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Identity Theft: How Jesus Was Robbed Of His Jewishness
Has the Messiah been robbed?
Supernatural visitations. Divine time travel. An age-old cover up.
In the middle of it all: One man miraculously transformed by Yeshua.
In an instant, David went from being a skeptical Jewish columnist to a desperate seeker of Truth. The catalyst was an angelic visitation--a moment that marked him forever.
David's quest spans numerous philosophies and religions, culminating with the Person of Yeshua - Jesus the Messiah. He is plummeted into a vigorous spiritual tug of war. Part of him is intrigued and fascinated by the Messiah, while another is plagued by guilt. How could a Jewish person like himself believe in Yeshua considering all the horrific acts that have been done to his ancestors in His name?
Author Ron Cantor, a gifted story-teller and authority on the Jewish Roots of the New Testament, takes you on an unforgettable tour of history as an angel supernaturally escorts David through the halls of time. You will soon discover that though atrocities have been committed in the name of Yeshua, the greatest crime of all may be against the Messiah Himself... a crime of identity theft.
Supernatural visitations. Divine time travel. An age-old cover up.
In the middle of it all: One man miraculously transformed by Yeshua.
In an instant, David went from being a skeptical Jewish columnist to a desperate seeker of Truth. The catalyst was an angelic visitation--a moment that marked him forever.
David's quest spans numerous philosophies and religions, culminating with the Person of Yeshua - Jesus the Messiah. He is plummeted into a vigorous spiritual tug of war. Part of him is intrigued and fascinated by the Messiah, while another is plagued by guilt. How could a Jewish person like himself believe in Yeshua considering all the horrific acts that have been done to his ancestors in His name?
Author Ron Cantor, a gifted story-teller and authority on the Jewish Roots of the New Testament, takes you on an unforgettable tour of history as an angel supernaturally escorts David through the halls of time. You will soon discover that though atrocities have been committed in the name of Yeshua, the greatest crime of all may be against the Messiah Himself... a crime of identity theft.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
38 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 6, 2013
Very interesting book with many head turning facts regarding the Jewishness of the disciples and the early church. Every Christian and Jew should read this book which brings back the original early church concepts, principles and truths.
May 6, 2019
Excellent book. Real anointing on it. The author obviously had a genuine spiritual experience. Among many other things, it is exciting how he describes the spiritual realm and spiritual wars.
He also speaks about loving and being grateful to the Messiah, in a real ongoing relationship, which is a mark of a true conversion, as opposed to cold statements of belief.
I only could not agree with the part about observing the Shabbath, but that's a small thing.
This book is great in explaining why the Jews reject Yeshua as their Messiah and how to understand them and present the message adequately to them.
He also speaks about loving and being grateful to the Messiah, in a real ongoing relationship, which is a mark of a true conversion, as opposed to cold statements of belief.
I only could not agree with the part about observing the Shabbath, but that's a small thing.
This book is great in explaining why the Jews reject Yeshua as their Messiah and how to understand them and present the message adequately to them.
September 27, 2017
The content of this novel is very good and Biblically accurate. I did not care for the visionary style of going back in time. Having had the opportunity to personally hear Ron Cantor speak, I know that he did not originally write the text in that style, but was encourage to do so by the publisher. I thought that the publisher's advice cheapened the quality of the story-line. Maybe a younger generation than mine would appreciate this style. The content of the book is very valuable in terms of leading non-believers, especially Jewish non-believers to faith in Yeshua as their Messiah.
Read
May 18, 2014Tough for me to give an objective review since I am familiar with all the material in this book. What I did enjoy was the reminder that one of the best historical evidences to the claims of Yeshua's atonement is the mention in the Talmud that for 40 years before the destruction of the Temple the crimson cord did not turn white!
May 1, 2019
IDENTITY THEFT
This is one of the most amazing and exciting books I have ever read. Riveting and full of life. I absolutely love this book as it left no stone unturned regarding Yeshua’s (Jesus) identity. Don’t hesitate just get your copy and read it then you will understand what I mean.
This is one of the most amazing and exciting books I have ever read. Riveting and full of life. I absolutely love this book as it left no stone unturned regarding Yeshua’s (Jesus) identity. Don’t hesitate just get your copy and read it then you will understand what I mean.
October 12, 2017
Awesome book.
I am honored to stumble into this book. Most of my believing friends in Korea are not familiar to, and not to mention, interested in messianic Jews. But I feel urged to introduce this book to local Christian communities. Wish me luck.
I am honored to stumble into this book. Most of my believing friends in Korea are not familiar to, and not to mention, interested in messianic Jews. But I feel urged to introduce this book to local Christian communities. Wish me luck.
November 27, 2020
I enjoyed, for the most part, reading this author's innovative way of presenting information about how the Messiah Jesus/Yeshua has been robbed of His Jewishness and why it's so important to have His true identity restored for both Jews and Christians.
June 15, 2020
Great content. Powerful information. The vehicle is rather cheesy, but I could overlook it.
December 27, 2020
Love this book
September 14, 2023
very insightful, didn't feel much like a fiction book but loved it
February 20, 2014
I am disappointed in this book and find many parts of it rather offensive. I am a Jew and I am also a Christian and I have read one other book by this author in the past that I enjoyed parts of, so I thought I would enjoy the book. But from the very beginning when the character David drinks some cappuccino in Starbucks and then sees an angel and finds himself mysteriously in a film viewing room to see scenes from the past, present and future, I wondered what they put in his cappuccino, I was offended by the imitation of "A Christmas Carol", and I found the whole premise really lame. Then, as David began to watch scenes from Biblical times and the crusades etc..., they were incredibly anachronistic, supposedly told by characters from the past, but infused with today's evangelical Christian point of view. I found it rather insulting that the author would think that none of his readers would recognize that. The author also shares the protestant view of the Roman Catholic Church and I would imagine that Catholics would find those parts of the book offensive. In this book, a Jewish boy about to be killed in the crusades thinks about the fact that the Christians believe that they will go to heaven but he wonders where he will go when they kill him. Really? For one thing, even if the kid had heard about the Christian beliefs, he would not be thinking about that when he was about to die and for another thing, heaven is a Christian concept, not a Jewish one and the child would most likely have been concerned about the fact that he was going to be killed and if it was going to be painful and he probably would have no thought at all about what might happen after he died. Later, "a woman, a precious woman" (how does "precious" look?) appears -Mary - who proceeds to tell David that it breaks God's heart and hers as well to have people pray to her and worship her. Again, even if Mary was in some sort of state in which she knew that people were praying to and worshipping her, would it break her heart and God's heart too and did they tell this to the author of this book? I personally don't believe in praying to Mary or any other dead person, but I still found that part of the book rather offensive and presumptuous.
I suppose that people who already share the author's point of view will enjoy this book, but I just had a really difficult time with it.
I suppose that people who already share the author's point of view will enjoy this book, but I just had a really difficult time with it.
August 20, 2013
One thing that has always puzzled me was how different Biblical names are in Chinese and English. Well, it's a little different in Japanese as well, but the Japanese pronunciation are actually quite similar to the Chinese pronunciation. Well, after reading Identity Theft, it hit me - the Chinese and Japanese names are transliterated from Hebrew/Greek, not English!
Identity Theft is based on a simple premise - the Jesus that we know today has been stripped of his Jewishness. And that is something that is hindering the Jews from coming to know him. From names that have been changed (think Miriam to Mary) to the idea of Peter as the Pope, the book provides a brief introduction to how Jesus has been stripped of his Jewishness.
The book isn't written in the normal non-fiction form. The narrative vehicle uses the experiences of a Jew called David as he's visited by and taught by an angel called Ariel. As a Messianic Jew, the author Ron Cantor used his experience, his struggle of being both Jewish and Christian to show how David struggled with belief in Christ.
Personally, I thought this book was eye-opening. I've always been told that Jesus was a Jew, and that the Gospel came first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles, but since a lot of my Sunday School materials (not to mention so much classical art) came from the West, I developed this impression of Jesus as a Caucasian.
For me, it was the section of how names that were changed that got me to realise how casually I've taken the fact that most Jews aren't Christians. Why am I not more upset that not more of God's chosen people don't believe in his Son?
I heartily recommend this book. I think it fulfills its twofold purpose of introducing Jesus to the Jew and of re-introducing Jesus to the believer.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Into The Book
Identity Theft is based on a simple premise - the Jesus that we know today has been stripped of his Jewishness. And that is something that is hindering the Jews from coming to know him. From names that have been changed (think Miriam to Mary) to the idea of Peter as the Pope, the book provides a brief introduction to how Jesus has been stripped of his Jewishness.
The book isn't written in the normal non-fiction form. The narrative vehicle uses the experiences of a Jew called David as he's visited by and taught by an angel called Ariel. As a Messianic Jew, the author Ron Cantor used his experience, his struggle of being both Jewish and Christian to show how David struggled with belief in Christ.
Personally, I thought this book was eye-opening. I've always been told that Jesus was a Jew, and that the Gospel came first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles, but since a lot of my Sunday School materials (not to mention so much classical art) came from the West, I developed this impression of Jesus as a Caucasian.
For me, it was the section of how names that were changed that got me to realise how casually I've taken the fact that most Jews aren't Christians. Why am I not more upset that not more of God's chosen people don't believe in his Son?
I heartily recommend this book. I think it fulfills its twofold purpose of introducing Jesus to the Jew and of re-introducing Jesus to the believer.
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
This review was first posted to Into The Book
February 21, 2014
After reading this book, I was left with a lot of questions. Not questions about who Yeshua (Jesus) was, but questions to the lesser known history of Christianity. I was reminded that all the disciples were Jewish, as well as Shaul (Saul of Tarsus, a.k.a. Paul) and most of the first century believers of the faith in Yeshua as the Messiah. I was reminded of something and thought I would share it because it speaks volumes to the sad treatment of the Jewish people who not only turned to the Messiah, but were displaced from their countries for just being who they were, Jews.
“The Alhambra Decree, also known as the "Edict of Expulsion," which forced the Jews to convert or flee Spain, was part of the Spanish Inquisition that began in 1480. The Inquisition sought to rid Spain of Jews, Muslims, false converts, and heretics (although it was also motivated by the desire for political power and profit). It is interesting to note that on the Jewish calendar the deadline for the Alhambra Decree was the 9th of Av, also known as Tisha B'Av. The 9th of Av has become a symbol of all the persecutions and misfortunes of the Jewish people, primarily as the day of mourning that marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Spanish Inquisition and its counterparts encompass one of the bloodiest periods in the history of the church. During the Inquisition(s) millions of people were slaughtered for the crime of "heresy" by Roman Catholic persecutors. In fact, Pope Innocent III murdered far more Christians in one afternoon than any Roman emperor did in during his entire reign.
Most Christians today have only a vague knowledge of the history of the church. However one cannot understand the present (and the prophetic future) without a perspective of the past. Likewise, one cannot understand the Protestant Reformation without an appreciation of the events that led up to it.”—Chuck Missler - Koinonia House
It’s ironic that Identity Theft really began over eighteen hundred years ago.
“The Alhambra Decree, also known as the "Edict of Expulsion," which forced the Jews to convert or flee Spain, was part of the Spanish Inquisition that began in 1480. The Inquisition sought to rid Spain of Jews, Muslims, false converts, and heretics (although it was also motivated by the desire for political power and profit). It is interesting to note that on the Jewish calendar the deadline for the Alhambra Decree was the 9th of Av, also known as Tisha B'Av. The 9th of Av has become a symbol of all the persecutions and misfortunes of the Jewish people, primarily as the day of mourning that marks the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Spanish Inquisition and its counterparts encompass one of the bloodiest periods in the history of the church. During the Inquisition(s) millions of people were slaughtered for the crime of "heresy" by Roman Catholic persecutors. In fact, Pope Innocent III murdered far more Christians in one afternoon than any Roman emperor did in during his entire reign.
Most Christians today have only a vague knowledge of the history of the church. However one cannot understand the present (and the prophetic future) without a perspective of the past. Likewise, one cannot understand the Protestant Reformation without an appreciation of the events that led up to it.”—Chuck Missler - Koinonia House
It’s ironic that Identity Theft really began over eighteen hundred years ago.
September 6, 2013
Started reading this August 12, 2013 and finished it within a couple days. It was not only very entertaining (enugh so that my 11 year old son is enjoying it)but also very informative of how what Yeshua taught and stood for was taken away by the Gentile church. This is a good book for both Jew and Gentile, especially the Jew, because it shows how very "Jewish" the early church and Yeshua was. It explains how the Jewish faith was not replaced, and Yeshua came to make it possible to follow the Torah through Him.
July 18, 2016
This book will take you on a journey with the main character, David, back to a time when Jesus came into his own. Even though the story is fiction, one can't help but believe that the author did his research and has discovered a way to make history interesting to the reader. You will find yourself wanting to read "just one more page" until you realize that the book is finished.~~It's just that fast paced and fascinating.
August 29, 2016
This is by far the most captivating and fun book I have listened to in a long time. I am anxious to share with friends and family. Biblical history and NT Gospel truths are portrayed in an adventurous fashion with various characters sharing their personal anecdotal portion of antiquity to the main character as he is introduced to the Jewishness of the Gospel by an Angel.
January 12, 2014
There is a wealth of sound doctrine packed into this easy to read story of "One Jewish Man's Search for the Truth and the Battle to Keep Him from Finding It." The same information delivered in a scholarly lecture might be rather dry; but, in this story format, it is really quite interesting.
August 16, 2012
I could have read this book in one sitting. However, it challenged me to do research along the journey.
March 27, 2014
Easy to read and a page turner. This is a quick primer for the context of the Gospels and the westernization of the stories.
June 10, 2014
Identity Theft Review
Very eye opening. Thank you for sharing your testimony. You have caused me to view the Bible differently when I read it now.
Very eye opening. Thank you for sharing your testimony. You have caused me to view the Bible differently when I read it now.
July 5, 2014
Very interesting. The book is a blend of fact and fiction that I haven't seen before. It also throws out some interesting doctrines. I recommend it.
January 26, 2015
Amazing book; so many great insights into the New and Old Testament, and the Jewish roots of it all!
July 28, 2014
whoops...this book is fiction. read it accidentally
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews