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During the latter part of the 19th century, Leopold Cohen was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Berezna, Eastern Hungary. This was during an intense period of turmoil in Europe that generated a deep longing for material stability and religious freedom. Traditional Judaism was the foundation of daily life, and there was great zeal for the Torah (Law of Moses). Leopold Cohen became a rabbi, and there began a life long quest for spiritual truth and knowledge about the Messiah
During his rabbinic studies, messianic scriptures contained in the Tanach (Old Testament) caused Cohen to yearn for even more knowledge about the promised Messiah. He fervently searched the scriptures, asked questions of other Rabbi’s, but still could find no satisfactory answers to his questions. One Rabbi even advised him to go to America where “they know more about the Messiah”! So Rabbi Cohen came to America to continue his quest for knowledge of his Messiah.
After much study, soul searching, prayer, and internal conflict, Rabbi Cohen could arrive at no other conclusion than to accept that Yeshua (Jesus) was indeed the Messiah. Armed with this conviction, and at the leading of God, he knew that he had to share this discovery with his fellow Jews. This was in itself a bold step, since even the mere mention of the name of Jesus could cause him to lose his position and stature within the Orthodox community. Rabbi Cohen is quoted as saying, concerning his work, “I showed them from the Scriptures that to believe in Yeshua was Jewish faith, real Jewish faith”, which became the guiding principal of his ministry.
Leopold Cohen founded his ministry in 1894, in a store front which was a renovated horse stable, located in Brownsville, Brooklyn. The first meeting was attended by 8 Jewish people, and during his lifetime, Leopold Cohen led over 1,000 people to their Messiah. His ministry became know as the “American Board of Missions to the Jews”, and is now called “Chosen People Ministries”.
The “American Board of Missions to the Jews” was the launching pad for the modern day Messianic movement. Their grass roots ministry spawned many converts and missionaries, who braved much persecution and hardship for their newfound faith. Among them was a young Jewish girl named Clara. Clara attended Bible studies at the “American Board”, developed a deep love for Jesus, and let everyone within earshot know about it. She married Joseph Rubin, who also loved his Messiah, and they dedicated their lives to sharing Jesus with both Jew and Gentile, as lifelong missionaries for the “American Board”.
In the 1970’s, Clara and Joe Rubin established home Bible studies at their own home, and at other homes on Long Island, much to the dismay of local Jewish congregations. It was at one of these home Bible studies, and through their deep love and caring, that this writer came to know Jesus, Israel’s Messiah, as his Lord and Saviour, and developed a deep love for God’s Chosen People.
Jew’s who embrace Jesus as Messiah are never well received within the Jewish community, but in those years it was a real trial. Joe Rubin, who recently went home to be with Messiah, once shared with me how his family held a funeral service for him, and erected a head stone at a cemetery, counting his as dead to them, for accepting Jesus. In spite of persecution, and because of their long suffering and steadfastness, many new ministries and pastors came out of those meeting. They were also instrumental, directly and indirectly, in helping to establish many well know outreaches, including “Jews for Jesus”, “Beth Yeshua” and “American Messianic Missions”.
Clara Rubin is now retired and living in Florida, but still has that same zeal for her Messiah that was felt by all that knew her. The work of Rabbi Cohen, and missionaries like Clara and Joe Rubin were the beginning of the modern messianic movement, which will play an important role in the fulfillment of end time prophecy. Their statement of faith was, and remains Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah, for it is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”.
We are told in the Book of Revelation, that after the opening of the Sixth Seal, God will raise up and seal 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Rev. 7: 3-9) Their job will be to warn the world of the impending judgement, and to share the Gospel with the lost, as the sands of time come to an end, and bring us to the threshold of eternity.
Scripture tells us that there would always be a believing remnant of Jews who would believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but not many years ago, we would be hard pressed to explain where God would find 144,000 Jews who had come to faith. Of course, God could just “cause” a multitude of Jews to believe, but that is now how God usually does things. God intervenes in the natural course of events and circumstance, using people, to bring about His desired end.
Just as God used Abraham to bring the Hebrew’s, God’s Chosen People, into existence, and Moses, to lead them out of bondage into the Promised Land, He used Leopold Cohen and others to bring about the Messianic movement out of which God will soon call the 144,000. Through the faithfulness and testimony of His servants, God brings about His will, and we can see His hand at work every time we open a newspaper or turn on the evening news.
There are some who question the identity of the 144,000 that God has promised to raise up. Some cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons claim that they are the 144,000! Others who believe that God is through with Israel claim that the church is the 144,000. Will the real 144,000 please stand up!
It is hard to believe that anyone who has so much as read the scripture could support either of these false positions. The scripture could not be clearer! The 144,000 that are sealed by God, and raised up as His servants, after the opening of the Sixth Seal are from “all of the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev.7:4). God even goes into detail about how many will come from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. Do those who claim to be the 144,000 have these credentials? Is God mistaken? Do the math!
For almost 2,000 years since the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Messiah Jesus, there has always been a small remnant of believing Jews. But, during the last generation, God has used Jewish and Gentile men and women of faith, with a messianic vision, to lead a multitude of Jewish folk to faith in Jesus. Today we can see the evidence of their conversion in believing Synagogues, Messianic Churches, ministries, and even a small number of Gentile churches. Not by coincidence, all this has taken place in the last days, just prior to Jesus’ returns to establish His Messianic Kingdom on Earth!
Ron Cusano
Shiloh Ministries
Please visit the new Shiloh Ministries website at: www.Shiloh-Ministries.org which includes a “Message Board” for your comments or questions!
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