Feast of Tabernacles - The Festival of the Millennium (Zechariah 14)

The minor prophets are small in length but amazingly full of important insights into God's relationship with His Chosen People. From the unique command for Hosea to honor his marriage commitment to the harlot Gomer to the promises of a glorious future Temple in Haggai, the minor prophets are anything but insignificant.

One of the most stirring passages found in the closing texts of the Old Testament (Tanakh), you know those books that are never preached from by most preachers(!), is found in Zechariah 14. This passage invites the reader into a promise and hope of the ultimate Festival of Sukkot (Booths). This final and penultimate festival of this present age is more commonly known as the millennial reign of Messiah Jesus which begins after casting of Satan into the bottomless pit found in Revelation 20.

However, when one first begins to read Zechariah 14 one is struck with the desperateness of the situation for the Jewish people. They are surrounded. They are alone.

They are defenseless (vs. 1-2). It is at this point that Adonai (Jehovah or Yahweh) comes to the rescue not as the cavalry of Western movies but as the King of Kings of Revelation 19. This glorious arrival is noted by several unique aspects including the absence of natural light, for God himself will be our light and hope (vs. 6-7). Another unique twist to His arrival is that the geography of the Holy Land changes to reflect the power of His arrival (v. 3-5, 8-11). In other words, Jesus' arrival changes everything!

The joy of the millennial reign is somewhat tempered by the fact that those who do not rejoice and celebrate His victory properly will experience drought and desolation (vs. 16-19). This admonition is difficult to comprehend as most cannot imagine experiencing zealous happiness at the arrival of the Lord. However, Scripture reminds us that even in the presence of total victory some will rebel against the Holy One of God.

Ultimately, Zechariah 14 promises a party that will last 1,000 years for all those who believe in Messiah Jesus! This will be one Sukkot (Festival of Booths) for the ages.

The Stumbling Block of the Trinity - How to Answer the Impossible ???

Mystery Solved?: Who is the Jewish Messiah? is now available for evangelism! It is ready for you to use in reaching your Jewish friends, co-workers, relatives, neighbors, etc., etc. with the truth that Jesus is the Messiah for the entire world ... including and especially the Jewish people.

Request your copy today. And all that Tzedakah Ministries asks is that you do not put this evangelistic DVD tract on a shelf but give it away to a Jewish person who, whether they realize it or not, desperately need to receive Jesus as Messiah.

But be warned ... when you "cross this Rubicon" of witnessing to a Jewish person difficult questions will follow. Questions related to the Holocaust and so-called Christian involvement in this horror. Questions related to the uniqueness claims of Christianity as opposed to the politically correct view that all religions ultimately lead to God. The most difficult set of questions, however, will revolve around the question of the Trinity.

The doctrine of the Trinity (the three in one aspect of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) is a difficult theological mountain for even most believers in Jesus to comprehend. So just how are we supposed to explain to those who automatically consider it to be nothing else but a form of polytheism?

In fact, a charge of polytheism was the specific accusation that was tossed my direction in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Sarah told me that I believed in three gods and not the one God like she did by being a good Jewish woman.

The boarding call came too soon for anything beyond a cursory explanation of why the Trinity is not only true but also found in the Old Testament. Yet this brief conversation sticks with me as it illustrates how important it is for Christians to know both the truths of their own faith and all the Jewish objections to Jesus ... especially regarding the issue of the Trinity.

Therefore, I have a question for you - could you explain the Trinity to another Christian much less a Jewish person?

Therefore, the work of Tzedakah Ministries for the rest of this year, 2008 and beyond if necessary is to equip you to be better equipped to answer the impossible questions of the Trinity. The January issue of the newsletter will begin the task of illuminating the truth of the Trinity through Old Testament passages. The April issue of the newsletter will consider the possibility that even Jewish writings (Talmud and/or Zohar) advocate the possibility of a multi-faceted component to God.

The July 2008 issue will consider the damage that Maimonides, the Jewish scholar of the Middle Ages, caused in allowing the Jewish people to develop a proper perspective of God himself and consequently the doctrine of the Trinity.

Tzedakah Ministries also has the goal for 2008 to prepare tracts and booklets dealing with these issues in a more in-depth manner. When they are ready, you will be the first to know.

However, I do not want to leave you without at least one nugget to consider. Take the time to study the "US" verses of the Old Testament. As you meditate on these verses ask yourself this one question - just who is the "US" of Genesis 1:26; 3:22; 11:7; and Isaiah 6:8? Shalom!

Consideration of the Messianic Movement (Part 2)

I engage in something that causes my blood pressure to rise and my patience tolerance to be lowered dramatically. So just what is this dangerous action ... blog reading.

Blogs are dangerous as they can cause the mind to explode. However, they also can reveal the confusion and various opinions which exist on controversial issues. One particular issue important to the cause of Jewish evangelism and missions is the question of the level of Torah observance within Messianic Judaism. In other words, is continual practice of Torah law important for Jewish people who become believers in Jesus as Messiah? An often asked secondary question is ... do Gentiles themselves need to engage in the practice of holding diligently to Torah regulations?

Before both questions can be answered; however, it is important to acknowledge that Torah observance to a person in the 21st century might not be the same type that Paul observed in the 1st century Jewish world.

I believe it is this codicil which must be remembered in answering these controversial questions. The freedom from the law that Paul affirms in Romans and Galatians is to remind us that when we require something in addition to the Gospel for salvation we are lessening the grace that Messiah Jesus gave to us on the cross. Therefore, those within the Messianic blog world who call for observance need to remember that grace might not have come first, but it did come and it is sufficient!