Black Hebrew Israelites
This is a diverse bunch with some radical
methods and ideals forming a group of about 200,000 members claiming they
are the descendents from the ancient Israelites. They are dispersed
throughout the USA, mostly. The Black Hebrew Israelites was originally
founded before the Civil War and grew into various sects each having their
own individual leaders, who are not necessarily in close contact with the
other sects but they all propagate their core twisted teachings. Some other
cults to be aware of that fall under this group are titled: The Commandment
Keepers, House of Judah and the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem.
Some of these groups stand on the street corners of major cities and condemn
people for what they harshly term as false beliefs using vulgar vrebal
attacks. From what we have investigated, those who call themselves Black
Hebrew Israelites are compltetely closed to listening to any views other
than their own and will become quite aggressive and agitated when asked to
listen other points of view.
Like many other cults, these people create unbiblical doctrines and rules to
further their own particular cause. One example is that they believe
salvation can only come if a person calls on the name Yahshua, a Hebrew name
for "Son of God (Yah)."
They also deny the existence of heaven and hell.
They deny the Trinity.
In keeping with end-times interest for readers of Rapture Ready, the
eschatology of the Black Hebrew Israelites really stretches ones good
senses: They teach that when the Messiah returns that all Israel (meaning
black people) will be gathered back to modern Israel. They consider
themselves to be the chosen ones. They believe and teach that the Jews are
the Negroes in America and that the Jews come from one tribe, the tribe of
Judah which according to their doctrine consists of
Hispanics, Native Americans and Negroes. They believe that Jesus was
black and that Moses, Pharoh and some Roman emperors were black.
They consider white people to be nearly subhuman and that caucasians have an
evil agenda to conceal what they believe to be their identiy of the true
“Israelites.”
The Black Hebrew Israelites add other teachings to the Bible (obviously) and
do not consider the Bible the inherrent Word of God.
Much more could be written on this cult but enough has been covered here to
show that this is another group that is about as lost as it gets and if you
come across any of them, the best way to handle it is through prayer. Pray
for their deliverance from false teaching and for their salvation. Trying to
engage in a rational conversation will get you nowhere and you could be in
for an unpleasant verbal lashing.
"For I testify to everyone who
hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these
things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and
if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall
take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from
the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19).