This is the name of our Creator, Yahweh, sometimes called the Tetragrammaton.  It is given here in (A) the Phoenician script, (B) the Ivrit Kadum (Paleo-Hebrew) script, and (C) the Modern Hebrew script (a stylization of Aramaic).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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STUDIES

Here are some studies that June and I have written regarding our understanding of truth as it has been revealed to us through Scripture.  We are not out to convert anyone; rather, nearly every study we have authored has been done in response to those who have strongly attempted to steer us in their direction.  It seems we've been given quite a few bum steers!  We invite you to review our perspective and (like the noble Bereans of Acts 17:10-11) search out the matter to see if it is truth.  

[Note:  These files are in Adobe Acrobat format (PDF).  Some of them are large, so please consider right clicking and saving them to your computer before opening.]

 

As the 2024 Senate and Presidential elections draw near (less than a month away), I felt compelled to put together a PowerPoint presentation detailing how and why I know life begins at conception, and why I disagree with Pro-Choice authors and advocates who claim the Bible doesn't speak against abortion. I also address how ancient Bible commentators felt about abortion, why I agree with Democratic Presidents Kennedy and Carter on this topic, and why I feel overly-conservative, wealthy religious influencers are going to "shoot themselves (and other conservatives) in the feet" when it comes to legislating their doctrinal view. Due to their overzealous approach, combined with the biased media's propaganda and mischaracterization of the Republican platform, I am concerned the Pro-Choice view will prevail on election day. If so, this will be yet one more step in the United States' declining moral values.

10/07/2024

Watch the video

 

Tony Suckla, a missionary friend serving in India, asked me to do a Zoom presentation on the topic of the LGBTQ movement, abortion, our divided nation and the coming Kingdom. I had no idea of how extensive all four topics could be, and it soon became clear that I needed to limit the topic to that of the LGBTQ movement. This was a learning opportunity for me, as I was previously unaware of the fact that gay Christians are prepared to defend why they believe as they do with Scripture. Are we prepared to refute their claims?

Watch the video (Part 1)

Watch the video (Part 2)

 

 

 

Those of us who were raised in mainstream Christianity know full well that we were taught the Apostle Paul wrote against obedience to the law.  There are a variety of interpretations as to exactly what he meant by some things he wrote because certainly no one believes the Apostle Paul taught that it's okay to steal, murder, commit adultery or to dishonor one’s parents.  These are all infractions committed against our fellow man, but what does Torah say about how we treat our Heavenly Father and His Son?  Do those commands matter today?

This is the presentation I gave on 08/05/2006 at the 2006 Sacred Name Unity Conference in Rocheport, MO. Although I claim to be a seeker and not a speaker, I felt compelled to deliver a rebuttal of sorts to a presentation I heard at the previous year's conference, where an elder openly taught against obedience to anything apart from the Ten Commandments. His exact words were, "Anything outside the Ten Commandments is superfluous." I take exception to that approach, and decided to speak out. This presentation was my rebuttal to the elder's presentation. Over the years, I have come across additional reasons to justify my position that, contrary to nominal Christianity, the Torah is still very relevant to our world and especially to those who claim to follow the teachings of Scripture--both Old and New Testaments. The video presentation is too long to post here on our website, but thankfully I was able to upload it on YouTube. There are a couple of places where the sound was lost, but the overall presentation is still intact. It was abruptly cut off at the end because I went well over the requested 45-minute limit as requested for presentations.

Watch the video

 

 

 

Were the Hebrew/Greek Scholars Who Translated the Septuagint Lunar Sabbatarians?

by Larry & June Acheson

I hadn't written anything on the topic of lunar sabbaths for over ten years when a friend asked me to deliver a Zoom presentation on "The Lunar Sabbath Theory."  In the course of preparing for my presentation, I remembered a key and often-overlooked fact demonstrating that the Hebrew scholars who translated the Septuagint into Greek during the 3rd century BCE could not have have been lunar sabbatarians. This mini-study is actually chapter 16 of our "Lunar Sabbath" series.  More ...

 

 

 

Tracing the Origin of the Word "God"

This is a brief synopsis highlighting our concerns regarding the title "God."  This word's origin is by etymologists' admissions spurious and even those who defend its use admit that we can't be certain of where this word originated.  On the other hand, we maintain that to find its origin we need to dig through the pages of Scripture, but even then its precise source of original use cannot be confirmed.  Nor can we ascertain a noble origin.  On the contrary. 

With a focus on brevity and an arsenal of self-explanatory information, we take you on a journey that traces "God" from a place called Haran, extending through Russia, Poland and even Ireland.  This study is geared to reach those who don't have the time to read our lengthier treatise God's Identity According to Ancient Hebrew Scholars.

POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS:  In 2021, a dear friend named Tony Suckla asked me to present this study during a Shavuot (Pentecost) celebration held in Spring Branch, TX.  I delivered Part 1 in the form of a PowerPoint presentation. I later delivered Parts 2-5 as Zoom presentations, two of which were recorded and are available for viewing on YouTube.  In 2022, I began recording the remaining PowerPoint presentations. I hope to have all five parts available for viewing in early 2023.

PART 1  Part 1 of "Tracing the Origin of the Word 'God'" focuses on the fact that only in English are we taught that the name spelled G-a-d is pronounced "Gad as in sad," but when we perform deeper study, we learn that in Hebrew it's pronounced the same as "GOD," and that it's the name of a heathen deity whose worship is condemned by Yahweh.  In Part 1, I demonstrate how many of us were misled into believing the false idol's name is pronounced "Gad," whereas the Creator's name is "God." If the name of the heathen idol is actually pronounced "GOD," then do we honor Yahweh by referring to Him as God?  Is there archaeological evidence that a pagan idol named GOD was worshipped in ancient times?  Uploaded on 01/03/2023.

 

PART 2  Part 2 of "Tracing the Origin of the Word 'God'" was recorded by Tony Suckla as part of his "New Moon Zoom" meeting on November 25, 2022.  It is currently available for viewing on YouTube at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=CKemtTLIE1U

Part 2 addresses the command to not mention the names of other elohim, as well as how to understand the application of this command when pointing out the names of false idols to others. I also address whether or not we need to purge our vocabulary of words emanating from pagan worship. Finally, I challenge the common etymologists' argument that the "GOD" of our English Bibles is traced to a generic term for deity that translators chose to employ as a translation of the Hebrew title Elohim.

 

PART 3   Part 3 of Tracing the Origin of the Word 'God'" is subtitled "The Heart of the Matter." Not only is this the heart of my entire presentation, but I focus on the heart of the issue, including the heart that matters most. Here are the primary topics I address:

  • How did the Early English Bible translators translate Isaiah 65:11?
  • The LXX translation of Isaiah 65:11
  • The “Law of First Mention”
  • Did the Holy Spirit inspire Leah to name Jacob’s seventh son God?
  • How strong was Jacob’s faith?

 

 

PART 4 Part 4 of "Tracing the Origin of the Word 'God'" is subtitled "The Gates of the New Jerusalem" because that's the primary focus—a red herring argument the opposition often brings into the mix whenever this topic surfaces.  I also address whether or not believers whose names can be traced to idol worship should change their names upon conversion to faith in Yahweh and His Son Yeshua.

 

 

 

 

 

PART 5   Part 5 is subtitled "Connecting the Dots" because this is where I put it all together. If you watch Part 5 before the others, you will likely short-circuit the otherwise methodical and cohesive course I have charted as we trace the origin of the word "GOD."  This finale is so long that I was coerced into splitting it up into two parts. Since everything presented in Part 5 is so tightly connected, it all needs to comprise one complete session, so breaking things up wasn't easy.

In Part 5a, One of the primary connections highlighted is serpent worship as the worship of an idol named God slithers its way northward from Haran to Russia and westward to Poland and Germany. Linguistic clues include the Russian (and Polish) word for "reptile" and "fortune teller."

 

 

 

In Part 5b, I establish a final connection in Ireland, an island where no serpents live, yet serpent worship was once a dominant force.  And what was the name of their chief deity?  Piecing together all the connections establishes a bifurcated course of serpent worship as it trekked across Europe, eventually making its way into our English Bibles, all under the guise that it was "never a name."  Just to be fair, I present a chart comparing the route modern-day scholars teach "GOD" took to make it into our Bibles (and vocabulary) against the path I come up with when tracing the origin of the word "GOD."

 

 

 

 

CONDENSED PART 5  Part 5 of "Tracing the Origin of the Word 'God'" was recorded by Tony Suckla as part of his "New Moon Zoom" meeting on January 23, 2023.  I cut out some parts and skimmed through others in an attempt to keep the presentation under two hours.  It is currently available for viewing on YouTube at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jkEUDnqnS8

 

 

 

 

Our Thoughts on LGBTQ, Abortion, Our Divided Nation and the Kingdom

by Larry Acheson

 

My creed has been that of striving to pursue scholarly inquiry with the respectful sharing of ideas and beliefs. This goal has become increasingly difficult to manage over the years.  My views on the issues pertaining to the LGBTQ movement, the calls for abortion rights, and other hot topics that have divided our nation, regardless of my creed, are and have proven offensive.  I have been reluctant to become involved because I have no desire to offend anyone, plus I uphold the belief that we should hate the sin and love the sinner.  Most importantly, if I tell others I support what Torah says, that, in and of itself, should stop all arguments.

A few years ago, a coworker unabashedly expressed her view that those opposing the gay lifestyle really don't have much to stand on in their defense.  I didn't want to offend her, but I felt compelled to speak up, sharing that, according to Scripture, the gay lifestyle is a sin. She smiled and said, "Well, if that's what you believe, then you must also believe we need to keep the Sabbath on Saturday and we have to abstain from pork!" She then hesitated a moment and stated, "Wait! You already do those things ...."

In spite of her quick acknowledgement that I at least strive to live by Yahweh's Torah, any further communication would most likely have proven unproductive because both "Old" and "New" Testaments abhor the gay lifestyle; if we cannot at least start (and agree) with what the Bible says, there really isn't any point to discussing the matter any further.

In this study, I will prove the following as truths:

1) The LGBTQ movement and lifestyle is built on a false foundation steeped in sin.
2) Abortion is murder and is therefore sin.
3) The above issues weren’t issues until recent history.
4) The above issues and more have sharply divided our nation.
5) The United States is the fifth (and final) world power as depicted in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
6) Yahweh’s Kingdom is coming soon!
7) The Passover has not yet been fulfilled and will not be fulfilled until Yahweh’s Kingdom comes.
8) Yeshua taught that “not a jot nor a tittle” will by any means pass from the Law till ALL be fulfilled.
9) Since Passover hasn’t been fulfilled yet, not ALL has been fulfilled yet, which in turn means nothing has passed from Yahweh’s Law (Torah).
10) Yeshua shed His blood to atone for our sins, but once we recognize what our sins are, we must repent.

  More ...

 

 

The Name of the Messiah

Once we begin a life of service to the Almighty, one of the first things we focus on is how to pronounce not only His name, but also the name of His Son.  When our journey began, June and I had no idea how divisive this particular issue could be.  We all hopefully want to pronounce the Messiah's name the way the angel who gave it to Joseph pronounced it and if that fits your description, then we are glad to research this very important name together.  Sadly, this one issue has been a divisive one, as I quickly learned after delivering my 2001 Unity Conference presentation on this topic.  This study explores the spiritual intolerance directed against those who don't quite pronounce the Messiah's name the way certain ones do while respectfully presenting our reasons for referring to the Messiah by the name "Yeshua."   More ...

 

 

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...But Names Will Never Hurt Me!

  

A look at the Name we call our Heavenly Father

by Larry and June Acheson

It is “common courtesy” to address or refer to someone by the name by which they wish to be called.  But let’s go several steps higher.  Let’s consider the case for our Heavenly Father’s Name. Some people say it’s “God.”  Some say it’s “The LORD.”  Some say that it is a different name in each different language.  Still others say that however it is we pronounce His name isn’t even important, so long as we know His character.  They maintain, “It is not merely a certain set of sounds or vocal vibrations that is important, but the meaning and power behind the name.”  Shouldn't our focus be on what our Heavenly Father says instead of what people say?  What does our Heavenly Father have to say?  More ...

 

 

 

The Doctrine of the Sacred Name - In View of Scripture

Internet Version

   

by Gary W. McDaniel

 

You may be wondering, “What is this thing about ‘doctrine of the Sacred Name’?” In a nutshell, the “Sacred Name” is the name our Creator gave to Himself, but very few of us have grown up in households where that name is so much as mentioned, let alone called upon in worship.  I have found that many people are under the impression that this topic is inconsequential, and some have even suggested that those who spend their time searching out the truth regarding our Creator’s name are busybodies with nothing better to do.  Is the Creator’s name inconsequential — something we don’t need to “waste our time” investigating? Apparently the prophet Malachi didn’t think so!  Maybe this topic is worth deeper study! More ...

 

     

Pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton

 

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Although June and I had heard the name Yahweh long before we began referring to the Creator and calling on Him by this name, once we got started, it wasn’t long before we were informed that we weren’t pronouncing His name correctly.  There is no disagreement among scholars regarding how the Tetragrammaton is spelled in either modern or ancient Hebrew.  When it comes to how those four letters are pronounced (or transliterated into English), however, that is a different matter.  In view of the stand put forth by those who support the pronunciation Yahuwah, Yehovah, or other similar forms ending in -ah, and especially considering the fact that some of these same folks regard us as idol worshippers for not following along with their reasoning, we felt compelled to offer our reasoning for supporting the pronunciation Yahweh  More ...

 

Click here for the condensed version.

 

 

God's Identity

According to Ancient Hebrew Scholars

 

 

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Back in 1997, when a friend sent us a copy of an article whose primary aim was to defend the validity (and honor) of referring to Yahweh as “God,” I dismissed it as a whimsical paper authored by zealous, but unlearned believers.  Persuaded that none of our fellow Yahwist acquaintances would put any stock in what I still regard as the weak arguments it contains, I tucked it away in a file. I held on to it just in case someone might happen to refer to it at a later time. That later time came three years later, when I found, to my surprise, that many fellow Yahwists had accepted and embraced the conclusion drawn by the authors of the study.  If you have a heart bent on honoring our Creator no matter how your neighbors do it or think it should be done – if you are determined to break away from “user-defined” terms of worship and settle for nothing less than the “Yahweh-defined” approach, then we invite you to read this study.  More ...

 

 

 

 

     

Thinking About Keeping the Sabbath?

by Larry and June Acheson

Recently some friends, concerned about our spiritual well-being, dropped off a magazine article that they felt would help us to see the error of our ways and get us back on track with the Biblical truth.  They also invited us to visit their place of worship, where they meet on Sunday afternoons.  The article they graciously offered us is titled "Should You Keep the Weekly Sabbath?" and they felt that the information it contains would help us to see that the Sabbath has been "taken away."  More ...

 

 

 

The Sabbath and Holy Days in Galatians

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Some religious teachers expect us the believe that, according to Galatians 4:10-11, we shouldn’t be “observing” any days, months or seasons at all, but that we should instead set aside each day as special to the Almighty. In theory, this sounds like a wonderful plan, but for those who work for a living, it soon becomes evident that something is amiss. The conundrum is how those who work for a living can truly set aside each and every day as being holy to the Creator.  So what did Paul mean when he blasted the Galatian believers for “observing days, and months, and times, and years”?  More ...

 

 

 

     

Matthew 5:17-19: Does Fulfilling the Law Mean That It “Hath an End”?

by Larry and June Acheson

We have found that those who teach the abolition of the law, namely the weekly Sabbath, try to evade what the Messiah said in Matthew 5:17: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Of course, those who claim that Yeshua came to do away with the law struggle in their explanations of what He "really meant" in this verse. Do these sound like the words of a Man who knew that the law was about to be abolished? This mini-study presents our understanding of the Messiah's intent contrasted against the views of nominal Christianity.  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food Preparation:  On the Sabbath?

 

by Larry and June Acheson

We were stunned when, upon visiting our first-ever Sabbath keeping assembly, a Seventh-Day Adventist church, their pitch-in meals included hot foods. June and I both thought, “We just abandoned some 120 Sunday keeping friends for this?!” When we gently inquired as to why they were cooking meals that day, the answer was to the effect of, “Oh, these were all prepared yesterday, they’ve just been re-heated!” Our expected response was supposed to be something like, “Oh, yes, of course! Silly me!” That wasn’t our response, but we chose to keep things civil. Since we were but novice Sabbath keepers, we chose to not pursue the discussion any further.  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?

No, it isn't ... er, yes it is ....

by Larry and June Acheson

As Christmas 2014 drew nearer, it occurred to me that someone might ask why we don’t celebrate it. The summary answer is, "It's a pagan holiday." I was curious as to what sort of defense a challenger who believes otherwise might come up with, so I decided to conduct an online search to see what “pro-Christmas” arguments are out there. I read a blog composed by an author who passionately argues that Christmas is not a pagan holiday. He writes, "No, Christmas is not Pagan. Far from it really, but it seems that some people are hell bent on finding something Pagan about it, regardless if it is true or historically accurate. So have a Happy Advent and a Merry Christmas everyone!” Because his arguments are outside the scope of the usual ones we’ve seen, I decided to address them, just in case someone would like a “point-counterpoint.”  More ...

 

 

 

 

When Does a Scriptural Day Begin?

By Larry & June Acheson

 

by Larry and June Acheson

 

One way to serve Yahweh is to set aside the day He commanded in His word, but there is a controversy over when a Scriptural day begins, which in turn brings to the forefront the timing of when the weekly Sabbath begins. My goal in this study is to present what we believe is the correct understanding, based on Scripture and historical understanding.

. More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Is It a Sin to Stay Home During Yahweh’s Feasts?

by Larry and June Acheson

 

An acquaintance made a point of telling others that I lost my job because I chose to work during the non-holy days of the 2009 Feast of Tabernacles instead of attending a feast gathering. Another acquaintance claimed that we are required, in this day and age, to go to “a place” where Yahweh places His name. These two claims are, in various forms, commonly used to promote the belief that true believers today must attend a feast gathering that is away from home. Let's examine these claims under the light of Scripture.  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Were the Pyramids Built?

by Larry and June Acheson

Time to put your thinking cap on!  If you're a Bible believer, you know evolutionists come up with some pretty tough arguments.  One that we had never been faced with involves the fact that if we accept the chronology of the Hebrew Masoretic Text, then we have no choice but to believe the pyramids were built before the Flood.  We've seen answers to the effect that you cannot trust Egyptian chronology, etc., but the bottom line is, even with corrected Egyptian chronology there simply wasn't enough time for Noah's descendants to have built the Tower of Babel and the pyramids after the Flood while simultaneously aligning the Biblical timeline.  Is there a solution?  Yes, but you may not like it!  More ...

 

     

Why Does Yahweh Allow the Righteous to Suffer?

by Larry Acheson

 

The question that many of us ask ourselves after the tragic loss of a loved one is, “WHY?” The answer to that question is not easy to answer, but unless that answer is forthcoming, the faith of many can be shattered. Does the Bible provide any answers? More ...

 

 

 

 

 

Baptism:  Changing the Method, Losing the Meaning

by Larry and June Acheson

 

A Lutheran author, in a magazine whose issue was dedicated to supporting their doctrine of infant baptism, wrote, "To claim that a person must reach the ‘age of reason’ or the ‘age of accountability’ before receiving Baptism is to claim that there is something within the person that is able to cooperate with the grace of [the Almighty]. This is called synergism, a theological perversion that places man into a cooperative relationship with [the Almighty] in the salvation process.” Does the Bible offer support for infant baptism? Does entering into a cooperative relationship with the Almighty in the salvation process constitute a "theological perversion"? More ...

 

 

 

     

Does Yahweh Forbid Women to Wear Trousers?

by Larry and June Acheson

 

The security guard in the building where June once worked is Jewish and became curious when he learned that we observed the weekly Sabbath and commemorated the Almighty's festival days. He wanted to find out more about us and cordially invited us into his home one evening. Since it was an informal visit, June and I both wore jeans. Later, this man mailed us a 123-page letter detailing everything about our practices and beliefs that he feels are maligned. One of them was June's attire. He wrote, “When you allowed your wife to wear jeans in my house, you committed an abomination under old testament law!” Is his allegation correct? Did we break the law?  More ...

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving:  Yahweh's Way or on Man's Day?

by Larry and June Acheson

 

When we explain to various individuals our rationale for not observing Halloween, they for the most part understand our reasons and do not typically offer any protests or challenges to our decision. Virtually no one denies the deeply-rooted pagan customs associated with Halloween, yet this does not prevent the majority of people from celebrating the holiday. However, as the following month unravels, another very popular holiday looms on the horizon, and a now-familiar question surfaces: “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Now that’s a toughie for us to answer.  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Should Believers Observe Hanukkah?

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Since our decision to commemorate Hanukkah, we have been surprised at the number of folks who have expressed disagreement with the choice we made. What is surprisingly missing from their criticism of our decision is the simple question of "Why?" Why do we commemorate Hanukkah? This is a question that we have never once been asked! Instead, we have received letters from people telling us why we shouldn't, and we have received an article authored by a man who explained why his family doesn't. We certainly respect a person's right to express his or her opinion, but at the same time, it seems only fitting that before we tell someone why they shouldn't do something, we should find out why they do it!  More ...

 

 

 

 

Wearing Fringes:  Are They for Believers Today?

by Larry and June Acheson

Those who understand that the Torah is our Heavenly Father's instruction manual for a righteous lifestyle understand that Yahweh expects us to obey all of His commandments; nevertheless, many believers tend to “draw the line” as to which ones they feel “apply to believers in today’s age.”  One commandment that is often ignored and even taught as being a “sin” to obey is the one pertaining to the wearing of tassels on our garments. The same people who stand by the claim that none of Yahweh’s laws have been “done away with,” either ignore or outright teach against this law. More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Balancing the Calendar

by Larry and June Acheson

For many years I managed to avoid and evade the calendar debates that are so prevalent within the Yahwist Movement, but inevitably questions arise, and inevitably some folks end up looking “down their noses” at those who don’t reckon the Scriptural calendar the same way they do. At length, I decided to compile the best available evidence from ancient historical understanding, combining it with my understanding of that which is presented by Scripture, allowing me to offer a cohesive presentation that serves to best explain my own position without ridiculing the opposing view.  More ...

 

 

 

Balancing the Calendar II

 

by Larry and June Acheson

If your only knowledge about which "Scriptural calendar" June and I use comes from having read our original Balancing the Calendar study, then you do not know what information served as the actual catalyst in our decision-making process to make the change from what is known as the “Green Ears of Barley Calendar” to what is known as the “Equinox Calendar.”  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

The Thirteenth Month

by Larry and June Acheson

Yahweh does not tell us in His Word to set our year by a solar calendar of 365 days, nor does He insist that we abide by a luni-solar calendar that will occasionally have years consisting of 13 months.  Since those instructions are missing, it is up to us to search out any Scriptural evidence that can clue us in to the calendar used by Yahweh’s people.  As it turns out, there is a passage of Scripture offering strong evidence that a luni-solar calendar was indeed used by the people of Yahweh. We are given a time frame demonstrating that a certain year had to contain thirteen months.  More ...

 

 

 

 

 

Can A Scriptural Month Have Only 28 Days?

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Rabbinical Judaism mandates that all Scriptural months must consist of either 29 or 30-day months.  No more, no less. There cannot be a 28-day month - ever!  Religious groups everywhere have been brainwashed to accept this ruling without question, even those who strive to begin the new months with the visual sighting of the new moon.  It wasn't all that surprising, then, that when 28 days elapsed from day one of a new month to the subsequent new moon sighting, no one seemed to notice.  Calendars were quietly retrofitted to make the old month begin a day sooner.  Does Scripture make allowance for months to contain fewer than 29 days?  More ...

 

 

 

     

Should a Man Cover His Head While Praying?

Tracing the history of men's headcoverings

by Larry and June Acheson

 

Neither June nor I had really given much thought to the growing number of men who wear headcoverings while praying.  It wasn’t until we were directed to a certain website article that we realized the issue of men’s headcoverings is more than a “passing fancy”; to some, it is apparently a salvation issue. More ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Were the Hebrew/Greek Scholars Who Translated the Septuagint Lunar Sabbatarians?

by Larry & June Acheson

I hadn't written anything on the topic of lunar sabbaths for over ten years when a friend asked me to conduct a Zoom presentation on "The Lunar Sabbath Theory."  In the course of preparing for my presentation, I remembered a key and often-overlooked fact demonstrating that the Hebrew scholars who translated the Septuagint into Greek during the 3rd century BCE could not have have been lunar sabbatarians. This mini-study is actually chapter 16 of our "Lunar Sabbath" series.  More ...

 

 

 

Who Is HaShem?

Examining the Jewish custom of

referring to the Creator as “HaShem”

      

by Larry and June Acheson

Our children attend a Messianic assembly whose leadership defends referring to the Creator as “HaShem” or “G-d” instead of the name He gave to Himself, which is Yahweh.  A question I frequently ask those of this particular persuasion is, “Can you think of a better name to use in reference to the Creator besides the name He gave to Himself?”  In nearly 30 years of asking this question, no one has offered me a better alternative.  Nevertheless, June and I have encountered seemingly endless explanations defending such terms as “God” and “HaShem.”  When the leader of the Messianic assembly gave our son an article titled “HaShem” as their answer to those who believe we dishonor Yahweh by referring to Him as “God” or “HaShem,” we found that it is presented in such a scholarly fashion, complete with Hebrew text and commentary, that anyone not bent on fully investigating the author’s information might easily be persuaded that his perspective lines up with the position outlined in Scripture.  More ...

 

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

In February 2024, I was asked to give a presentation on why I do not support substituting the Creator's name with "HaShem."  My PowerPoint presentation was recorded via Zoom and is currently available for viewing on YouTube.

 

Did Yeshua the Messiah

Have a Pre-Carnal Existence?

 

 

     Part 1:  The Overview  

 

     Part 2:  The Enhanced Public Debate  Presentation

 

     Part 3:  The Unity Conference Presentation

 

 

A Response to Chuck Henry's book

Trinity, Oneness, Duality, and Pre-Existence

                by Larry Acheson  atchinson

On June 22, 2019, I participated in a debate on the topic of whether or not Yeshua had a pre-carnal existence.  I am persuaded that He did; my opponent believes Yeshua did not exist prior to His conception in Mary's womb.  In Part 1, "The Overview," I address details that led up to our debate, plus I incorporate some significant points that have come to light since it ended.  I am persuaded that the points I present in Part 1, in and of themselves, validate the truth of the matter.

     In Part 2, titled "The Enhanced Public Debate Presentation," I supply my entire debate presentation while incorporating the "visual aids" from my PowerPoint presentation, which the videographer chose to not include with the YouTube video of the debate (in spite of our original agreement that the debate venue would allow me to include my PowerPoint presentation).  However, Part 2 also includes commentary and additional visual aids that I was obligated to exclude from my presentation due to time constraints.  On top of that, Part 2 weaves in responses to Chuck's debate commentary, including his ad hominem attack on Philo and Justin Martyr.  Finally, I put together some supplemental visual aids for this study in the interest of reinforcing the points I make.

     Part 3, titled "The Unity Conference Presentation," consists of the presentation I delivered at the 2019 Unity Conference in Sterling, Illinois.  I focus primarily on such topics as 1 John 4:3, 2 John 7, John 17:5, and Philippians 2:5-8, but I also address some additional verses that I was unable to cover within my allotted time, such as John 1:15; 30 and Matthew 23:37.  I also hone in on parallel verses Hosea 2:16 and Revelation 19:6-8.

     I am persuaded that any one of the above studies validates the truth of the matter, but I welcome constructive criticism as we mutually walk the truth-seeker path.  I pray that Yahweh be magnified and that His truths will be opened to those who seek His ways.  I dedicate this study, as well as anything I have written, to His honor.  I also dedicate it to all who share our hunger for truth and whose desire is study to show themselves approved unto Elohim, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

atchinson

 

Facing the Lunar Sabbath Challenge

Today there is a controversy among many within the Hebrew Roots Movement.  It is being caused by people rising up from among us teaching a new doctrine called "Lunar Sabbaths."  To address this issue, we have created an entire web page dedicated to examining the truths of Scripture as they relate to this issue.

To learn more about this, click here and study it for yourself.

 

 

  The Jubilee Cycle

by Larry and June Acheson

The name of this study, The Jubilee Cycle, may be a misnomer.  While we certainly address the Jubilee Cycle, especially the debate as to whether it is 49 or 50 years in length, our motivation for composing it was the issue of "date-setting."  Historically, date-setters have been a source of ridicule, both among believers and especially among non-believers.  Certainly, a prophet of the Almighty would be qualified to be a date-setter.  However, as we all know, hordes of would-be and wannabe prophets have made their presence known, replete with their private interpretations (made public) of when the Messiah's Second Coming will be and/or their versions of when the next millennium will begin.  Such is the case with an acquaintance who switched from a personal idea of when the Millennium might begin to a public declaration of 99% certainty that it will begin in a certain year.

Our original version was reasonably short, but as these discussions tend to go, it eventually ballooned to over 300 pages.  I wouldn't recommend reading all 300 pages in one sitting.  Rather, just review the Table of Contents and find one that may pique your interest and start with that one.

In fact, you may just prefer to read our original study.  What we offer is our perspective, which we are pleased to share with all who are interested.

To learn more about our perspective of the Jubilee cycle, click here.

 

 

 

 

Does the Creator Have a Name?

Does the Creator have a name, and is it important for us to use it?  What about the Messiah's name?    And finally, what (if anything) does the popular name of "God" have to do with pagan deities?  We have made a new web page dedicated to examining the truths of Scripture as they relate to these issues.

To learn more about these issues, click here.

 

 

More Studies Are to Come. . . . so Please Check Back with us Again!

 

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Thank You for visiting our website.  May Yahweh Bless you as you continue your search for truth.