Would
Israel’s Identity
Have Disappeared
If the Jews Had Turned to Yeshua
2000 Years Ago?
This paper is written for the sake of a man who witnessed the near erasure of Jewish identity during the seventy-year Communist period in Russia. He realized the profound effect seventy years of oppression and suppression of Jewishness had, and related this to two thousand years of Christianity.
The first part of this paper will show distinctions between two forms of ‘Christianity’, while the second part will address the identity issues.
Christianities
The Distinction Between Christians and Christians
Christianity is applied to many religions. One can become a Christian and be a real enemy to Israel, or be Israel’s true friend. Both perspectives can be justified using the Bible, and been used to treat the Jews with the contempt and destructions or to save them from enemies. How can Christianity hold both theologies?
True Christianity does not hold both theologies. Irreconcilable religions are found under the umbrella of ‘Christianity’. One form was born from the womb of anti-Jewish fervour, its advocates desiring to control. (I will refer to this form as Power Christianity.) Another was born with the totally Jewish and Messianic mandate to teach all races the righteousness, justice, faith, commandments, and truths of the God of Israel. (I will call this Service Christianity.) Power Christianity quickly solidified ranking its members. Service Christianity suffered, many died, and ranking was not an issue.
Both were identified as coming from the same beliefs and Jewish roots, and outsiders often did not understand the difference. Power Christianity became identified with Rome. Service Christianity was part of and identified with Israel, with non-Jewish participants being likeminded. Jewish folks not part of Service Christianity had greatly varied views on it, some seeing it as a true friend, others seeing it as a threat.
The following texts expose distinctions between the two categories:
1 Corinthians 9:18 What is my reward then? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of the Messiah without charge that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all, yet have I made myself servant unto all that I might gain the more.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not. But we have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them). For we preach not ourselves, but Messiah Yeshua the Lord and ourselves your servants for Yeshua’s sake.
Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach the Messiah even of envy and strife, and some also of good will. The one preach the Messiah of contention–not sincerely–supposing to add affliction to my bonds, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, the Messiah is preached. And I therein do rejoice. Indeed and I will rejoice!
Power Christianity quickly outnumbered and outweighed Service Christianity, adding contempt and hatred for Service Christians. Power Christians were nearly all Gentiles. Service Christians were mainly Jews at the beginning, and later were a mixture that always strongly identified with Israel. During a revolt against Roman military occupation of Israel, Service Christians refused to acknowledge that Bar Kochba, the rebellion’s leader, as the messiah, and they refused to fight in the battle. They had been prepared to fight, but not under a false messiah. This resulted in a great offense and split between the two Jewish groups that have lasted to our time. Before that time, Jewish Service Christians were accepted as a normal part of Israel, and represented a significant number.
Power Christians persecuted Jewish and non-Jewish Service Christians, and some fervent Israelis who did not believe that Yeshua was the Messiah persecuted Jewish Believers. The number of Service Christians was always small. Power Christians grew in numbers and political strength until the Roman Empire adopted Power Christianity. Roman Catholicism, the new old religion, became the state religion. Catholic means universal. Power Christians declared themselves to be The Universal Church of Jesus Christ established directly from the apostles of Jesus.
Christianity Today
Most of today’s Christianity, including Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant (Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Methodist, Charismatic, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormon, Church of Christ) are variants of Power Christianity. Some of these groups (not all!) have very few or no Service Christians among them.
Service Christians believe the Jewish Scriptures, fear Yehovah the God of Israel, delight in the plan of Yehovah through Messiah Yeshua and look for Israel’s redemption, having a real sense of pain for the sufferings and unbelief of Israel (the Jewish People), and look for Messiah’s coming. They delight in righteousness, justice, Grace, selflessness, and in every good work and benefit for Israel. They are rare among Jews and non-Jews.
Some Power Christian groups claim to be for Israel, while teaching doctrines excluding Israel from the center of God’s Scripturally described plan. They place themselves as the pupil of God’s eye, applying texts written about Israel to them. They see themselves as being the end times generation through which great revival will come. Power Christianity always carries a greatly inflated ego and self-worth.
Jewish Identities
Israel’s Identity Preserved
Yehovah miraculously created Israel. Abraham’s wife was barren and very old. She had no equipment for having a child. Yehovah miraculously made her fertile and created in her the necessary equipment to have a baby.
Israel in Egypt
Jacob went to Egypt with seventy folks. Jacob’s offspring lived in Egypt for 430 years. This is plenty of time for the Israelis to acculturate. How was it that the Israelis maintained a separate identity? Many of the seventy were not from Jacob’s blood, but all became part of the People of Israel. These various cultures should have been diluted into oblivion, but Yehovah made sure this didn’t happen.
Psalm 105:23 Israel also came into Egypt and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. And He increased His people greatly and made them stronger than their enemies. He turned their heart to hate His people, to deal subtly with His servants. He sent Moses His servant, Aaron whom he had chosen. They showed His signs among them and wonders in the land of Ham. He sent darkness and made it dark. And they rebelled not against his word.
Israel in the Desert
When Yehovah took Israel out of Egypt, He brought him to the land of Promise. The Israelis hearkened to ten spies who told them what they already believed, and Yehovah made them remain in the desert for forty years. Israel was kept segregated from the other races that in turn were terrified of Israel.
Israel’s Entry into the Land
Israel entered the Land of Promise, and began to obey the Commandment to annihilate the occupants, but did not continue. The Israelis intermarried and became neighbours. Yehovah sent these neighbours to trouble and conquer Israel. Israel shouted to Yehovah for rescue, and then went after their enemies’ false gods.
Yehovah gave Israel a human king, but no matter how much the Israelis desired to become part of the neighbouring cultures, Yehovah refused to allow this.
The Kingdom of Israel
Yehovah took Israel out of Egypt and made him into a kingdom. He was Israel’s king. Israel later desired a human king to be like his neighbours. Yehovah granted this, making Saul king. Many of the kings of Israel were evil, being idolatrous like most Israelis, and Israel suffered. The Kingdom of Israel (the Kingdom of Yehovah) continued until Yehovah finally suspended it because of idolatry and violence against His land. The Babylonian captivity temporarily ended the kingdom.
The Babylonian Captivity
Israel again had every reason to acculturate in captivity, taking the languages, aspects of the cultures, the dress, the means of doing things, etc. The Israelis still remained segregated, however. Some Israelis returned back to the Land of Israel during the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. Some returning Levites had pagan wives with pagan religions, and they were commanded to divorce their wives, many complying. The Temple was rebuilt. Many Israelis chose to remain in Babylon until it was finally abandoned (due to a water shortage). Jews moved to many places besides Israel, taking on new languages and cultures. They were still segregated and distinguishable from their neighbours, however, never being able to fully acculturate as a group.
The Time of Hanukkah
The Prophets of Israel continued to prophesy after the Babylonian captivity, but then came a time of silence. Alexander the Great came to greatness, but died young. Four governments formed from his government, one being in Syria. One later leader of Syria was Antiochus Epiphanes who desired to conquer Egypt and everything between. Things went badly, and he began to concentrate on Israel. His goals included annihilating belief in the Torah, rooting out the God Yehovah from Israel, and making all Israelis Greek in beliefs and lifestyles. He set up gymnasia (where men exercised naked). Many Israelis cooperated, and some radicals refused. Confrontations over sacrifices led to Antiochus’ command that a pig be sacrificed on a Jewish altar of Yehovah. This started the Maccabean revolt that continued for years, and the events leading to Hanukkah (the Dedication of the Temple after it was recaptured from the Syrians). The Israelis were pressured to acculturate, and only a few were unwilling. The radicals used guerilla tactics, and the Syrians were finally driven out of the territory. The Israeli leadership made a pact with the Roman Empire, and Rome became a protectorate of Israel.
The Teaching of Yeshua
Yeshua taught that obedience to the Torah was the only way to please Yehovah. He pronounced a curse upon anyone who would teach the Israelis to violate even one Torah command:
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one Yod or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so–he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whosoever shall do and teach, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Any Israeli identifying with the true Messiah of Israel must identify with the Torah. Yeshua taught against additions to the Torah, publicly disagreeing with some important religious leaders who maintained the importance of certain added regulations.
Deuteronomy 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it. Thou shalt not add to it nor diminish from it.
Perversions of the Teachings of Yeshua
Yeshua’s teachings were to and for Israel, the offspring and People of Jacob:
Matthew 15:24 But he [Yeshua] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
While the writings of the Bible are useful for anyone desiring truth, they were not directed toward every race.
2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them, 15and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 17that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Some texts are to individuals, some to Israel as a whole, and others are for other races. A Bible reader must not apply texts to the wrong persons or groups. This rule has been repeatedly violated throughout history. The group I have called Power Christians has repeatedly stolen and misapplied texts given to Israel, rooting Israel out. This is potent and patent antisemitism and perversion of the Scriptures. Many Gentiles who become Power Christians have sought to exclude Jews from texts and society unless the Jews fully join them and their version of the ‘body of Christ’. Their faith is as far from Biblical as Buddhism.
Why do so many churches seem to do so well, becoming rich and powerful, while having little to do with the Jews? Why do they preach as if Israel is a footnote in the plan of God? Why do they make Israel subservient to their own plans for expansion and evangelism? Power Christianity is a pagan religion. Yehovah is not stopping pagan religions. All folks do better with religions than without. Religions provide some ethics and morality without which society would become violent, and would self-destruct.
An Impossible Supposition
Suppose Israel had turned to Yeshua 2,000 years ago, and the message the Kingdom of Heaven had been grasped and believed. What would have happened to Israel’s identity? Would Israel have become Christian, losing its Jewish identity? The Kingdom would have been restored to Israel, as it will be after the Tribulation. Israel would have fully obeyed the Torah. Messiah would have saved Israel from all enemies. The other races would have seen Messiah’s works with fear. All Israel’s sufferings would have been averted.
Jewish identity has always been in danger, and has always been preserved. It would not have been stamped out had Israel believed in his Messiah.
Have Messianic Jewish Believers Identified with Power Christians?
The history of Jewish Believers in the real Yeshua has been one of suffering. They refused to conform to Power Christianity church es, irritating Power Christianity church leaders. Jewish Saints chose to identify with the God of Israel, Israel and Service Christians. They were considered rebels. During the Inquisition, Power Christians took and forced Jews to be baptized. They were restricted from celebrating Biblical Holy Days on the pain of death. Power Christians want to have power over the Jews. The same attitudes are present today, with the resolve to make Jews into their kind of Christians. Service Christians desire that Jewish individuals come to Yehovah by faith, and believe in the Biblical Yeshua.
Micah 6:8 He hath showed thee, O man, what is good and what Yehovah requireth of thee–even to do justice, and to love grace, and selflessly to walk with thy God!
Two types of Messianic Assemblies exist: Power Churches with Jewish trappings and the others that are very rare.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate! For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in at it. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Power Christianity is the popular western religion that is becoming less popular as Islam increases. Service Christianity has never been popular.
A very few pastors are Service Christians, noted by their love of the Biblically described Yehovah, for His Word and His fear, and for Israel. They speak the truth and only the truth. They do not spurn the Torah, but love all the Word of God. They teach that the Church’s goal is to serve Israel. They teach the ‘New Testament’ only in the light of the ‘Old’. They would teach Israel his responsibility to be a light to the Gentiles.
Messianic Jews and the Holy Days
One way for Jews to lose their identity is to not celebrate the Biblical Holy Days. A ‘Christian’ teaching is that when one becomes a Believer in Messiah Yeshua, the Holy Days and all the Law have been fulfilled making keeping them unnecessary and a burden. Paul’s writings are used to ‘prove’ this:
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of the Messiah.
Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;
None of these texts states that keeping the Torah or the Holy Days is unnecessary or a burden. Most of the Colossians receiving this letter were not Jewish. No non-Jewish person was given Israel’s Holy Days or Sabbaths. Why should they be responsible to do these upon believing in Messiah? The Hebrews text shows that the Torah has not disappeared yet, but that a New Covenant made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah is coming that will accomplish more than the first Covenant. The Ephesians text refers to the abolition of the enmity, not to the abolition of the Law of Commandments (unless Yeshua was mistaken). Other texts state that the Law of Moses will be the rule for Israel in the Millennium, and every race will be required to send emissaries to Israel for Succoth with destruction if they do not come:
Zechariah 14:16 And it shall come to pass, every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, Yehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, whoso will not come up of [all] the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Yehovah of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, wherewith Yehovah will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
The Law is not ‘done away with’ during the Millennium.
While the Temple is not standing, no person alive can keep the Sabbaths. Animal sacrifices for all Israel are required for Sabbath keeping. The most Orthodox Jew cannot keep the Sabbath, since it is given to all Israel as a unit. If all Israel is not keeping the Sabbath, it isn’t being kept!
Anyone may rest on Shabbat for personal physical benefit, but the Sabbath is still being violated without all Israel participating. Daniel could not keep the Sabbath in captivity, yet the Prophet Ezekiel spoke of his righteousness. This does not mean that Daniel did not rest on the Sabbath. Daniel loved the Israeli Holy Days (since he loved the Word of God). The Law of Yehovah was part of him, but he had few rights as a slave. While he could not keep Torah, he kept what he could, and Yehovah saw. He never even considered disdaining the Torah of God, but mourned that its violation had caused Israel to be removed from the Land. Anyone with the mind of Yehovah will have the very same views and love for the Torah.
The Law will be restored:
Isaiah 42:21 Yehovah is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake. He will magnify the Torah and make [it] honourable.
No truly Messianic Jew will look badly upon the Torah or its Holy Days. Some have been taught that the Law is finished. If they love truth, they will reconsider. The Torah sacrifices have only been suspended. The Israelis still suffer consequences for Torah violations. Had it been abolished, its consequences would have also been.
The Holy Days speak of Messiah’s work. Why abolish them? One who loves Messiah will delight in them. It is unreasonable to say “I love Yeshua,” or “I love Jesus,” while speaking contempt for the Torah that Yeshua gave on Mount Sinai!
The Holy Days have distinguished the Jewish People from other peoples, and were given for this purpose (among others):
Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I am Yehovah that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth [any] work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to Yehovah: whosoever doeth [any] work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, [for] a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days Yehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
The Sabbath is a sign. Why eradicate a sign?
Any Jewish person who turns to the real Yeshua in faith will not abandon his Jewishness, but will cling to these God given treasures and responsibilities, gifts to be used to teach Gentiles. Being called from birth to be a servant to the Gentiles is humbling (thus Service Christianity, or better, Service Messianism).
Where Would The Jewish Identity be If the Jews Had Turned to Yeshua in Faith 2,000 Years Ago?
The Jewish identity would be very much intact. If a Jewish individual turns to Yeshua in faith today, he clings to the Scriptures, including all the Torah. Any Jewish person claiming faith in Yeshua, abandoning the Torah and claiming ‘freedom’, was just looking for an excuse to abandon Israel and responsibility. Such a person is an unbelieving traitor to Israel. That would be like a person saying “I have freedom in Christ! As a Buddhist, I had to be faithful to my wife. But now that I am a Christian, if I sin, I will be forgiven, so I can commit adultery and be forgiven!” The same is true for anyone showing contempt for the Torah, the Perfect Law of Liberty. The Torah is for liberty from sin and from the judgment of Yehovah, not liberty from righteousness.
The Torah is only a burden for two types of individuals: those who have followed the Torah plus the additions rooted in tradition and the rabbis, and those who have despised Yehovah’s way. It is no burden for those who delight in righteousness, but is instead a gift. It defines Yehovah’s and Israel’s character, and is Truth.
Must a Messianic Jewish Believer Keep the Torah?
NO PERSON can keep the Torah without the Temple or Tabernacle or priesthood. Yehovah has temporarily removed them from Israel because He is angry at Israel. All Israel will gladly keep it in the Millennium. In the meantime, every Jewish fearer of Messiah is obliged to know the Torah and to righteously live before Yehovah. He will reject Power Christianity’s paganisms.