MINI-DESPATCH. March 16, 1999.
 
HEBREW ROOTS MOVEMENT ... STATEMENT

God bless you every one.

Thank God He sent the Lord Jesus Christ,
His Beloved Son, to this wicked world.
Without Him what hope would there be?
What a world of woe it is.
The deceptions of the endtimes are growing thicker and faster!

This Mini-Despatch will be an introduction to the ever-deepening disasters occurring under the names of "The Hebrew Roots Movement" [HRM] and "The Messianic Jew."

We will be doing a booklet, in time for the next Despatch Magazine, to try and consolidate the whole issue for those who have no access or time to read the mountains of material that has been provided online from the authors mentioned below.

We have dealt briefly with the HRM/Messianic Jew & Biblical Jewish Non-semitic positions
in our Mini-Despatches before, and on-line our Website also deals with this topic.

All relevant Online material has been gathered for you at this link here.

http://www.despatch.cth.com.au/HRM_Jewish_material.htm

However, the deceptions to do with the Jewish converts are becoming more complex.

All of us must address the implications of such critiques as those found on these believers' Websites: [see our link above for their URLs & Material]

Timothy and Barbara Aho;
Richard Engstrom;
Tom Lamb and
Vicky Dillen.

Endtime Ministries, realising the enormity of the move by misguided Jewish men in our day, will be standing firm with those who refuse to move aside and allow the Judaizing of the Christian Church to proceed unchallenged.

Let the reader ask themselves these questions:

1. Do you believe that the Greek New Testament used by believers through the centuries has never been sound. That it should have been "translated" in the beginning by Hebrew scholars.
That it is only a "translation" in Greek, not the Holy Spirit given Scriptures which GOD revealed in that language, GREEK!
That is what the HRM and other Judaizers are saying.

2. Do you believe that the Reformers did not complete a sound and Godly English translation with the King James Version?
That they were unsound, unlearned because they didn't understand Jewish books and traditions, like the Midrash?
That is what the Judaizers are saying.

3. Do you believe that the only ones who can ever understand this "Midrash" are those who have Jewish race backgrounds?
Therefore they are the only ones who can really help us renew our New Testament?
Therefore, of course, they must assume Rabbi status in the Christian Church?
That is basically what the Judaizers are leading to.

4. Are you willing to just stand aside because these Judaizers are threatening and insulting those Christians who dare to oppose the destruction of their own Greek New Testament?
Will you gullibly accept the "Midrash" and Hebrew New Testament subversions?
Without a word?

5. Will you be one who is afraid to stand against these Judaizers because they cry "anti-Semitic" at anyone who challenges them and their power-plays?
Are you naive enough to think that preserving Christianity as we have been given it by God, and not standing for a Hebrew Roots deception, is "anti-Semitic?"
No, this is a tactic used to silence protest, an emotional blackmail ploy!
 

The issues are far more complicated than this mild discussion.
Too big for a Mini-Despatch.
If the reader is open for more, read in particular the responses given by Richard Engstrom to Jacob Prasch, these are eye-openers, called The Camel's Nose.
They [& others] can be found at our site address given above, we have done this to consolidate all material so those coming into the discussion can see it all as a whole.
 

THE PHILADELPHIA CHURCH.
The amazing thing about all this "Jewish" business that is sweeping the churches, is that the Bible has predicted, in a sense, that this would happen in the Last Days.
Let us look carefully at the Philadelphia Church passage in Revelation 3: 9.
But first we will examine 2:9, to lead into it:

"..and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews,
and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan."

I will quote from the book by Henry Morris, "Revelation", p 54.
These comments are about the church at Smyrna:

"The church has been burdened almost from its inception with Jewish converts who did not want
to separate themselves from the synagogue fellowship and from their lifelong  customs, and so were trying to impose circumcision and other aspects of the Old Testament ritual and national ordinances upon the church - not only Jews in the church but the Gentiles as well (Acts 15:2; Galatians 2:14; Colossians 2:16). These 'Judaizers' influenced many Gentiles, and soon many of these came to believe that conversion to Christianity meant, in effect, conversion also to Judaism and that the latter was to be perpetuated, with some modifications. in the church.

Eventually this would lead to a monstrous system of works-salvation and almost a complete disappearance of the doctrines of salvation by grace and justification by faith....wanted to continue the priesthood....conquered the laity and placed them again in legalistic bondage under a complex system of ritualistic ordinances, sacrifices, and penances....Smyrna, where the heavy outward pressure of the large colony of ethnic Jews was encouraging such compromise."

Let us now go on to the Philadelphian church, which was historically the church in the city of Philadelphia, a city founded by King Attalus of Pergamum. Philadelphia was located about twenty-eight miles southeast of Sardis. It is still there today as a town, under the name of Alasehir. Named by the king in honour of his brother, Philadelphia means "brotherly love."
Philadelphia has rough correlation, as application, to the Remnant Church during the Last Days, small and not wealthy, yet bearing sound witness. It exists alongside the Laodician Church in the Age of Apostasy, right at the end of the Church Age. Laodicia has a meaning of "ruled by the laity." It is a Church system with prosperous congregations, wonderful buildings and an active program, but it is lukewarm spiritual, about to die away. It panders to the wants and greed of the "laity." This corresponds with the majority of Christendom in the Last Days.

In Revelation 3:9:

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan,
which say they are Jews, and are not, and do lie;
behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet,
and to know that I have loved thee."

Quote again from Morris, ibid, p.p.72-73:
"Another common experience to the two faithful churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia, was opposition from the false Jews of the so-called synagogue of Satan....Apparently the false apostles and other false prophets who plagued the other churches had been unable to get any hearing in these two churches, but the Judaizers and would-be priests and ritualists were a problem. The true believers would be vindicated, however, when these legalists who desired spiritual worship for themselves (when not even angels would allow men to worship before their feet - note Revelation 22:8,9) would be forced to bow in their presence - certainly not to worship them, but rather to worship Christ in His redeeming grace. Since this promise is not one of salvation to such psuedo-Jews, but of condemnation, its fulfillment probably is the great judgement assembly as expounded in Philippians 2:10,11."

Examine we MUST the shocking attempts in our day to turn the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ into a Jewish system.
We must denounce the encouraging of new Jewish converts to keep part or more of their old Jewish religiosity.

*This is coming out in the Church in the calling of our Lord Jesus Christ by a Jewish name;
*leaving out the middle letter of the word God;
*adding to the completed Canon of Scripture Jewish interpretations and various Jewish books; *bringing the feasts of the Jews into the Church;
*adding "Midrash" to the Holy Scriptures;
*calling converts some other name rather than "Christian" (Messianic Jew, Fulfilled Jew etc);  *insisting that a move is coming where Jew and Gentile will become one (ALL who are converted in reality ARE ONE in Christ Jesus, there is NO Jew or Gentile in Him, Galatians 3:27,28).
*Some Jewish converts are insisting that the name of Christ Jesus must be dropped by converted Jews, as His glorious Name is unacceptable to Israelites. They call Him Messiah only.
*They also want to drop any reference to "Christian" thus we get "Messianic Jew."

This is WRONG believers,
we are all One in Christ Jesus, those who have faith in Him are Christians together!

The name for a person stands for His character, His work, His position, His standing.
It is all that He does, all that He is.
The Name of Jesus Christ our Lord is vital!
The Hebrew equivalent used by the Messianic Jews in no way represents the true Name above all names.
"Jesus" means salvation, and the person who honors that name takes by faith the substitutionary sacrifice offered on the Cross (Acts 4:12).
"Christ" means anointed One, the One Who is God, anointed prophet, priest and king.
"Lord" shows that we must believe Him and obey the Living Word of God - bowing in worship before Him.

The Greek for "Lord Jesus Christ" is as follows:
"Kurios"  English "Lord." Christ Himself assumed this title, see Matt.7:21,22; 9:38; 22:41-45; Mark 5:19 (cp.Ps.66:16; the parallel passage, Luke 8:39, has 'God.')
This signifies Christ's power, authority and Divinity.

"Iesous" English "Jesus." Is a transliteration of Joshua in the Hebrew. Means "Jehovah is salvation." It was the name given to the Son of God in Incarnation as His personal name.
It was given in obedience to an angel sent from God the Father (Matt.1;21).

"Christos" English "Christ." The anointed One. This title was expressed accepted by the Lord Himself. See Matt. 16:17; Mark 14:61,62; John 4:26.

Should we call our Saviour, "The Lord Jesus Christ?" Of course we should!

Should Christians call the Lord Jesus Christ "Yeshua" or "Jeschua?" NO!

The Hebrew "Jeschua" in no way can replace the title "Lord Jesus Christ." It demotes Him!
I will quote from Vicky Dillen here:

"From a Jewish article about Jesus we learn that the Talmud slanders our Saviour, Jesus Christ

'...the Jewish Encyclopaedia admits that Jewish legends concerning Jesus are found in the Talmud and Midrash and in 'The life of Jesus' (Toledot Yeshu) that originated in the Middle Ages.
It is the tendency of all these sources to belittle the person of Jesus by ascribing Him illegitimate birth, magic, and a shameful death.'

Talmud:
'...He is called a Christian who follows the false teachings of that man, who taught them to celebrate the feast on the first day of the Sabbath, that is, to worship on the first day after the Sabbath...Talui, The one who hanged...'

Many people believe that the name for Jesus in Hebrew is Jeschua or Yeshua.
However, the complete,
'...name in Hebrew would be Jeschua Hanotsri - Jesus the Nazarene. He is called Notsri from the city of Nazareth...In the Talmud Christians are also called Notsrim. (Among other things). "Since the word Jeschua means 'Saviour,' the name Jesus rarely occurs in the Jewish books. It is almost always abbreviated to Jeschu...'

In the Talmud, the name 'Jeschu [leschu]' can apparently be translated:
'...as if it were composed of the initial letters of the three words. Immach Schemo Vezikro - (meaning) - 'MAY HIS NAME BE BLOTTED OUT.'

Hebrew Roots proponents might say that these teachings are in the past. However, a review of various sources reveals the same or similar teachings."

There are many other Jewish religious matters infiltrating the Christian Church as well!
The most dangerous of all is the attempt to change the New Testament by Midrash interpretation, thus overthrowing the very Greek inspiration given by the Holy Spirit. No rhetoric on this serious matter should be countenanced, no rhubarb given by the proponents of such a disaster should be accepted - in any shade of meaning. There is NO "Midrash" [of whatever version]  that should be accepted by the Christian Church.

May God grant us all wisdom and spiritual insight into these very serious issues. Amen!

W. B. Howard ...Editor of Despatch


.
Return to Mini-Despatch TOC
Click Here
 

Endtime Ministries...Christian Resource Centre
Editor of Despatch W. B. Howard
Ph. 0754941672 Fac. 0754948617 Mob. 0407636611
P.O. Box 238, Landsborough. Q. 4550. Aust.
   despatch@mail.cth.com.au
http://www.despatch.cth.com.au