I commend your Spirit regarding all things eternal, and your gracious evenhandedness! I am cautious about having a pretentious spirit! Again, even Abraham ethnically was not Jewish! For all I know I may even have some Jewish blood in my veins! That said, being Jewish as an ethos and a chosen spiritual alignment! Indeed, we must honor our Jewish heritage! God creating and visiting the Jew first! But God's redemption is for all nations! TR All I know is we just need to be careful of embracing things of this world and certain “practices” including some of the Jewish “culture” items … thinking its acceptable to the Lord because its “Jewish”, when its not. For example … anybody own a Jewish flag? You might want to think twice in keeping it … The “Star of David” The Hexagram … is nothing more than an ancient Egyptian occult symbol … there is no Biblical evidence that ties David to have ever used this star … but there was evidence of King Solomon used it AFTER he turned to pagan gods and the occult late in his life causing God to be very angry with him. The Hexagram is used in magic witchcraft, sorcery and occultism. How did Modern Israel get a hold of this pagan occult symbol? It was adopted as the family crest or shield by the Rothschild family in the 19th Century. The Rothschilds bought a great deal of property in Israel, from the Turks and Arabs, and were amongst the major supporters of the Zionist movement in the early decades. The influence of the Rothschilds and their heavy financial support of Israel, led the Jewish nation to adopt the so-called “Star of David” as their own symbol as a nation and for their flag. What does God say about this? Jeremiah 10:1-3 “Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen (nations), and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are false …. Deut 12:2-4 II Corinthians 6:14-18 Amen brother very true about Abraham - the seed of Abraham are all children of faith in Abraham’s God and in Abraham’s God’s Messiah, the only way truth and life. Jew and Gentile, one new man! The hidden mystery of ages that both are equally beloved of God and neither is complete without the other! You are very right Geri, test all things and let everything be weighed as either worthy of study or worthless according to only the Word of God! Much is done in ignorance and without understanding, and we have to offer as much grace as the Messiah also offers, since He alone judges and weighs the hearts of man, we cannot judge anything before the time, we should embrace only what we know can be proven in the Word of God but if something is in obvious opposition to God’s holy word we should stay far away from it. But as far as things like the Jewish flag - you are very correct in your facts about this, but the same could be said for Easter eggs and Christmas trees - both have pagan origins, but the average Christian does not consider them as pagan symbols any more than the average Israeli understands the pagan occultic meanings of the hexagram or its association with Saturn, Remphram or anything else. We can’t see the hearts as God does and He knows if someone flys an Israeli flag to worship Saturn or if in ignorance they think it simply symbolizes the reborn Israel. There is legalism everywhere, and it is easy to slip into it if we get too worried about pagan deities hiding in broad daylight. Greater is He Who is within us than He who is in the world. I’m not suggesting to wink at these things, just bringing some balance to the conversation. To say God would find someone sinful for owning an Israeli flag would in my opinion be a form of legalism on par with saying that if you put up a Christmas tree you are a pagan or if you don’t celebrate the passover you are pagan - all are legalism in my eyes and I can’t subscribe to that. I am all about the grace - I know I have needed plenty of it and still do. There is nothing wrong with celebrating the Feasts of the Lord. We have that freedom in Messiah to do so. If you choose to do so, great. If you choose to not do so, great. The feasts will certainly be celebrated in the Millenium and nations will be punished for not doing so. (Ie Egypt will not get rain for failing to celebrate the Feast if Tabernacles) What exactly our role as believers will be in this, I am not sure. Having attended a Jewish Messianic Congregation for the last 10 years, I am well aware of all the crazy people that seem to gravitate towards it. I do know that there are some legalists/Judiasiers that try to creep in and lead people astray. That is definitely an always clear and present danger. Every denomination has their own particular problems. You see, the evil one is vehemently opposed to any Jewish people being saved as it is when the nation of Israel finally cries out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" that Yeshua/Jesus returns to this earth. Then the evil one will be cast in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. He obviously is not looking forward to that. I am about as WASP (White Anglo Saxon Protestant) as you get. I am a through and through Gentile. God made me as I am and I am happy with that. That being said, I have many Messianic Jewish friends. They have a great love, concern and heart for the unsaved Jewish community and so do I. ❤️ I should also note that the unsaved Jewish community is watching. When they see Gentiles celebrating the Feasts of the Lord, it does make at least some of them take notice. It helps fulfill, in part, the provoking them to jealousy. Romans 11:11-15 New King James Version Israel’s Rejection Not Final 11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? The nation of Israel is well aware of the Gentiles that march in a parade in Jerusalem every year on the Feast of Sukkot/Tabernacles. I have no doubt that no small number of the 144,000 will come from Jewish people that have observed this demonstration of love by Gentiles and been touched by that. Actually it looks like in the millennium … the millennials are required to do 2 things …. 1) keep the Feast of Tabernacles and 2) daily animal sacrifices will be reinstated This here is interesting … about the tribulation saints … could it be they are seen in heaven waving palms … instead of on Palm Sunday but on Feast of Tabernacles? Per Israel my Glory Magazine … The apostle John specifically used the imagery of the Feast of Tabernacles to describe Gentile Tribulation martyrs. He depicted them with palm branches, serving in His Temple while God dwells among them and Jesus guides them to “living fountains of waters” (Rev. 7:9–17). Keeping the Feast of Tabernacle The ritual’s significance was both symbolic and prophetic. Its symbolic purpose was a prayer for rain since the summer was about to end and the rainy season begin. This prayer demonstrated Israel’s dependence on the Lord, an act of faith that will be required of all nations in the Millennium (Zech. 14:16–19). Its prophetic purpose was Messianic: It looked forward to the outpouring of the Ruach Ha-Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) on Israel and the nations under the New Covenant in the Kingdom Age (Ezek. 36:27; Joel 2:28). Therefore, Zechariah 14:17–19 warns these nations that failing to observe the Feast of Tabernacles will be tantamount to spiritual and national rebellion. Because part of the ritual of the Feast of Tabernacles involves asking for rain (specifically the former rains), a punishment for nations that fail to appear annually in Jerusalem will be a withholding of rain—the very gift that made possible their gifts. Zechariah 14:17-19 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord 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 the Lord 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. And the Daily Animal Sacrifices Per Got Question.org There are several passages in the Old Testament that clearly indicate animal sacrifice will be re-instituted during the millennial kingdom. Some passages mention it in passing as the topic of the millennial kingdom is discussed, passages like Isaiah 56:6-8; Zechariah 14:16; and Jeremiah 33:15-18. The passage that is the most extensive, giving the greatest detail, is Ezekiel 43:18-46:24. It should be noted that this is part of a greater passage dealing with the millennial kingdom, a passage that begins with Ezekiel 40. In Ezekiel 40, the Lord begins to give details of the temple that will exist during the millennial kingdom, a temple that dwarfs all other temples previously built, even Herod’s temple that was quite large, which existed during the earthly ministry of Christ. After giving details concerning the size and appearance of the temple and the altar, the Lord then begins to give detailed instruction as to the animal sacrifices that will be offered (Ezekiel 43:18-27). In chapter 44, the Lord gives instructions as to who will be offering sacrifices to the Lord. The Lord states that all of the Levites will not be offering blood and fat to the Lord due to previous sin; it will be those from the lineage of Zadok (verse 15). Chapters 45 and 46 continue to mention that animal sacrifices will be made. Most premillennial scholars agree that the purpose of animal sacrifice during the millennial kingdom is memorial in nature. As the Lord’s Supper (Communion … aka unleavened bread and wine (or grape juice) ? is a reminder of the death of Christ to the Church today, animal sacrifices will be a reminder during the millennial kingdom. To those born during the millennial kingdom, animal sacrifices will again be an object lesson. - Fair Use - Ok … this might clarify things better … I just learned this .. the last supper is totally different from the Passover. The last supper was a wedding feast or betrothal dinner and it occurred the evening before Passover. And the Passover “meal” consisted only of unleavened bread and wine. Matthew /Mark /Luke doesn’t clarify this .. but John does in this passage … John 13: John 6 talks of the communion (bread/wine) but not in John 13 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Now in Lukes passage he describes what the Passover Feast consisted of: Luke 22:1 , 14-21 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover. 1 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. A Seder is an man-made invention of the “Jews who say they are Jews but are not and do lie” ...what He would never consent to as a man-made Talmud tradition like in Mark 8:1-8, and when He dismissed the Pharisees in Matthew 23. A Seder even has pagan fertility symbols in it... - Fair Use - Well, for sure there are extra elements added to the Seder that are definitely not Biblical. The roasted egg, for example. That is definitely Babylonian and fertility related. However, IMHO, the Passover Seder has been used by God to help keep the Jewish community together after 3,500 years or so. Even the most secular of Jews often still attend a Seder. There are many elements that point to Yeshua/Jesus. The Afikommen, for example. The piece of matzo in the middle between the other pieces that has been baked with stripes and has been pierced. Sound familiar? https://www.rockofisrael.org/2019/03/28/the-afikomen-messianic-meaning/ Not to mention the bag that the Afikommen is placed in. It has three pockets and yet it is still one bag. Hmmm... :mail: I look at the Passover Seder like Hannukah. Hannukah is not specifically mentioned in the Bible but it does mention Jesus in the Temple on the Feast of Dedication. Once again, there are many elements of Hannukah that point to Yeshua/Jesus. So, anyway, just my four cents. (Inflation is really getting out of hand. :() I guess what I don't understand is why celebrate Jewish feasts that point to Jesus when He has already come and is now indwelling believers by His Holy Spirit? Seems to me that it is like observing the Laws of the Torah, which number 613. We have been set free from all of that. Why go back to it?
1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end
2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
