Dangers Of The False Messianic Movement
Dr. G. Reckart, Pastor
Jesus Church, Tampa, FloridaThe true Messianic movement within Judaism of the first century, was the out-growth of Jewish belief in a coming Messieh of the seed of David. He would bring together Israelites of the 12 tribes and restore the Kingdom of God upon the earth. The Kingdom of God was the throne of David over all Israel. The Messieh would come precisely at the end of 69 prophetic weeks. It was observed by Moses, that when the Messieh came not all Israelites would receive him. Moses said these would be destroyed from among the people (Acts 3:23).
It is false to believe Messieh would come and restore the nation. He was to restore the Kingdom. He taught his disciples to pray: "thy kingdom come." The hope of Israel for salvation and deliverance was to be spiritual not natural. In other words, Jews who looked for a military leader to defeat the Romans and set up a free nation, were wrong. When Messieh came he would bring out of the tribes those who were true believers and followers of God. The true Messianic movement begins with Jesus. He is called Jesus Messieh, or Jesus Christ to validate his identity.
Jesus observed the Law and was totally without blame. He was sinless. He broke no Commandments. Why? Because if he had broken any law or ordinance he would have sinned and could not be our spotless sacrifice. Some think because Jesus kept and observed the Law, they should also. This is the first danger of the false messianic movement.
The false messianic movement places great emphasis on Law-keeping. But they do not observed the entire Laws of the Commandments. They do not observe any of the laws demanding the death penalty. So, they break the very laws of commandments and ordinances they claim to keep. The false messianic movement does not put to death any of those many adulterers and fornicators among them. They do not put to death any of the sabbath breakers. They do not put to death witches. In fact, they do not keep any of the Laws of Moses although they pretend to do so.
The early followers of Jesus were called disciples. Not until the Gentile Church in Antioch were they called Christians. Now we understand Christian to be the same thing as Messiehian. Meaning allegedly those who follow Jesus as the Messieh. So, the names Messieh, Messianic, and Christian, are not evil. It is when these are stolen by false religious groups that they become questionable. These names are used to deceive. For instance, when the future antichrist comes to Israel he will claim he is the Messieh of David's seedline. He will use the name Messieh to deceive. Likewise with the use of Messianic and even Christian by those who are false but want to appear legitimate and true.
The first Church was indeed Messianic. From Acts chapter 1 all the way to Acts 15, the messianic message of Jesus was carried throughout Israel and into Gentile nations. There was at this time those of the Pharisees who came among the disciples but in whose heart there was no commitment to the New Testament order. They wanted to bring in their traditions, their legalism, their strict keeping of the Law. But the Apostles were not taught by Jesus during their three and one half years of spiritual education, that they were Ministers of the Law. They were not schooled in Temple politics and religious legalisms. They were not indoctrinated into strict law-keeping and enforcing the death penalty. Instead they were introduced to forgiveness, compassion, mercy, grace, love, and to the high and noble gift of salvation without the deeds of the law.
Yes, Jesus could say to a blind sinful Jew: "thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 8:42). Yes, he could say to a sinful woman: "neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more" (John 8:11). Jesus revealed in these and other cases that his mercy was not attached to law-keeping. His love was not reserved for those who kept the Ten Commandments. And he did not have a special blessing to those who observed the sabbath. Herein, we see Jesus offering compassion and salvation to those who under the Law had no hope. Because of this revelation in the life and ministry of Jesus, the New Testament is founded upon grace. And when we get to Calvary and witness the Messieh crucified, his forgiveness of them all, we know grace reigns supreme over the curse of the Law.
Herein is the great dangers of the false messianic movement. They believe by returning to strict law-keeping they get closer to God. They believe they are made holy by law-keeping which the Blood of Jesus could not do for them. So, they look for their own brand of holiness in law-keeping while many of the women are Jezebels and many of the men are adulterers. These legalist turn against everyone who refuses to come under that yoke of bondage.
The Pharisees birthed the false messianic movement and in fact split the first church. The evil and bad spirit came into the Antioch Church. They went to the Gentiles and told the men, they had to be circumcised. And once they were circumcised they were compelled to keep all the Laws of Moses. Now we are to understand here that the Antioch Church was already Holy Ghost filled. The members had already been baptized in Jesus name. And they were already a holiness people. They were SAVED! They had been saved by grace through faith (Acts 2:38). Now here come some Pharisees, recently converted, and they were now going to take over doctrine in the Church and usurp authority away from the Apostles.
The leaders of the Antioch Church were very wise. They did not make a change in doctrine because some men dressed in Jewish get-up came and said they now had to be law-keepers or they were not saved. Herein is a great danger of those in the false messianic movement. Salvation by Jesus is not good enough. In fact a person cannot be saved by Jesus alone. Even if a person claims they are saved, the false messianic movement will tell them they are not, until they return to law-keeping. The Antioch leaders sent messengers to Jerusalem. This shows wisdom. They did not accept the law-keeping Pharisees. They kept their doctrine out of the Church. They wanted Jerusalem to tell them the doctrines for them to keep.
Acts 15 and the convention in Jerusalem sets the record straight on Law Keeping. Any church, pastor, or group who go into law-keeping and who do not abide in the Apostolic doctrine of Acts 15 are apostate. These are a great danger to Churches and people of the nations.
No where in Acts 15 are the Gentiles told to keep the Law. No where are they told to observe the sabbath. No where are they told to put on Jewish style garments. No where are they told to use the six-pointed star of Remphan, and no where are they told they must keep the old feast days or be circumcised. The dangers of the false messianic movement can be easily seen.
The Apostle Paul wrote the book of Galatians after the Acts 15 convention. Some Pharisee law-keepers had come into that region preaching Gentiles had to be circumcised and keep the Law. Paul already knew the doctrine of Jerusalem. He knew what had been sent to Antioch. So he knew how to deal with the false messianic movement that placed focus on legalism and law-keeping.
It is believed by many scholars that this false messianic movement, also called the "Judaizers," was the birth of the Ebonite group. These eventually went off into snake dance worship as part of their rituals. This is where another flag goes up the flag pole with the false messianic movement. They go quickly into rituals. They adopt ritualistic dances they copy from apostate Jews believing they are from God. No, they are from ancient worship of Baal. Google circle dances and take a look at the same body movements used in witchcraft used among these law-keepers. These body movements are not Christian dances found in the New Testament. They began to chant ritualistic prayers. And when women rise to rule over the group, the spirit of witchcraft is channeled in so-called prophets and prophetesses. Members are put under the cultic spells of threats, of damnation, of death, or excommunication. Those who refuse to follow the rituals. Who refuse to participate in circle dances, who will not repeat the chants, are thrown out. Families are destroyed as the cult power works its way over men, women, and children. This is a great danger of the false messianic movement.
What do the false messianic movements do that are deceiving, cultic, and a great danger?
1.) They engage in ritual prayers (holding hands in a circle), chants, and circle dancing;
2.) They reject the name of Jesus as the name of a pig god and begin using Yahweh, Yahshua, or Yeshua;
3.) They begin sabbath keeping and damn all who worship on sunday;
4.) They begin to observe all the Old Testament feast days;
5.) They start trying to dress like they are Jewish wearing the tallit and kipah;
6.) They deny salvation is in Jesus alone, that a person must also keep the law to be saved;
7.) They reject Paul and call him a false apostle;
8.) They reject Paul's books: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews.
9.) They preach another Gospel that Paul did not preach;
10.) They preach another Jesus that Paul did not preach;
11.) They teach the Talmud and the Kabbalah (witchcraft mysticism);
12.) They place Kabbalah emblems throughout their meeting places;
13.) They become very cruel and hateful to those who refuse to accept their concision doctrines;
14.) They teach for doctrine the commandments of men;
15.) They place women over members of the church and give them authority men alone should have;
16.) They replace baptism in Jesus name (Acts 2:38), and insert the name Yahweh, Yahshua, or Yeshua or some other guess name;
17.) They practice both male and female circumcision (female depending on the cult);
18.) They offer up animal sacrifices (some do not but fellowship with those who do);
19.) They celebrate Communion with old Passover emblems and not with unleavened bread and wine (also footwashing);
20.) They believe in polygamy and or fellowship those who do (allowing legalized adultery and fornication);
21.) They allow young girls under the age of 13 to be secretly married to religious leaders;
22.) Men will wear tallit prayer shawls with knotts that represent all the laws in the Old Testament;
23.) They teach a whole new vocabulary of Jewish words to embellish law-keeping that makes many who are fascinated by Jewishness believe they are doing things the first Christians did. This is a great deception and a danger. These rituals of prayers and words are not used by Jesus, the Apostles, or the first disciples. They are as false as a Catholic mass with all its Latin words and ritual.
24.) Women and young girls are forced to wear head coverings. These become more a symbol of submission to the false messianic movement then it does humility to God. It is a great danger to women and girls to be told if they do not wear these head coverings they are cursed and God will not hear their prayers or receive their worship;
25.) They make use of all sorts of cow, ram, goat, and fake horns to blow and act like they are being real Biblical:
26.) They worship the tetragrammaton YHVH or YHWH above the name of Jesus;
27.) Many men wear garments with all sorts of knots in fringes around their shirts;
28.) They make use of the Menorah, but do so in a false way. This is wrong use of a right emblem. They do not use it to represent Jesus;
29.) For the most part, these law-keepers are not holiness people. They are a mixture of all kinds of religion. Next week they may transmute into something completely different than what they are today. They are not people with stable and consistent doctrine, faith, practice, conduct, and order.If you are in a law-keeping assembly leave immediately.
If you cannot leave, withdraw from participation in all of the worship and rituals.
If they cast you out as evil, rejoice, for so did the false law-keepers to the Prophets, Jesus, Apostles, and early Believers.
If you do not know what to do, call me and I will try to help you.The grace of our Lord Jesus Messieh be with us all.
Check out: Tallit or Jesus
Pastor G. Reckart
813-277-4005
