Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: An Interview with Nancy Petrey

Jewish Roots of Christianity Explored

Welcome to a special segment of our blog where we delve into the fascinating intersection of Christianity and its Jewish roots. Today, we feature an enlightening interview with Nancy Petrey, a passionate advocate for understanding the Hebraic roots of Christianity. Nancy is a dedicated musician, an impressive student of the Bible, and the co-founder of Mizpah for Israel, a ministry aimed at educating Christians about their Jewish heritage.

Introduction to Nancy Petrey

Nancy Petrey, alongside Janice Horwitz Bell, established Mizpah for Israel in 2002. Nancy holds a master’s degree in religious education with a focus on the Middle East, making her a go-to expert on the Old Testament and its connections to the New Testament. Her ministry emphasizes the importance of understanding the Jewish roots of Christian faith and the prophetic insights contained within.

The Importance of Pentecost

The interview kicks off with a discussion about the Christian holidays and their overshadowing by pagan traditions. Specifically, Nancy sheds light on Pentecost, a holiday that commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. She explains that Pentecost, or Shavuot in Hebrew, is rooted in the Jewish Feast of Weeks. This year, Pentecost falls on May 24th, coinciding with both the church and the biblical Jewish calendar.

Nancy elaborates on the significance of Pentecost, explaining how it marks the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. More importantly, it symbolizes the harvest of souls, as evidenced by the 3,000 men who were saved and baptized on the day of Pentecost.

The Connection Between Old and New Testament Feasts

Nancy provides a detailed explanation of how the seven annual feasts listed in Leviticus 23 form God's calendar of redemption. Jesus fulfilled the first four feasts with His first coming and will fulfill the final three with His second coming. Nancy highlights the fulfillment of Passover through Jesus' crucifixion, the Feast of Unleavened Bread through His sinless burial, and the Feast of Firstfruits through His resurrection.

The Jewish Calendar and Christian Celebrations

A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to understanding the differences between the Jewish and Christian calendars. The Jewish calendar is lunar-solar, with months based on the moon's cycles, while the Christian calendar is solar. This often leads to differences in the dates of religious celebrations. Nancy explains how Emperor Constantine's changes to the church calendar in the 4th century led to the separation of the Christian celebrations from their Jewish roots.

The Prophetic Significance of Jewish Feasts

Delving deeper into prophecy, Nancy discusses the three remaining feasts: Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). She explains their prophetic significance and how they relate to the second coming of Christ. Nancy also touches on the concept of Jubilee years and their potential prophetic implications.

The Role of Israel in End Times Prophecy

Nancy emphasizes the importance of Israel in end-times prophecy. She explains that the scattering and regathering of the Jewish people are part of God's plan, as prophesied in the Bible. The modern-day return of Jews to Israel, or Aliyah, is seen as a fulfillment of these prophecies. Nancy stresses that Christians should support Israel and recognize the integral role of the Jewish people in God’s redemptive plan.

Conclusion

Nancy’s insights remind us of the deep, intertwined roots of Christianity and Judaism. Understanding these connections enriches our faith and helps us grasp the full scope of God’s plan as revealed in the Bible. For those interested in delving deeper, Nancy’s book "Jewish Roots Journey: Memoirs of a Mizpah" is a valuable resource. You can also follow her writings on her blog, jewishrootsjourney.blogspot.com.

We hope this interview has inspired you to explore the Jewish roots of your faith and to embrace the rich heritage that connects us all.

Levallois Hamilton Testimony for Jesus

Levallois Hamilton's Powerful Testimony of Transformation

Levallois Hamilton, a talented Christian rapper, shares his incredible journey of faith - from a difficult childhood marred by homelessness, anger and poor choices, to a life fully surrendered to Jesus and dedicated to sharing the gospel through music. 

Though Levallois grew up in the church, his parents experienced deep hurt that led the family to drift away from God during Levallois' formative years. He struggled with a strained relationship with his stepfather and got involved with gangs, guns and juvenile detention. At his lowest points, Levallois had powerful encounters with God, including a prophetic word that he must dedicate his musical gifts to the Lord's purposes or face dire consequences. This was a wake-up call.

Despite ongoing challenges, including a period of homelessness in high school, Levallois persevered in his faith. He boldly shared the gospel and his rap talents with his peers. God opened remarkable doors, allowing him to minister in juvenile centers, schools, and even be recognized with local music awards. 

Levallois transparently shares his temptations and struggles, but returns again and again to the simple truth that full surrender to Jesus changes everything. His story is one of God's transforming power and grace to redeem anyone's story for His purposes. No one is beyond God's reach.

Now on fire for Jesus, Levallois uses his testimony to inspire others to go deeper in their faith and not turn back, no matter how the enemy tries to pull them away. His life is proof that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us, healing our brokenness and empowering us to live boldly for Him.

America's Spiritual Slumber: A Warning

Waking Up from Spiritual Slumber: A Prophetic Dream 

In a recent prophetic dream, I saw a stark picture of the current spiritual state of America. In the first part of the dream, I saw an American man sound asleep on the floor of a building, with large snakes weighing him down. The man had been asleep for so long that these grass snakes, while not poisonous, had grown to an enormous size of 6-8 feet long. 

This sleeping man represents how America has been in a state of spiritual slumber, allowing problems and evil influences to grow unchecked. While we've been "asleep", these snakes have crept in and are now weighing us down. There was also a black curtain in the room, obscuring my view of what lay behind it, indicating there are hidden forces at work that we cannot clearly see.

In the next part of the dream, I was driving an old truck that was nearly out of gas. The gas station I found was closed, the pump out of order. Desperately needing to fill up to make it home, I went into a shop looking for help, only to find it full of dusty, unused lawnmowers. 

The imagery of being out of gas connects to the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25, where oil represents the Holy Spirit. As Christians in America, we are running dangerously low on the power and presence of the Spirit in our lives and churches. The unused lawnmowers represent how we have neglected our God-given mandate to tend the "garden" and exercise dominion by dealing with the "snakes" that have crept in. 

While praying about this dream, I sensed the Lord saying that in many of our churches, we are just "running on embers" rather than the powerful fire of the Holy Spirit that characterized past revivals and awakenings. We desperately need sanctification and a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire to wake us up from our slumber. 

The good news is it's not too late for us to wake up! Like the disciples who fell asleep in the garden when Jesus asked them to watch and pray, we have the opportunity now to shake off our spiritual drowsiness. As the body of Christ, we need to link arms in unity, pray for cleansing and holiness, and cry out for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to empower us. Let's commit to watching, praying and tending the garden with renewed vigilance and zeal. Jesus is coming back soon - let's be ready, with our lamps filled and burning brightly!