This is a diverse bunch with some radical methods and ideals forming a group of about 200,000 members claiming they are the descendants 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 verbal attacks. From what we have investigated, those who call themselves Black Hebrew Israelites are completely 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 inerrant 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).