a publication of Assemblies of Yahweh An Assemblies of Yahweh publication. Assemblies of Yahweh, The Narrow Way Newsletter, The Sacred Name Broadcaster, The Sacred Name Broadcast, The Sacred Scriptures, The Sacred Name Telecast, and WMLK Radio are Service Marks and Trade‑ marks of Assemblies of Yahweh, Bethel, PA 19507 November 2013 Volume XLV, Number 8 CONTENTS 1 Why Has Worldly Religion Sanctified a Pagan Holiday? When the Bible student can clearly prove from the inspired sacred Scriptures that the observance of December 25 as the Messiah’s birthday is totally impossible, why does the world continue to keep it? Page 1 5 Questions to Bethel Perplexing Bible questions are answered by harmonizing the sacred Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. 8 Hanukkah During a time of severe religious persecution, the Jewish freedom fighters succeeded in driving out the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes. Each year, we remember their suf‑ fering and martyrdom and their subsequent victory. 10 The Birth of the Messiah A harmony of biblical accounts of the conception and birth of John the Baptist and Yahshua the Messiah pinpoint the birth of the Messiah at the Feast of Taber‑ Page 8 nacles—not as is commonly believed. AUGUST OCTOBER 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 September 2013 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 27 28 29 30 31 15 Radio Message: The Creator’s Name in Laymen Terms, Part 3 FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH FIFTH SIXTH SABBATH New Moon Ethanim 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Feast of Trumpets The repentant believer must have faith in the mighty Being who alone can save. Jeremiah 45–48 Jeremiah 49–52 Lamentations 1–3 Lamentations 4–5 Ezekiel 1–3 Ezekiel 4–6 Ezekiel 7–9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Will you prove this Truth of the authenticity of the revealed Sacred Name? Ezekiel 10–12 Ezekiel 13–15 Ezekiel 16–18 Ezekiel 19–21 Ezekiel 22–24 Ezekiel 25–27 Ezekiel 28–30 Day of First High 15 16 Atonement 17 18 19 20 21 Sabbath Feast of Tabernacles Ezekiel 31–33 Ezekiel 34–36 Ezekiel 37–39 Ezekiel 40–42 Ezekiel 43–45 Ezekiel 46–48 Daniel 1–4 Last 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Great Day Feast of 18 Born-Again Doctrine Tabernacles Daniel 5–8 Daniel 9–12 Hosea 1–3 Hosea 4–6 Hosea 7–9 Hosea 10–12 Hosea 13–14 Feast of Trumpets— —Look for the new moon of Yahweh’s seventh scriptural SEPTEMBER September 7 About the Photo: A date month on the evening of September 6, which will verify the Feast of Trum- pets and the dates for the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Day of Atonement— 29 30 palm heavily laden with September 16 ripe dates. The Feast of Tabernacles, and the Last Great Day mark Yahweh’s third pilgrim Feast, Deut. 16:16-17. The seventh month of the Roman calendar’s Feast of Tabernacles— Those who have repented and have been baptized into the Name of Yahshua by one name is derived from the Latin septem, meaning “seven.” September 21-27 SPECIAL NOTE: Scriptural days begin at sundown Last Great Day— Joel 1–3 Amos 1–3 of the previous day. September 28 of Yahweh’s ministers and have received the down payment of the Holy Spirit have Page 10 not been born again. They have been begotten anew to walk in newness of life. The Sacred Name Broadcaster is published monthly by the Assemblies of Yahweh, Bethel, PA 19507. Your subscription has been paid Our Cover: by the willing co-workers of this ministry who are concerned that this The Mediterranean shore‑ message of salvation should be made available free of charge to all the line of Israel is a reminder of the world as a witness before the Second Coming of Yahshua the Messiah. While no charge is ever placed upon this publication, CONTRIBUTIONS promise that Yahweh made to (all of which are tax deductible) are gratefully accepted to help Abraham in Genesis 22. defray expenses. We hope you will share in making this information Yahweh promised that He available to others. would multiply the seed of Abraham “as the sand of the All quotes in The Sacred Name Broadcaster are from The seashore...because you have Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition, 1981, Assemblies of Yahweh, Bethel, obeyed my voice.” Genesis PA 19507, unless otherwise stated. All translations of the Bible quoted 22:17‑18. herein have been corrected to be consistent with the oldest available Through Yahshua the Mes‑ manuscripts. Copies of The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition, siah we can receive this blessing. are available. For information about purchasing your copy, write to “There can be neither Jew Assemblies of Yahweh. nor Greek, there can be nei- ther bond nor free, there can © Copyright 2013 Assemblies of Yahweh. All rights reserved. Periodical be no male and female; for postage paid at Reading, PA 19612 (ISSN 879320). Telephone (717) you are all one in the Messiah 933‑4518. POSTMASTERS: Send form 3579 to Assemblies of Yahweh, Yahshua. And if you are the PO Box C, Bethel, PA 19507. Cover: Ester Inbar Messiah’s, then you are Abra- ham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians Founder and Author: Elder Jacob O. Meyer 3:28‑29. Why Has Worldly Religion Sanctified a Pagan Holiday? When the Bible student can clearly prove from the inspired sacred Scriptures that the observance of December 25 as the Messiah’s birthday is totally impossible, why does the world continue to keep it? By Elder Jacob O. Meyer Every time we discuss the winter of human endeavor and reason of Abijah meant that he belonged holidays with anyone who acknowl- over the past century, but religion to the eighth priestly course. Begin- edges their interest in Truth, we continued to maintain their status ning to serve, course after course, immediately tell them that the quo of spiritual blindness acquired following the annual holy days; each Messiah’s birthday could not have in medieval times. course served for one week. There- been on December 25. Many of the You may ask how we can prove fore, the first service of the year of people freely acknowledge that we that the Messiah was not born on the course of Abijah occurred just are treating the Scriptures with December 25. The evidence con- after the observance of the feast of great accuracy, just as we do with cerning this conclusion forthrightly Pentecost (Shavuoth in Hebrew). By all Assemblies of Yahweh doctrines. appears in Luke chapters 1 and 2. perusing an Assemblies of Yahweh We strive to be most meticulous Zachariah, the husband of Elizabeth, calendar which notes the annual with our interpretation of the sacred was a member of the priestly course holidays, the interested individual Scriptures. of Abijah. Customarily, few people can easily begin to count the time. The author was once able to ever take the time, or have the in- Zechariah completed his service on present this scriptural exegetical terest, in defining these terms. The the weekly Sabbath, then it took interpretation to a Bible study interested Bible student can easily him another several days to return group affiliated with a well-known scan 1 Chronicles chapter 24 and to his home which was located in denomination in our area. Sitting learn much about the assignments of the hill country of Judah. See Luke in the group was the pastor of service for the priestly responsibili- 1:39. Thereafter, Elizabeth, his wife, the ch-rch. Indeed he revealed his ties in the Tabernacle and Temple. became pregnant. skepticism when, at the end of my You can also prove when Yahshua Now, count off six months and discussion, he remarked, “Well, was really born by using these the scriptural account continues we simply don’t see things this courses of service. The annunciation with the angel Gabriel being sent to way.” The author had introduced of impending parenthood and the Nazareth to announce to the virgin his presentation with Daniel 12:4, birth of their son Yahanan (John) Miriam that she was blessed to bear insisting that knowledge had been was made during Zachariah’s order the Messiah. This occurred in the increased in practically every field of service in his course. The course month which the world commonly The Sacred Name Broadcaster, 11/2013 1 sacred Scriptures plainly daleth (Semitic letter “d”) means tells us in verse 24 that child’s day. When the yule log is Elizabeth hid herself five burned by various cultures to this months, and then, in very day, they are symbolically burn- the SIXTH MONTH, the ing the old year, burning the old angel Gabriel made the solar being, and getting prepared annunciation to Miriam. to install the child, or the new year, Then, we clearly read in sol invictus (the unconquerable sun). verse 36, “ ...she also has Ancient pagan religions glorified conceived a son in her nature worship. Even to this day, old age; and this is the some ethnic peoples are still moti- sixth month with her vated by the worship of nature. The that was called bar- pagan people could readily view the ren.” Context, therefore, sun moving away from them and the eliminates the identifica- temperatures becoming colder, while tion of the sixth month the weather became more threaten- as the sixth month of the ing in the fall and winter.