Who Are the Messianic Hebrews

As you already know, the term Hebrew refers to Abraham and his descendants, which is who we are. The modern world refers to us all as Jews. The term Jew ( a nickname of Yahudah), actually, pertains to only one of the twelve tribes of Ya'acob, that occupied the southern part of Canaan, later called Palestine (from Philistine) by the Greeks, and now Israel, since 1948. After our return from captivity some of our people went to Yemen, South Africa, Ethiopia (where some had already resided, since the days of Solomon), but most of them resettled in Palestine and rebuilt their ancient capital Yerushalayim. The northern twelve tribes, that were taken away in 712 B.C., remained scattered abroad in their majority. Elohim had dispersed our people to the four corners of the world, from continental Africa, to Europe, and even the Americas. We also know that those that lived in Elephantine, Egypt, moved to Ethiopia after the fall of Egypt to the Romans.

In due time, Elohim sent Yahshua, His Salvation, as He had promised our forefathers. He provided a way of reconciliation between man and the Creator, through the shedding of His blood. But most of our people did not receive Him. Those who did, however, continued to this day in the Faith which was delivered to the Apostles once and for all. As Covenant Keepers and People of the Book, we have not replaced the Torah by a New Testament book, like Christians do. We keep Torah and we also walk in the traditions of the Apostles and first century believers, as found in the Messianic Books. For us, there is only one book from Genesis to Revelation. The first part announces the mysteries and coming of Yahshua; the second part shows the fulfillment thereof, and informs us about future world events, collaboratively with the Prophets.

In time, the world has conferred on all of us the name of those of the tribe of Yahudah, the Yahudim (Jews). It is because as the western civilization was taking shape under the preeminence of the Roman Empire, the Southern Kingdom of Yahudah is what they had been dealing with. It was that kingdom that was re-established as the western world was rising to prominence over the Mesopotamian and middle-eastern civilizations. In Palestine Judah was the center of Rome's authority. The term Jew, however, is a little bit more restrictive and somewhat misguided since it doesn't tell the whole story. The fact is, nowadays, people have been misled by blind, ignorant, and ethnocentric Rabbis, to confuse Jews with Judaism. In modern Yisrael, you are not considered a Jew by the Orthodox Judaists unless one is converted to their brand of Judaism. Jews, however, are an ethnic Israelite group. Judaism is said to be the religion of Judah, although there is no such terminology in the Torah. Being Jewish is not equivalent to being a Judaist. A Jew is an Israelite, but an Israelite is not a Jew, necessarily. All Jews and Israelites are Hebrews. The tribe of Benjamin became known as Jews only because they had joined the tribe of Judah after the rebellion against Rehoboam. Some of the Levites went to Judah, but the rest of them did not.

The Book of Romans 9: 7-8 speak of all believers in Yahshua as the only true Children of Abraham; which means that Gentiles or not, in Yahshua we are all the true Israelites. An unconverted physical Jew or Hebrew is regarded, biblically, as a Gentile. Romans 2: 28-29 says that "he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is one in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit." Therefore we, too, had to accept Yahshua in order to become a True 'Jew', through faith and repentance, like every Gentile, so that no one praises the works of the flesh.

We prefer the term Hebrew because it stands for all the descendants of Abraham, father of Ishmael as well as Isaac (who were not Jews), without respect to color and country of modern origin in the worldwide Diaspora. It describes also all those from among the Gentiles (goyim) who, like Abraham, cross over to join Israel in the One faith of Yahshua Ha Mashiach (Is.56: 8). Our belief in Messiah makes us Messianic, as opposed to Catholics, Judaists, Hindus, Mormons, Christians, etc... Disciples of Yahshua are Messianic Hebrews.

Keep in mind that many who call themselves Messianic Jews are in fact Christians (whether of Jewish stock or not) that do things with a Jewish flavor.

"If you can count the stars of heaven, then your shall be able to count your children, Abraham."