustre 1979", p. 207, p. 566; Librairie Larousse, 1972
16. p. 418; The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible by John D. Davis;(Late Professor of Oriental and Old Testament Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary); Revised and rewritten by Henry Snyder Gehman; (Professor of Old Testament Literature and Chairman of the Dept. of Biblical Literature, Princeton Theological Seminary and Lecturer in Semitic Languages, Princeton University); Westminster Press, 1944; original was 1898

Quotes from Strong's Concordance refers to: The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible; James Strong, Thomas Nelson Publishers; 1990

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