Jacob O. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Jacob Owen Meyer was the founder and directing elder
of the Assemblies of Yahweh
and its institutions, the Obadiah School of the Bible and Dalet School. Elder Meyer created and edited two monthly magazines, The Sacred Name Broadcaster and the The Narrow Way.
in 1717, when Johannes Meyer came to inspect the prospects of the New World. After selling his possessions in Germany
, he returned to the U.S with the entire family, settling 40 miles (64.4 km) south of present day Bethel
and 40 miles (64.4 km) west of Philadelphia, in Lancaster County
. In 1732 he bought 500 acres (2 km²) of land, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Bethel at Fredericksburg
, and moved onto the homestead about 1740 . Elder Meyer's grandfather came east to Berks County
, in which he married a young girl from the area, and bought a farm two miles (3 km) south of Bethel. It was here where Jacob O. Meyer was born. He was interested in Bible translation and this runs in his family, his nephew James A. Meyer, produced "The Sacred Scriptures, Family of Yah Edition". "".
Meyer studied at the Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, PA. He also earned an associate's degree from Thomas Edison State College
. He was ordained in 1965, continuing working in the business world until he became a full-time minister in 1970. He withdrew from the Church of the Brethren
and founded the Assemblies of Yahweh in 1966 (Paul 2003:162).
, but outside classes, went back to using the "pagan" general terms (e.g. God). With a growing trend of liberalism creeping in to the denomination to which he belonged, Elder Meyer and his wife began to look for religious groups willing to comply with "Yahweh’s Royal Law".
Their efforts were not successful and therefore, Elder Meyer began to formulate a plan. that the Meyer family should simply isolate themselves from the world, save up their tithes and finally, send a "one time herald" message via a newspaper article or some other means. Had Elder Meyer taken such a path, the Assemblies of Yahweh would have never come in to being – a major proponent for the worship of Yahweh.
groups, but doctrinal error in their teachings furthered Meyer's separation from such assemblies. Nevertheless, Meyer did help to publish the Sacred Name Herald,). after which, having confronted this group about their doctrinal errors, returned to Bethel in 1964.
In 1965, when following a radio message he delivered, Meyer was asked to begin an assembly type organization, he agreed, saying "If it be Yahweh's Will".
At this point the 30 year-old Elder Meyer was anointed with oil, and the Assemblies of Yahweh emerged. Elder Meyer pointed out the auspicious coincidence that this age was also the time when priests were installed to do the work of Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures.
, the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition
and the completion of several books, but Meyer also travelled the globe distributing literature and visiting those who had shown an interest in the ministry. This includes to North and South America ). Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Israel. Some of these journeys included his wife. On top of this, Meyer maintained the Assemblies of Yahweh after two major attempts were made to overthrow the ministry and the faith of the members. Numerous other attempts were made by ex-members to hinder their progress through imitation (see Sacred Name Movement
) and prevarication. One group had to be taken to court for infringing upon the Assemblies of Yahweh name multiple times and others have been warned about using Assemblies of Yahweh material without the consent of the ministry. Elder Jacob O. Meyer had received threats, vandalism against property and verbal abuse, despite being a law-abiding and respectable individual of the community. The Assemblies of Yahweh is now led by an administration called the Three Fold Cord, from Ecc. 4:12, which consists of Meyer's three sons who have remained faithful to the mission and doctrines of the organization.
Positions held
Founded
Books written
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
of the Assemblies of Yahweh
Assemblies of Yahweh
The Assemblies of Yahweh is a nonprofit religious organization with its international headquarters in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The organization developed independently out of a radio ministry begun by Elder Jacob O. Meyer in 1966...
and its institutions, the Obadiah School of the Bible and Dalet School. Elder Meyer created and edited two monthly magazines, The Sacred Name Broadcaster and the The Narrow Way.
Early life
Meyer devoted his life to the study, language, and life setting of the Bible. Meyer's family came from GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1717, when Johannes Meyer came to inspect the prospects of the New World. After selling his possessions in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, he returned to the U.S with the entire family, settling 40 miles (64.4 km) south of present day Bethel
Bethel
Bethel was a border city described in the Hebrew Bible as being located between Benjamin and Ephraim...
and 40 miles (64.4 km) west of Philadelphia, in Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
. In 1732 he bought 500 acres (2 km²) of land, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Bethel at Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania
Fredericksburg is the name of some places in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania:*Fredericksburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania*Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania...
, and moved onto the homestead about 1740 . Elder Meyer's grandfather came east to Berks County
Bethel, Berks County, Pennsylvania
Bethel is an unincorporated community in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a zip code of 19507, it is located at the junction of Interstate 78/U.S. Route 22 and Pennsylvania Route 501. It is in the Susquehanna watershed and drained southward into the Little Swatara...
, in which he married a young girl from the area, and bought a farm two miles (3 km) south of Bethel. It was here where Jacob O. Meyer was born. He was interested in Bible translation and this runs in his family, his nephew James A. Meyer, produced "The Sacred Scriptures, Family of Yah Edition". "".
Meyer studied at the Evangelical School of Theology in Myerstown, PA. He also earned an associate's degree from Thomas Edison State College
Thomas Edison State College
Thomas Edison State College is a public institution of higher education located in Trenton, New Jersey. One of New Jersey's 12 public universities and colleges, Thomas Edison State College offers degrees at the undergraduate and graduate level....
. He was ordained in 1965, continuing working in the business world until he became a full-time minister in 1970. He withdrew from the Church of the Brethren
Church of the Brethren
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren organized in 1708 by eight persons led by Alexander Mack, in Schwarzenau, Bad Berleburg, Germany. The Brethren movement began as a melding of Radical Pietist and Anabaptist ideas during the...
and founded the Assemblies of Yahweh in 1966 (Paul 2003:162).
Meyer's search for Scriptural truth
Elder Meyer and his wife grew up in conservative, religious homes, and both were active in their local congregations. Elder Meyer by the 1970s attended theological college, conducted meetings, and conducted biblical classes at the institutions he attended. Even in the early 1960s Elder Meyer began to learn truths which were not being taught outside his Biblical classes. According to reports, professors, teachers and theologians would confirm absolutely that the name of God was YahwehYahweh
Yahweh is the name of God in the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jews and Christians.The word Yahweh is a modern scholarly convention for the Hebrew , transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH and known as the Tetragrammaton, for which the original pronunciation is unknown...
, but outside classes, went back to using the "pagan" general terms (e.g. God). With a growing trend of liberalism creeping in to the denomination to which he belonged, Elder Meyer and his wife began to look for religious groups willing to comply with "Yahweh’s Royal Law".
Their efforts were not successful and therefore, Elder Meyer began to formulate a plan. that the Meyer family should simply isolate themselves from the world, save up their tithes and finally, send a "one time herald" message via a newspaper article or some other means. Had Elder Meyer taken such a path, the Assemblies of Yahweh would have never come in to being – a major proponent for the worship of Yahweh.
"Yahweh's will"
Elder Meyer recognized this was "not the will of Yahweh" and turned once again to seek other groups that were willing to help spread Bible truth. Meyer stumbled across some Sacred NameSacred Name Movement
The Sacred Name Movement is a movement within Adventism in Christianity, propagated by Clarence Orvil Dodd from the 1930s, that claims to seek to conform Christianity to its "Hebrew Roots" in practice, belief and worship. The best known distinction of the SNM is its advocacy of the use of the...
groups, but doctrinal error in their teachings furthered Meyer's separation from such assemblies. Nevertheless, Meyer did help to publish the Sacred Name Herald,). after which, having confronted this group about their doctrinal errors, returned to Bethel in 1964.
In 1965, when following a radio message he delivered, Meyer was asked to begin an assembly type organization, he agreed, saying "If it be Yahweh's Will".
At this point the 30 year-old Elder Meyer was anointed with oil, and the Assemblies of Yahweh emerged. Elder Meyer pointed out the auspicious coincidence that this age was also the time when priests were installed to do the work of Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Missionary journeys
Jacob Meyer been a prolific writer with the monthly magazines, creation of the conservative Sacred Name BibleSacred name Bibles
The term Sacred Name Bibles and the term sacred-name versions are used in general sources to refer to editions of the Bible that are usually connected with the Sacred Name Movement...
, the Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition
Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition
The Sacred Scriptures Bethel Edition is a Sacred Name Bible which uses the names Yahweh and Yahshua in both the Old and New Testaments . It was produced by Jacob O. Meyer, based on the American Standard Version of 1901 and it contains over 977 pages. The Assemblies of Yahweh printed 5,500 copies...
and the completion of several books, but Meyer also travelled the globe distributing literature and visiting those who had shown an interest in the ministry. This includes to North and South America ). Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and Israel. Some of these journeys included his wife. On top of this, Meyer maintained the Assemblies of Yahweh after two major attempts were made to overthrow the ministry and the faith of the members. Numerous other attempts were made by ex-members to hinder their progress through imitation (see Sacred Name Movement
Sacred Name Movement
The Sacred Name Movement is a movement within Adventism in Christianity, propagated by Clarence Orvil Dodd from the 1930s, that claims to seek to conform Christianity to its "Hebrew Roots" in practice, belief and worship. The best known distinction of the SNM is its advocacy of the use of the...
) and prevarication. One group had to be taken to court for infringing upon the Assemblies of Yahweh name multiple times and others have been warned about using Assemblies of Yahweh material without the consent of the ministry. Elder Jacob O. Meyer had received threats, vandalism against property and verbal abuse, despite being a law-abiding and respectable individual of the community. The Assemblies of Yahweh is now led by an administration called the Three Fold Cord, from Ecc. 4:12, which consists of Meyer's three sons who have remained faithful to the mission and doctrines of the organization.
Positions and awards
Elder Meyer was awarded a plaque in 2007 for over 40 years of dedication and sacrificial fortitude, to put the truth of the ministry out into the world (Archive materials show that Meyer sacrificed four years of wages from the Assemblies of Yahweh to get the truth out, while also maintaining a job and a family). Meyer serves as a board member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasting and was also successfully nominated as township constable in Bethel, PA, a position he never sought.Positions held
- PreacherPreacherPreacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
- ElderElder (Christianity)An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
- BroadcasterPresenterA presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
- Scholar
- TeacherTeacherA teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
- Township Constable
- WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
- Member of NAOSB
- CounsellorCouncillorA councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
- JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
- Translator
- Father of ten
- EditorEditingEditing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
- FarmerFarmerA farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
- Spiritual Israelite
Founded
- Assemblies of YahwehAssemblies of YahwehThe Assemblies of Yahweh is a nonprofit religious organization with its international headquarters in Bethel, Pennsylvania. The organization developed independently out of a radio ministry begun by Elder Jacob O. Meyer in 1966...
- Dalet School
- Obadiah School of the Bible
- Radio station WMLKWMLKWMLK is a radio station in Bethel, Pennsylvania owned by the Assemblies of Yahweh. WMLK takes its name from MLK, representing three of the four consonants of the Hebrew word "malakh" meaning a “messenger” or angel.-History:...
- The Sacred Name Broadcaster (edited monthly magazine)
- The Narrow Way (edited monthly magazine)
- The Sacred Name Telecast
Books written
- The Memorial Name Yahweh .
- Commentary on Galatians .
- Commentary on Micah .
- Commentary on Revelation Vol. 1 .
- Biblical Ecclesiastical Assembly Administration
- Israel in the Wilderness