My Roots

I advocate for the return and adherence to the first century walk of faith and obedience to the Torah by Jesus (known as Yeshua HaMashiach, the Hebrew name for Jesus the Messiah) by seeking a better understanding of the culture, history, and political backdrop of that era which led to the core differences with both the Jewish, and later, the Christian communities.

 

The Revival

 

Since the early 20th century, different religious organizations have been teaching a belief in Yeshua as mankind's redeemer and saviour from man's own sinful nature and a lifestyle in keeping with the Torah, the Sabbath and the annual Feasts (or moedim, Holy Days).

Those who continue in this walk seek out the history, culture, and faith of the first century believers who, like Abraham and Moses, obeyed God’s voice, charge, commandments, statutes, and laws (Gen 26:5). The 41,000 denominations of Christianity commonly believe that such obedience is no longer required. However we believe that the Law (Torah) was never intended to be done away with.

 

Theology

 

My theology includes at least seven distinct core differences from Protestantism, Seventh-day Adventism, Rabbinic Judaism, and Messianic Judaism.

• I hold that Both the Old and New Testaments are held as holy books. The Torah serves as the foundation to all subsequent understanding and interpretation of Scripture. We believe that the New Testament, or "Brit Chadashah" does not conflict with Torah commandments. We believe that Yeshua the Messiah did not come to establish a new religion or to “do away” with the law.

• Salvation derives from the belief in Yeshua the Messiah as personal saviour, not from commandment/Torah keeping. I believe that believers are rewarded according to their fruits, works, and obedience and that sin is breaking the written Torah (1 John 3:4). All of the purity laws such as dietary restrictions and Sabbath keeping are in the written Torah, thus it is sinful to not keep the Sabbath and to eat forbidden animals, among other social and religious observance laws.

• The Jewish Oral Law (the Talmud) does not represent Scriptural requirements to be obeyed, but can provide deeper understanding as to how some have applied the Scriptures to practical life. Pagan traditions adopted by Judaism and Christianity are to be avoided.

• Old Testament/Torah Laws and the teachings of the New Testament are to be obeyed by both Jews and Gentiles  (See Numbers 15:15-16 for the explanation).

• The Hebrew language is generally studied because it amplifies an understanding of the Scriptural text.

• I believe that the active study of the Scriptures as well as the history, faith, and culture of the first and second century adds to the believer in the depth of understanding

• The moedim or appointed times listed in Leviticus 23, including the 7th day Sabbath and the Feast days, foreshadow the 1st and 2nd comings of the Messiah and the Creator's plan of salvation for the world.

 

The Feasts of the LORD (Lev 23:2)—“My Feasts”

 

I teach that the seven Torah annual Sabbath Holy Days (sometimes called High Sabbaths) reveal the Messiah Jesus Christ and His plan of salvation and believe that the feasts were ordained at creation (Gen.1:14—seasons = moedim in Hebrew (mow-eh-deem'--which is the plural of the singular [moed]): appointed times or rehearsals), and are YHVH’s (God’s) feasts—not Jewish or Israeli holidays or 'our' feasts (Lev 23). I also believe in the prohibition in Lev. 18:1-3; and Lev. 20:23 prohibiting pagan customs (e.g. Christmas and Easter).

The feasts in Hebrew are termed chag which comes from the Hebrew root word chagag, which means "to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to celebrate or dance. Although it is commonly stated there are seven (7) feasts, it is perhaps more precise to state that there are seven appointed times which include the three (3) feasts (chags). The weekly 7th day Sabbath is also considered an appointment.

Scripture indicates that these chags are to be observed at the Temple in Jerusalem. In a more profound fulfillment, however, we have now become the spiritual temple in which the Holy Spirit (Ruach Ha’Kodesh) dwells and His name is now placed within the believer to determine the place of observance. We rejoice and rehearse the meaning of these days when we gather to meet.

The two seasons (spring and fall) of the appointments and their feasts form both a history and a prophetic picture of things to come. They portray the two comings of Jesus Christ, in as much as the two daily Temple sacrifices are also types (the Suffering Servant or the Conquering King) of the Messiah which precipitated John the Baptist’s question (Matt 11:3)

 

1 & 2. Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) | Chag haMatzot (Chag haPesach)

Unleavened Bread is a seven-day firstfruits of barley harvest festival where unleavened bread is to be eaten during this time. Believers dispose of all yeast laden bread products. Yeast is a fungal spore which is present in the air and can infiltrate bread dough and make it rise through the process of fermentation—not by induced chemical reaction (e.g. baking soda). Symbolically, unleavened bread contains no yeast. Leaven is a symbol of false doctrine (sin) that is spread through the air and of which believers must be aware (Matt 16:6-12). Historically, this festival has been commonly called the Feast of Passover and the festival separated into two festivals by some: Passover and Unleavened Bread since there is a Sabbath (moed=appointment) on the first and last days of the Feast. Technically it is only one festival with only the first day of the Feast commonly termed Passover (named for the lamb (Ex 12:21) eaten that night and also refers to YHVH (i.e. the LORD in the KJV) passing over the Israelite homes (Ex 12:23).

 

3. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) | Chag Shavuot

Pentecost is a Greek word meaning “fiftiest (day)”. Shavuot (Shah-voo-oat') is the Hebrew word. The day is also called by other names, such as the Feast of Harvest (Ex. 23:16), Feast of Weeks (Ex. 34:22), and Day of Firstfruits (Num. 28:26). The main Shavuot ritual involved the "new meal-offering" which was the main ritual of that day and consisted of two loaves of leavened bread. Scripture does not directly reveal the meaning of the two loaves and various conjectures have been made: e.g. the two Houses of Israel, Israelites and Gentiles, etc. Many begin the count to Pentecost on the first weekly Sabbath following the Passover day, while others begin the count on Nisan 15 following the Jewish tradition and interpretation of which constitutes a "Sabbath". This difference in counting is not a dividing issue. The day pictures the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, the Holy Spirit given to the Apostles, and a type of Jubilee (biblical) since it occurs 50 days after the Wave Sheaf Offering during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The meaning of the day has also been compared to the Bride of Christ: “It signifies the completion of the cleansing and preparation of the Bride of Messiah for her wedding day.  Jewish tradition indicates that the Torah was given on Shavuot. It was the acceptance of Torah which bound ancient Israel to God in a marriage contract. “All ancient Israelite marriages required a marriage contract, or covenant document, called a Ketuvah (Keh-too'-vah). The Torah constitutes the Ketuvah between God and the children of Israel. The bride was required to accept the terms of the Ketuvah (covenant) so they could be fully married. Israel, as the bride, did this when she said:"... 'All that the LORD [YHVH] has spoken we will do.'" (Ex. 19:8). Shavuot has also been linked as a type of “Eighth Day” to the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

4. Trumpets | Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShanah)

Jews call this day Rosh Hashanah, but it is nowhere so termed in Scripture where it is commanded to be kept. Instead it is found in Ezk. 40:1 and translated as “the beginning (or head) of the year” since the Jews consider this the start of their Civil New Year Calendar. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word for trumpets is also not used where the command to be blown is found in Lev 23:24. An exact translation of the term would be 'Feast of Clamor' or 'Feast of Acclamation' or, the 'Day of Blowing' as the Jews sometime name it. Instead, the day is most commonly known as Yom Teruah (Yohm Teh-roo-ah') and is translated into English as 'Feast of Trumpets”. It is not clear whether a trumpet or shofar is to be blown on this day. The ancient Jewish tradition, however, was to blow a shofar. This day is also known as the 'Day of the Awakening Blast.' with at least four meanings. 1) Tradition holds that loud blasts are connected to this day when the Messiah will be crowned King over all the earth (Num 23:21); 2) when the people of the earth hear the sound of the shofar they are to repent of their sins, and 3) the resurrection of the dead at the return of the King, and 4) a battle cry of the King’s vengeance which that rehearses the coming of the "Day of the Lord." The Jews also call Trumpets the “Day of Judgment”.

 

5. Atonement | Yom Kippur

In Hebrew yom means "day" and kippur is from a root meaning "to atone". On this day the Great Shofar (the Shofar haGadol) is blown to signify the “Day of Judgment” another name for Yom Kippur.

The general meaning of this appointed day of Yom Kippur is a generally similar to those in both the Jewish and Christian faiths: it is a day of fasting, repentance, and acknowledgment of the covering sacrifice of Jesus the Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) for sin. It is commonly understood that the Messiah is the first goat. It is not so commonly understood that He is the second goat that is set forth to go into the wilderness—into the world—to fulfill His purpose in two comings. Some recognize this understanding, some do not. The Feast Days are all about the Messiah and His Plan of Salvation for mankind.

 

6. Booths (Tabernacles) | Chag haSukkot (Sukkot)

Sukkot is a seven-day autumn harvest festival where believers are instructed to dwell in temporary dwellings (Lev 23). Although no specific harvest crop is noted in Scripture, Jewish tradition associates wine and water with festivals at Temple rituals. The Hebrew word Sukkot is usually translated as "tabernacles," or "booths" and is the plural form of sukka (sue’-kah)— a Hebrew word meaning tent or (temporary)booth that one lived in, not the Tabernacle which was used for worship and was the portable sanctuary in the wilderness. The sukka symbolizes man's need to depend upon God for food, water, and shelter. Other translations translate the word more closely to its intended meaning of a tent or booth; hence the name “Feast of Booths”. “This feast is also known by other names, such as, the Festival of Ingathering (Ex. 23:16), the Feast of the Nations, the Festival of Dedication, the Festival of Lights, and the Season of Our Joy.

Anciently the feast represented the wandering in the wilderness and the physical harvest. For the believer, today, Sukkot has additional manifold spiritual meanings: it is the church’s journey; the harvest of souls at the end of the age (Olam Hazeh=”this world”) (Matt13:39; Rev.14:15; Joel 3:13)   These seven days especially represent a time to place the cares of our life aside for a time, to fellowship, to learn and to recreate the scenes as laid out in the scripture.

 

7. Eighth Day | Shemini Atzeret

The Hebrew word means "Eighth day of Assembly" and immediately follows the Feast of Sukkot. We view this day in a different light than those in the Jewish faith in which the day is “characterized as a day when the Jewish people "tarries" to spend an additional day with God at the end of Sukkot”. There is no direct Scriptural indication for what the day means; however, clues may be determined in the use of the number 8 in Scripture. The number 8 is widely accepted as meaning “a new beginning”. It is prophetic of the time after the 7000 year millennium when the White Throne Judgment is held. A new beginning, termed the “World to Come” (Olam Haba in Hebrew) will occur with the establishment of a new Heavens, new Earth, and a new Jerusalem as described in Revelation 22.

Other Feasts

The Feast of Dedication or Hanukkah and Feast of Lots or Purim are generally recognized as being more of a national holiday such as the American 4 July Independence Day and are generally explained in-season. We however celebrate these days just as our messiah did.