Yisrayl Hawkins

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Yisrayl Hawkins (born Buffalo Bill Hawkins) is the founder of the House of Yahweh, but is globally known for predicting that nuclear war would start on September 12, 2006.

The House of Yahweh is a non-profit religious organization based in Abilene, Texas. It believes it follows the one true faith as revealed by the Creator from the beginning and was re-established again in what they believe are the prophesied end times. Hawkins claims to be descended from Jewish immigrants who fled persecution in Europe.

In 1974 his brother J. G. (Yaaqob) Hawkins returned from a seven-year visit to Israel claiming he had found proof of Yahweh's name. Shortly after he formed the first House of Yahweh congregation in Odessa, Texas. He preached distinct doctrines that his brother agreed with, such as the necessity of referring to the Creator as Yahweh and the Messiah as Yahshua, as well as following the Torah and the Jewish festivals.

In 1980, Bill (who later legally changed his name to Yisrayl) Hawkins began The House of Yahweh Abilene at his home. Hawkins says he and his brother were prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments as the "Two Witnesses" prophets sent by Yahweh to prepare the world for the Second Coming of Yahshua the Messiah.

Hawkins has written numerous books concerning Yahweh's Laws and Prophecies. Some are The Mark of the Beast Vol. 1 & 2, The Lost Faith of the Apostles and Prophets, Deception, Devil Worship: The Shocking Facts!, Unveiling Satan!, The End, In Search of a Savior, There Is Someone Out There, The Two Witnesses, and The Peaceful Solution'. Hawkins was the primary editor of The Book of Yahweh: The Holy Scriptures, which is the House of Yahweh's translation of the Bible, now in its 10th edition.

Among other things, Hawkins has promoted the building of the third Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, but in a location that would not damage or intrude upon the Dome of the Rock, Islam's third holiest site. Plans of the temple detailing its construction were drafted from measurements claimed to have been revealed from the Bible. Hawkins teaches that this eventual development will herald the imminent return of Yahshua.

[edit] Current events

Hawkins announced in the House of Yahweh's February 2006 Newsletter that nuclear war would start 12 September 2006. He claimed it is a part of the HoY's commission to warn the nations and the people of the world. He was interviewed on the Channel 4 web show thisisaknife about his apocalyptic predictions. Amongst other things, he claimed that Abilene, Texas would be saved from the impending destruction and invited the show's presenter to join him there so he would be safe.

Despite nuclear war not starting on September 12, his website nonetheless stated that the prophecy had been fulfilled. On September 22, 2006, Hawkins updated the website (http://www.yisraylhawkins.com) to change his prediction. He said September 12 was only the starting point for nine months of nuclear war which will kill a third of all humanity, followed by a further four months of war that will darken the skies. He did not explain why there has been no sign of nuclear war since his predicted start date.

Hawkins claims the nine months are analogous to the nine months of a human pregnancy but did not explain how.

A countdown of days remaining until the beginning of nuclear war on 12 September 2006 remained on his website, and ran into the negative for some time. On 2 October 2006, the counter read 10 days until the start of nuclear war, The reason for this change is unknown. The counter has since been removed from his website.

Recently, Hawkins amended his prediction to state that a nuclear war was only conceived on September 12th, 2006, and that it would follow the natural birth cycle of a woman, finally being "born" nine months later on June 12, 2007. Whether the entire nuclear event will take place on that date, or in the months leading up to it is left unclear.

He also says that by four months after this, Oct. 13, 2007, 4/5 of the human race will be dead from nuclear war.