Jacob O. Meyer

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Elder Jacob O. Meyer (November 11, 1934 – April 9, 2010) was the founder, president and directing elder of the Assemblies of Yahweh.^[1] Among his roles he was also a farmer, broadcaster, translator, preacher, counselor and writer and considered by the Assemblies of Yahweh to be a scholar, rabbi and spiritual leader. He taught classes at Dalet School and Obadiah School of the Bible, as well as pioneering and editing two monthly magazines, The Narrow Way and The Sacred Name Broadcaster.

He was known for coining the terms Messianic and Spiritual Israelites for its adherents. The Assemblies of Yahweh distances itself from the Sacred Name Movement.^[2]

Meyer's family came from Germany in 1717, when Johannes Meyer came to inspect the prospects of the New World. After selling his possessions in Germany, he returned to the what is now the United States with the entire family, settling 40 miles south of present-day Bethel and 40 miles west of Philadelphia, in Lancaster County. In 1732 he bought 500 acres of land, 10 miles west of Bethel at Fredericksburg, and moved onto the homestead about 1740. Meyers' grandfather came east to Berlin County, where he married a young girl from the area, and bought a farm two miles south of Bethel, where Meyer was born in 1934.^[3]

Meyer was born in Bethel, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a conservative, religious Pennsylvania Dutch family, and was active in his local Anabaptist congregation. He studied at the Evangelical Congregational School of Theology (now the Evangelical Seminary) in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. Meyer attended theological college, conducted meetings and coordinated biblical classes at the institutes he attended.^[3] Meyer later also attended Dropsie University in Philadelphia and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.^[1]

Meyer first learned about the Tetragrammaton and the Sacred Name Yahweh in the late 1950s and taught by an ordained minister of a prominent denomination during a course in Biblical studies.^[4][3] According to this teaching, the true name of God was Yahweh. Meyer and his wife began to look for religious groups who followed that belief along with the harmonization of the Bible ^[3][5] which involved looking at numerous Sacred Name groups of which at the time were very small and doctrinally diverse.^[6]

Their efforts to locate any such organization were unsuccessful and so Meyer began to formulate a plan in which the Meyer family would isolate themselves from the world, save their tithes, and finally send a "one time herald" message via a newspaper article or some other means. Meyer came to believe this was "not the will of Yahweh" and turned once again to seek other groups who were willing to help spread the message. Meyer stumbled across some Sacred Name groups, but believed their teachings contained doctrinal errors. Meyer helped to publish the Sacred Name Herald, after which he returned to Bethel in 1964. It was in 1965 that after a radio message, Meyer was asked to begin an assembly type organisation. He agreed, "If it be Yahweh's will." The 30-year-old Meyer was anointed with oil, and the Assemblies of Yahweh emerged. Meyer pointed out that the age was the time for priests to be installed to do the work of Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures.^[3]

He met Ruth Meyer on the first day of high school.^{[7] : 9} Her family had moved from Lancaster County in 1945 and settled northeast of Bethel^[7]: 9 Both Meyers always had an interest in the Bible, but that interest grew after they got married with the knowledge of the Sacred Names in 1962 and the importance of keeping all the commandments.^{[7] : 9} At the beginning of the ministry, it was just Elder Meyer, Ruth Meyer and their children.^[8]: 2 In 1965 Elder Meyer was anointed into the ministry, and he in turn anointed his wife and children.^[7]: 2 Ruth Meyer was instrumental in assisting both Elder Meyer and the Assemblies of Yahweh during the early days of the ministry, as well as throughout the ongoing years of the ministry. As mentioned in the Sacred Name Broadcaster of June 2018, Volume L, Number 3 issue, Ruth Meyer served as sound ‘recording technician, receptionist, secretary, typist, mail clerk and printing assistant, as well as his chief cook’.^[7]: 18 All of this was voluntary work that she put in to the ministry to assist the Assemblies of Yahweh. As well as this, Ruth Meyer served as an advisor to Elder Meyer and was consulted when initiating the project of the Sacred Name Broadcaster, as well as other major projects.^[7]: 2 It was Ruth Meyer that printed the original covers of the Sacred Name Broadcaster ^[7]: 3 and delivered the first copy of the magazine to Elder Meyer in the Summer of 1968.^[7]: 3 Ruth Meyer also accompanied Elder Meyer to Israel to study over there.^[7]: 3 Ruth Meyer continues to serve as the Head Deaconess in the Assemblies of Yahweh and is praised for her many contributions and sacrifice to help forward the ministry.^{[citation needed]} She also serves as overseer of the bread making process prior to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.^[9]

As head ("directing elder") of the Assemblies of Yahweh, Meyer became a full-time minister in 1970.^[10] At some point in the 1970s he undertook a short part-time course leading to the award of an associate degree from Thomas Edison State College. The name "Assemblies of Yahweh" comes from the phrase "qahal Yahweh" ^[11] for the Israelites which appears in Deuteronomy 23:1–8, while in other places the phrase Edah Yahweh appears.^[3]

In the Bible, Jacob is the name of the patriarch^[12] of the Israelites. Meyer sometimes mentioned the significance of his name and traced his and his wife's ancestry to the Apostolic Assembly.^{[citation needed]} Jacob was also the name of James, brother of Jesus in the New Testament.

Meyer was a prolific writer in magazines; translator of the conservative Sacred Name Bible the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition; and the author of several books. Meyer also traveled worldwide distributing literature and visiting those who had shown an interest in the ministry. This includes North and South America, Germany, Berlin, France, Poland, England, Ireland, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Trinidad, Dominica, St. Lucia and Israel. During some of these journeys he was accompanied by his wife.^[3]

Meyer was awarded a tribute on March 21, 2004 for over 40 years of dedication and fortitude to send the message of the ministry out in to the world.^{[citation needed]} Meyer served as board member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasting^[1] and was nominated as township constable in Philadelphia, a position which he had not sought.^[1]

Meyer taught more than 5,000 sermons in his lifetime,^[13] preaching on the following subjects extensively. Below are the main teachings espoused by the Assemblies of Yahweh through Meyer.

The main theme or subject of all sermons preached by Meyer was that of commandment keeping. The ethos of the Assemblies of Yahweh is one of law, which would fall in line with that as well as the ministry's Statement of Doctrine, written by Meyer. He would focus some sermons specifically on the subject of a law (especially from the Ten Commandments), such as in the sermon "Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery", where he would cover all the points related to the law such as the New Testament and Old Testament references and the implications of the law in our lives, magnifying the law to encompass every aspect of our lives. However these deeper analyses of specific laws usually were written out as articles in The Sacred Name Broadcaster.^[14]

Some examples of subjects covered by commandment-keeping are the holy days, the dietary laws, tithing, correct speech, repentance etc. Meyer preached against every form of evil and sin through the law.

Here are some examples of sermon titles on the subject:

• "Zealous repentance"
• "Sin Brings Yahweh's Judgment"
• "What Must I Do To Be Saved"
• "The Priceless Core Commandments"

Meyer was considered to be a great spiritual leader by the Assemblies of Yahweh. He taught sermons on the subject of spirituality which many times focused on prayer, quiet study and introspection.^[15][16] In other words, taking the time to focus on Yahweh and things which would bring us closer to Yahweh. An examination of the fruits of the Spirit were many times focused upon and contrasted against the works of the flesh. In the series "A New Young Israel Emerges," Meyer compared the Israelites who took the Promised Land to the Assemblies of Yahweh, whereas the Israelites who died in the wilderness were unspiritual people. Spirituality also can relate to sermons regarding zeal, good works, and characteristics of the Holy Spirit.

Some examples of sermon titles on the subject:

• "The Spirit of Fruitfulness"
• "Orientated Toward the Spiritual Goal"
• "Characteristics of a Spiritual Obedient Nation"

Meyer would always preach the first message of the Feast of Tabernacles on love. The Assemblies of Yahweh believe to have the correct definition of love because of John 14:15 and 1John 5:3, which state that love is the keeping of the commandments. Usually when preaching about love, he would concentrate on the terms agape and philadelphia ^[17] and focus on the latter. Meyer did not believe in Christianity's concept of love. The Assemblies of Yahweh teaches that only by keeping the commandments of Yahweh can what love truly is be understood, as Yahweh's loving character is contained in the law.

Also tied in to the subject is that of unity and how love engenders unity. Meyer taught how we are to show love to Yahweh through sermons like "Loving Yahweh from the heart" (2008) and how to show love to our fellow men. The characteristics of the Philadelphia assembly is attained to by the Assemblies of Yahweh, the Philadelphia assembly being one which "did not deny the name" (Yahweh) and that has "good works" according to Revelation 3:8. Meyer would especially speak of the love of the brethren in the Narrow Way publications.^[18]

Here are some examples of sermon titles on the subject:

• "Love—the perfect bond"
• "A Glorious Assembly"
• "Philadelphia—Living the Kingdom Way of Life" (2006)

Most of the sermons preached by Meyer at least touched on the subject of faith^[19] even in sermons that he preached such as "Remembrance Brings Rejoicing." Meyer would recall his own faith and his unshakable belief in the authority and authenticity of the Bible, as well as the ability of Yahweh to do all things and the ministry's ability to complete the Great Commission. Meyer would sometimes devote whole sermons to the subject of faith such as in the sermon "Fear of Faith" (1993). Meyer would retell the miracles that he had personally seen within the ministry in sermons preached regarding the history of the Assemblies of Yahweh.

Meyer would often preach a weekly Sabbath sermon regarding end-time prophecy, comparing trends of the day with what is predicted in the Bible,^[13] and proving from the Bible that we are in the end times, such as in his series "Age Ending Events Surveyed" (2006). That would be done by identifying the violations of the law in society and all around the world, especially those stories that had made news headlines; by preaching strongly against the evil conduct of the age; and by calling for repentance.

Some^[who?] claim Meyer was a prophet although he did not set any dates for Bible prophecies to take place because of Matthew 25:13.^[20] Meyer believed in preparing the Assemblies of Yahweh for what is known as the tribulation. Many sermons were on prophecy relating to the coming Beast System mentioned in Revelation, as well but to a lesser extent the coming Kingdom. Meyer often ended his message with the encouraging proclamation "On to the Kingdom."

Here are some of Meyer's sermons on end times prophecy:

• "A Great Commission to Fulfil"
• "The Last Days in Bible Prophesy"
• "The Spectre of the Coming Beast System"
• "Yahweh's Message of Doom and Hope"

Meyer stressed sanctification, holiness, dedication, and the importance of avoiding pagan worldly customs and practices (such as Easter, Halloween, and Christmas).^[21] Additionally, Meyer spoke out against things like worldly dress styles and called for modesty and high standards in the worship of Yahweh such as formal dress on the holy days. The Assemblies of Yahweh continue to uphold those teachings. In a series that Meyer preached, "Become An Iconoclast," for example, Meyer expressed the need to resist worldliness and worldly customs as did the Maccabees. Before the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, Meyer would instruct the leadership to focus their attention on sermons that would help purify the Assemblies of Yahweh in anticipation of the approaching holy day such as with the sermon "Let Us Wash Our Hearts."

Here are some of Meyer's sermons on the subjects of piety and purity:

• "A True Israelite"
• "Yahshua's Untarnished Character"
• "What Is Hidden In Your Heart"
• "All Things Must Be Pure"

Meyer taught the Assemblies of Yahweh to learn and recite the Shema three times a day, as well as have a daily Bible reading program, which allowed adherents to read through the Bible in one year and set scriptures to open and close the Sabbath with, as was his instruction. The congregation would stand for Meyer when he left or entered a building out of respect, as per the instruction in Leviticus 19:32, which was encouraged by the Work of the Ministry. The format for services have stayed more or less the same for over fifty years with a mini-sermon about 30 minutes long, followed by a main sermon of about 90 minutes. The main sermon is usually a chosen pre-recorded sermon by Meyer. Songs and spiritual offerings are encouraged, but music has to be approved by the music director.

Meyer also came up with the theme song of the Assemblies of Yahweh, Under Zion's Banner^[22] based on the Battle Hymn of the Republic. As outlined in his will, his faithful children continue to lead the Assemblies of Yahweh in his stead, and the leadership alternates each week to preach the mini sermon on the Sabbath. Meyer's sermons and writings are re-played and re-published within the organisation up to the present day. When referring to Jacob O. Meyer in the ministry, the honorific "of blessed memory" (or O.B.M) is used after his name, possibly based on Proverbs 10:7.

Meyer's will outlined his desire that the Assemblies of Yahweh attain to and remain as Philadelphia:

I want and desire that this organisation will be, shall be and always will endure as Philadelphia

— Elder Jacob O. Meyer, excerpt from his will for the Assemblies of Yahweh

Meyer's sermons and literature are still used copiously within the ministry. His sermons are still broadcast on WMLK and streamed on Tunein.com. He died peacefully at age 75 in 2010; the ministry is now run by his faithful children.^[3]

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