How I Came To Abandon “Torah Keeping”

My journey as a believer has taken me through more than my share of denominations and movements. Five in all. They each had unique biblical insights and truths to offer, so each was a helpful step in my growth in understanding…until they no longer were. I typically moved on when the errors they taught became obvious and too overwhelming to put up with.

The particular phase I was in during in the early 2000’s goes by various names such as Messianic Judaism, Hebrew Roots, Two House and “Torah Keeping.” It involves keeping as much the 613 commandments in the Torah or five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) as one can. The mainstay of these commandments is the Sabbath and the biblical feasts of Leviticus 23 (popularly known mostly as the Jewish holidays) and avoiding unclean meats.

I’m glad I got into Torah keeping. Through it I came to understand a lot more of the Bible than I did before, especially in the area of Bible prophecy. Yet after a few years, diminishing returns set in and more errors came to light, just as I experienced in all other movements/denominations.

Most importantly, I found myself unable to accept that all the Torah were what that Jesus and others in the NT referred to as  the (universal) “commandments of God” (1Jo 5:2-3).

A few people have asked me lately how this came about. Here’s a brief summary:

1) I tried to practice it here in Costa Rica and saw not only was I unsure always on how to do it (calendar wars, Sabbath restriction debates, etc.), but even the ways I thought to try to keep the days God was not providing a way to do it. This seemed odd if I sincerely wanted to obey him and he wanted me to do it, that he was not blessing me with a way to do so.

Likewise, nobody else was really was “keeping Torah.” Instead of doing it all like Israel, they were all picking and choosing what parts God would hold them accountable to do. For example, I didn’t know anyone who went to Jerusalem for Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles as was required on all men. “Oh, well we can’t afford to do that, so God must wink at that one…”

2) I kept studying and seeing many verses that contradicted the Torah keeping premise. Timothy was circumcised not because “it was required on all” but to “please the Jews there.” Acts 15 was getting harder and harder to twist from its more plain reading (see http://www.gci.org/acts/decree1 http://www.gci.org/acts/decree2 ). Galatians was also hard to keep explaining away.

3) I finally learned about the rule of audience and saw how much Christian and Messianic exegesis depends on ignoring the specific audience spoken to and lifting it and making it universal. The audience of Torah was ancient Israel under Moses. You have to prove it is for someone else, not assume it is. (This audience point is a real bombshell because it destroys most of Christian doctrine based on NT passages to specific audiences, like the Great Commission given to the apostles.)

Once I stopped focusing on attempting to do something that was impossible for me to do, an interesting thing happened. While reading the Gospels, I began to notice what Jesus had been wanting for us all along. He never once told people to “keep Torah” (as Torah teachers claim) or defined the Torah as the “commandments of God” that are referenced in the NT (1Jo 5:2-3)  He instead told people to trust God and to love your neighbor as yourself as the universal commandments of God. By loving your neighbor because it’s God’s will, you are obeying and loving God. He said that living that way fulfilled the Torah and the Prophets (the entire Hebrew Bible) and gave you eternal life.

Hebrew Roots had failed to explain what Jesus wanted for us to do, just as all the other denominations I had been in did. It did not put the emphasis on “doing for others what you would want done for you,” as Jesus did (Mt 7:12).

These days I just seek to fulfill the will of God for all men as Jesus himself expressed it. To be sure, loving your neighbor is not as stimulating or interesting as Torah keeping is, so it’s not likely to catch on. It even seems too simple to be correct coming from a 613 commandment Torah-keeping view. But when you make loving God and your neighbor your focus, you find it’s not so easy as it simple. It’s even more challenging than Torah keeping was.

America’s Fall: Why Does “Nobody” Buy the Merchants’ Goods “Anymore” After?

This post is about an interesting question in regards to my article Will America Crash Economically or Recover? — Bible’s Bittersweet Answer. (Note: If after reading the above article you still doubt Mystery Babylon the Great refers to America, check out 60 proofs America is Babylon.

Many people believe America is doomed to suffer an economic collapse worse than the Great Depression. They point to several reasons to support this view. A popular one cited is the shift of domestic manufacturing overseas. America once had a great manufacturing base. For example, it was a key factor in winning World War II. With the loss of that base, people assume America must go downhill. Sound familiar?

Here’s the question off that premise:

Reader Question: Loss of Manufacturing Base to Asia Reason For All the Merchant Ships?

This is an observation I have had for quite some time concerning your take on America’s financial status in the global community. When referring to the many ship captains and their vessels sitting out of port on the day of Mystery Babylon’s destruction and lamenting her destruction (Rev 18:17,18,19) – I believe you use this picture to explain away a great economic collapse which predicates the “single day destruction.”

My question to you is, due to the fact that America has forfeited her manufacturing base to Asia, wouldn’t it make sense for there to be many ship captains awaiting port of call regardless of America’s financial status? That is, whether markets are “up or down,” we need lots of ships on a daily cycle to maintain food, fuel and dry goods. Therefore, couldn’t Mystery Babylon’s destruction occur AFTER a major hit on our economy or at best, occur at a time of financial malaise?

Inquiring minds just gotta know!

My Answer: America’s Diversified, Top Wealth-Producing Economy

Maybe it’s time to shift our paradigm about the importance of a “manufacturing base?” Despite the importance people like to place on manufacturing, we’re still the world’s economic leader after supposedly losing the mantle of being the manufacturing leader. Why? We have a diversified high-tech information and manufacturing economy now. We’re still the wealthiest nation.

Remember, the merchant ships only come because we have “wealth seeking goods” as the economists say. And not just a little like a financial malaise would demand, but so many goods are bought here that these merchants are made rich by their trade with America the Babylon. As Revelation 18 plainly says, this prosperous trade scenario continues until the day America is burned with fire which is why sea-faring merchants are off the coast witnessing the burning and weeping for the great loss.

Why do they cry so badly? It’s not a small loss or even a partial loss. It’s a complete loss of their business…

“Nobody Buys Their Merchandise Anymore”??

Revelation says NOBODY buys their goods anymore (Rev 18:11). They’re not just out of business with America but with everyone. How come? If only America is destroyed why does this stop everyone from buying from the merchants?

I just understood how to explain this mysterious verse last year. When America is destroyed, the dollar is no longer a backed currency. Just imagine what would happen if the world’s reserve currency became worthless everywhere suddenly? It would bring global economic collapse beyond anything we’ve seen. Talk about pulling the rug out from under everyone. It would spell the end of prosperous commerce like we are accustomed to today (until the Beast rises and restores it – Mt 24:38-39)

Therefore, it well be doubly good for people to “move forth from the land of Babylon” not just for the fiery destruction but for the global pandemonium that will ensue. I’ve been thinking for a long time Elijah will warn people to flee Babylon and all nations at the same time since America’s fall is so catastrophic to the world and Wormwood is coming so soon after. Imagine people trying to travel to flee Babylon in a global meltdown? It will be tough for those who wait because they adopted a “wait and see” approach the Elijah’s warning.

Follow-up Comment:

That would make sense being that most of the world is capitalizing on “Mystery Babylon’s” buying power. If one feeds the neighbors big bad dog they shouldn’t be surprised to end up missing a hand or a few fingers. The “ripple effect” would indeed be catastrophic. Thanks for your timely response Timotheus!

Where Is The Third Temple Prophesied?

Many Christians consider the rebuilding of the Temple and restarting of animal sacrifices not a prophetic sign, but an affront to Christ and the church (the “real” temple?). If you learn what the Book of Hebrews says is the actual purpose of the Temple and sacrifices, the plain prophecies about them coming again will make more sense. Discover what must happen first before Temple construction can begin, what prophecy may bring it, when it happens in relation to the 70th week, and what if anything you should do when you see the Third Temple rebuilt.

Continue reading to find out what you need to know about the coming Third Temple.