If your life is not in jeopardy for what you
believe, you’re probably on the wrong side!
“Indeed, all who want
to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted.” (2Tim 3:12)
It is what you actually believe that determines how you walk out your faith,
“but avoid stupid controversies, genealogies,
quarrels and fights about the Torah; because they are worthless and
futile.” (Titus 3:9)
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Please Note: Absolutely nothing on this website should be taken as anti-Church. I am not anti-anything or anyone. I am only pro-Torah and pro-Truth (see “Philosophy”), but sometimes the Truth upsets our long-held beliefs. I know it certainly upset mine! For example, see “Why Isn’t My Theology Consistent Throughout the Website?”
Shalom! Welcome to my website!
 Rav. Dr. Rickard Levitt-Sawyer (Ari ben Gavriel ha Levi) ThM, ThD, DMin, MA, MBA Messianic Theologian |
The opinions expressed on this website are those of the author alone, and are not intended to represent the opinion of any other individual or any group of Believers. [If you disagree with my opinions and interpretations, please click here before you try to contact me.]
As someone has rightly said, “Wherever there are two Jews, there will be three opinions.” While I view myself as a Messianic Jew, there are those who actually have the audacity to dispute even my own opinion of who I am. Some of my friends [and many of my detractors] who are “very Jewish” say that I am not a Jew at all because I believe that Israel’s Messiah has already come and will come again; others who are “very Gentile” say that I have “abandoned the Christian faith” (which I have) and turned to “Galatianism” (i.e. Legalism; Torah observance to gain salvation), which I have not.
Some others would say that I cannot even be a true “Messianic” because I follow a literal, historical, grammatical, and somewhat-dispensational approach to interpreting the Scriptures. In spite of the fact that the terms “Hebrew,” “Israelite,” and “Jew” are often used interchangeably in the Scriptures to refer to the descendants of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya`akov (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), some have actually informed me that I am not a Jew at all, but rather a “Hebrew” because the term “Jew” literally refers only to the physical descendants of Ya`akov’s son Yehudah (Judah). Nearly every descendants of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Ya`akov on this planet refers to him/herself as a “Jew” — and so do I!
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Simply suffice it to say that my genealogical record demonstrates that I am a physical descendant of Avraham, Yitzhak, Ya`akov (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), and most likely, Levi. The blood of the Patriarchs flows in my veins, which makes me genetically an Israelite, period! Since many Jewish Sages claim that my ancestor Avraham (who was a Gentile from Persia) was “the first Jew,” I have no reservations about referring to myself as a Jew. I believe that Yeshua HaNatseret is Israel’s Messiah, God the Son Himself come in the flesh, which makes me a follower of Messiah, which in turn makes me Messianic. After over 40 years of leadership in traditional Gentile churches, I have come to the personal conclusion that the only valid, Biblical form of Judaism is that which recognizes Yeshua HaNatseret as Mashiach, and the only valid, Biblical form of “Christianity” is that which acknowledges its proper place as being “grafted into” (not “replacing”) Israel, and therefore entitled to participate fully in the Torah and the Covenants.
The “Messianic Restoration Movement” is many things, but one of its many key elements is the work to restore the lost Hebraic nature of true Biblical faith. Sometimes this is called returning to our Jewish roots and so, in part, it is. But it is more. The Most High gave an eternal style to our ancient faith that would be unmistakable in the world as belonging to Him. His people were to be His own and to be His unique witness to the world. We are to be a chosen people, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
One of the worst things that could happen to the people of ADONAI is to assimilate into the world’s fashion: to think like the world thinks and to follow the world’s lead. Our purpose is to lead the world to worship and obey the Almighty. With such a task before us we must be assimilation proof. We must reflect the ancient ways He gave us, else how can we show that we have something different and better to offer the world.
Please join us in the effort to remain a holy, unique people for the glory of ADONAI. Let us together peaceably fight the good fight against assimilation by this evil world system.
It is the purpose of this web site to present Yeshua HaMashiach as King of Kings and LORD of Lords to both Jew and non-Jew alike, so that “your name may be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Thank you, and shalom b'Mashiach.
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Eagerly watching
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 My Vision of the Restored Temple to be King Messiah’s Headquarters |
“So remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and turn from your sin! For if you don’t wake up, I will come like a thief; and you don’t know at what moment I will come upon you. … He who wins the victory will, like them, be dressed in white clothing; and I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life; in fact, I will acknowledge him individually before my Father and before His angels. … Here, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If someone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with Me. I will let him who wins the victory sit with me on my throne, just as I Myself also won the victory and sat down with my Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:3,5,20-21, CJB)
Yet those who wait for ADONAI will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:31, CJB)
... that He may send Yeshua, haMashiach appointed for you, Whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. (Acts 3:20-21, CJB)
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