The Jewish Concept of Mashiach
In today’s topic, we are going to look at whether Jesus is the coming Jewish Moshiach. First of all, I would like to say that the concept of Moshiach or Messiah is simply Jewish. This is the same word that we have as Christ, or in English, the anointed one. So, the ancient Jews, or should I say the ancient Hebrews, have always looked forward to the appearance of this Messiah, the Moshiach. Since the days of Abraham, like 4000 years ago, God promised Abraham a seed, “the seed.” Later on, in the days of David, we read of the promised seed to David also. So, the Messiah or the Moshiach is the seed of Abraham and the seed of David. And I have to also say that later on the Jews developed the concept of two ha-moshiachs, two messiahs. But historically, the ancient Hebrews and Jews have always looked forward to the appearance of the Moshiach. It’s very important that we really emphasize that this Moshiach is Jewish. It’s a Jewish concept.
The Moshiach and World Peace
And when the Jews talk about the Moshiach and when they talk about the rebuilding of the Temple, I also want to let everyone know that they are not being self-centered when they do that. Because in the Hebrew Bible, in the Tanakh, the Moshiach is not only coming for Israel, the Moshiach is also coming to bring peace to the rest of mankind, to bring peace and prosperity to the rest of mankind. So, when the Jews pray for the Moshiach to come, they are not being self-centered at all. They actually have the rest of the people in mind.
Purpose of This Post
So, this post will be very useful not just to the Jews, but to the Christians also. While the Jews expect the Moshiach to arrive for the first time, as you already know, Christians are also expecting the return of the Moshiach or the Messiah or the Christ. So, according to the Christians, the Moshiach had already come before. He is in heaven now and they are waiting for him to return and complete his work.
The Muslim Perspective
Now, as for the Muslims, any Muslim watching this post, this post will also be useful to you. The reason is that in the Quran there is really no new revelation about the Moshiach. So, the Quran is very much dependent on the New Testament and the Hebrew Bible. In fact, the eschatology, the discussion around Moshiach, is very scant. So, the Quran is not really something we can go to to get any information about Moshiach. And also the Quran is not Jewish. It’s really very foreign to Israel.
Christendom vs. Apostolic Christianity
Having said that, I would like to really make a distinction between Christendom and Christianity. If you look at this picture here, you will see two Jewish men which I have generated with AI. So, these two Jewish men are supposed to live in the 1st century AD. I want to really make it clear that the Jewish Bible, that is the Tanakh, is also accepted by the Christians as scripture. Now this is the very first point that I want to make clear, but the next thing I’m going to say is even more important. And I don’t know the words to use, so I may choose to use the word Christendom to refer to the Christian world at large, but I want to specifically, emphatically say that the apostolic Christianity, that is the true Christianity, because there is a true Christianity as opposed to the Christendom, the apostolic Christianity is rooted in Israel. As you see these two Jewish men in these pictures, one of them is a rabbinic Jew and the other one is an apostolic Christian or a messianic, a follower of Yeshua. So, the original Christianity is very different from what you have today, the Christendom, which actually I can say that the Christendom we have today originated from the Roman Empire, the ancient Roman Empire. So, it’s very important that we make this distinction because many times when, let’s say, when Jews want to understand Christianity, they look at the history of Christendom, like the Byzantine, the evils that these people did to Jews, the bad history of Christendom. And many of them conclude that Christianity should never be considered when we talk about the true religion. But the true apostolic Christianity is very Jewish, is very Jewish in eschatology, and is very Jewish in their regard for the Hebrew Bible, that is for the Tanakh. They have high regard for the Tanakh.
The True Yeshua of the New Testament
And my statement is still not enough. I just want to make another clarification. So, when we talk about Yeshua, this is for those who are not Christians to really understand where I’m coming from. When we talk about Jesus, you might think of whatever you want to think of, but I want to introduce to you the true Yeshua of the New Testament. I’ve made several posts on this. I remember before we go into our topic properly, I just need to make these clarifications. I’ve made several posts on who Yeshua was and is. And one remarkable thing that we know right from the New Testament or the Christian New Testament, which actually is Jewish, is that Yeshua is not God the So,n, but he is referred to as the So,n of God. What I’m saying is that God is not Trinity. Yeshua is not God the So,n. We have in the Bible, for example, First Timothy Chapter 2, verse five: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” And we also have in other parts of the scriptures to show that this Yeshua is the So,n of God and a human descendant of King David. So, for you to really know where I’m coming from, you must bear it in mind that the true Jesus of the Bible was a prophet. He is now a priest and he’s gonna be a king. But even if you disagree with me on this, I want you to really understand that he was not the God of Abraham, Hashem, who at some point decided to change to man or to put on flesh, and died. These are things that are not possible with the God of the Bible. God cannot change to a man. God cannot die. God cannot even have a God.
The Clash of Jesuses: Identifying the True Moshiach
The Unscriptural Trinity
So, I’ve done several posts on this. And again, in conclusion, the Trinity is not scriptural.
The Christendom and Muslim Jesus
So, this is very important that we make this clear before we proceed with our discussion. And again, before we proceed, I would really like to introduce, or should I say reintroduce the Christendom Jesus. And again, we also look at the Jesus of the Muslims. As opposed to the New Testament, the 1st century Christian Jewish Yeshua. So, what we have here is a depiction of both the Muslim and the Christendom’s Jesus. And like I said before, according to the Christendom, which is rooted in the ancient Roman Empire in the Nicene Creed of the 4th century 325, and then 381 or 385 AD, according to the Christendom, Jesus is God the So,n. He’s the same as the Almighty God and God is actually three persons, although one God.
The Difference Between the Christendom and Muslim Jesus
Now, according to the Muslims, which is also very interesting, Jesus is not the So,n of God. So, while the Christendom suggests that Jesus is not really the So,n of God, but he might have appeared as one, but he is essentially God the So,n, the Muslims flip it around and say Jesus is never the So,n of God, although they accept the virgin birth, which you know can be strange, but we are not going into that. I just want to make some clarifications. What we can now conclude is nothing but the fact that the Christendom Jesus and the Muslim Jesus is nothing but another Jesus, a different Jesus from the Jesus of the New Testament.
Why This Distinction Matters
Now you might wonder why I’m saying all this, but don’t worry. As we go into our discussion proper in identifying the Moshiach that is to come, you will realise why we need to differentiate between the Moshiach, the Messiah, the Christ, the Jesus of the New Testament and the Moshiach of the Old Testament from what both the Muslims and the Christians are expecting, OK? Now when I say Jesus of the Muslim and Christendom is another Jesus, I got that phrase from the Bible, from the New Testament, where Paul, a first century Jewish scholar, an expert of the law who trained under Gamaniel, wrote: “For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed,” OK, so it’s possible that someone would believe in Yeshua, in Jesus, and at the same time their Jesus is another Jesus or a different gospel.
Rabbinical Judaism’s View of the Moshiach
Now, having made this introduction, what about the Jews themselves? You know, what about the Jews? What about rabbinical Judaism? So, for us to really understand what the Jews think of the Moshiach, now the Jews have a whole lot of materials, you know, the Talmud and the commentaries or paraphrases in the Targum, and the Midrash, every other sources, Jewish sources over the years, but it’s difficult to filter it. And I want to in for this, for the purpose of this study, I want to go with Rambam’s view. And again, I must say that this 12th and 13th century highly respected rabbi has made some point about what the Jews must expect from the Messiah. But I want to also say that not every Jew necessarily agrees with him. OK, but he will give us a good overview of what Jews expect from the Messiah. OK, so Rambam says if anyone comes and claims to be the Messiah, he must fulfill some of these points that I’m going to list. And if he doesn’t, if he even misses one, then he’s really not the Messiah. So, the first point, according to him, is that the Mashiach will be a righteous human descendant of David, and he will also be King Melech. OK, talking about the Jewish Kingdom, the Rambam says the Mashiach will gather the exiles and restore the Jewish Kingdom. And again he made reference to the temple and said the Mashiach will rebuild the Holy Temple. For those of us who don’t know, there used to be a temple on the Temple Mount. So,lomon built, David and So,lomon built the first temple and the second temple was built over many years. You know, even a Gentile and not really a Gentile. Herod built it, you know, from the days of Ezra. But now we have the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. I don’t know if that’s Dome of the Rock is standing right on the very, very side of the temple or the Holy of Holies, I’m not sure. But on that mount should be a temple. And according to Rambam, the Moshiach will have to rebuild the Holy Temple and the Moshiach will bring universal peace, according to him. So,rry, I just skipped. The Moshiach will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance and bring universal peace. OK, these are very important points because almost all of this is actually is not Rambam’s idea. I must say he got it from the Hebrew Bible, but not all, because he also said the Moshiach will not have to perform miracle. Not that he will not. OK, he said he will not need to perform miracles to prove himself, OK? And he also said that the world will reach an era of knowledge and spiritual clarity when the Moshiach comes, he also said some other things like the Moshiach would fight and deliver Israel from their troubles. So, this is like a summary of what the Jews, rabbinic Jews expect from the Moshiach.
Messianic Christianity vs. Rabbinic Judaism
Now if you recall, I introduced the true Christianity as the Christianity that originated from Israel from Israel in the 1st century, and it is very easy for someone to overlook this point that I’m going to make now that Christianity, Messianic Christianity, the original Christianity, is actually older than Rabbinic Judaism. Messianic Christianity started around 30 AD and even before then. And Messianic Christianity started when the Temple was still standing, the Second Temple. But Rabbinic Judaism was like, you know, you know it’s post exilic, it’s post Second Temple era. You know, it’s like an attempt by the sages to gather what remained of Judaism. So, both Christianity and Rabbinic Judaism are Jewish. The original Christianity are Jewish. And both of them originates from the religion of the Torah. So, both of them are also revolutionary. It’s very easy for people to forget this. And none of them is sticking to the literal commandments as written in the Torah, because those commandments cannot really be kept without the temple and priesthood.
Comparing the Moshiach: Rabbinic Judaism vs. New Testament
The Revolutionary Nature of Early Christianity
What happened was that Christianity was very revolutionary at its time because it predicted prophesied the Second Temple era, even while the Temple stood and it started the the the Jesus Christ himself started. Should I say reforming the reforming process to prepare them for the next era? OK, I don’t want to say more than this, but I would like us to compare this Moshiach of Rabbinic Judaism with the New Testament Moshiach, remember we’ve done some quick comparison between the Jesus and the Isa of the Muslims and the Christendom. Note the word Christendom as opposed to the true Christianity that was Jewish and apostolic and well rooted in Israel. So, now we’re gonna compare Rambam’s Moshiach, or should I say? Rabbinic Judaism’s Moshiach with the Moshiach revealed to the Christians in the New Testament, which is also Jewish.
Comparing the Moshiach: Rambam vs. New Testament
Ancestry of the Moshiach
OK, so first of all, there is a confirmation of what Rambam said with regards to the ancestry of the Moshiach. He says the Moshiach will be a righteous descendant of David. And he will be king. Again, this is well rooted in Isaiah chapter 11, verse 2, which speaks of the son of Jesse. And I don’t want us to read that because if any Jewish person is watching this post, he already knows that the Moshiach, the redeemer and the deliverer of Israel would be Ben David, you know, son of David. But that person might be surprised to know that Jesus Christ himself is also described as being a son of David. Now what I want to say is that Jesus takes this bus because in the New Testament we’ll read that concerning his son, that is concerning God’s son who was descended from David according to the flesh. Romans chapter one verse three again we’ll read. And the Angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, Maryam, for you have found favour with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the House of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end. So, you can see that in the New Testament we have it clearly written that Yeshua was a descendant of King David. We have other references you can also look at if you want to. So, that is the first point.
Gathering of the Exiles
And let’s look at the second one about the gathering. He said the Mashiach will gather the exiles and restore the Jewish Kingdom. And I would like to say that this is also said of Yeshua in the New Testament. So, we have a tick right there because first and foremost you must understand that. Christianity accepts the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh as scripture. So, I’m not only going to cite from New Testament for you to know that you know this is what is spoken of Yeshua. Like for example, I will cite Isaiah chapter 11, verse 12, which says he will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel. And gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Did you see that place is Speaking of the son of Jesse?
So, this is a Messianic passage. And the New Testament also spoke of this. We read in Matthew chapter 24, verse 31, and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. So, you can see that this is also spoken of Yeshua. So, this is another tick.
Rebuilding the Holy Temple
Now let’s go to the third point. He said the Mashiach will rebuild the Holy Temple. Now this is a very interesting point because we don’t have a clear cut passage in the New Testament to say that Yeshua would rebuild the temple. But there are very strong indications that the temple will be rebuilt in the Messianic era. For example, if you go to the book of Acts chapter 15, verse 16, we read after this, I will return and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen. That its remnant may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name. So, we see that the tent of David here is a reference to the temple. And we also read in the book of Revelation chapter 11, verse 1, then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there. So, we see that the temple is spoken of in the Messianic era. And also, we have several other passages that speak of the temple in the Messianic era.
Leading to Torah Observance and Bringing Universal Peace
Now let’s go to the fourth point. He said the Mashiach will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance. And I want to say that this is also very clear in the New Testament. For example, in Matthew chapter 5, verse 17, we read do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. So, we see that Yeshua is also described as one who came to fulfill the law. And again, he said the Mashiach will bring universal peace. And this is also spoken of Yeshua in the New Testament. For example, in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6, we read for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, prince of peace. So, we see that Yeshua is also described as the prince of peace.
The Absence of Miracles and the Era of Knowledge
Now let’s go to the fifth point. He said the Mashiach will not need to perform miracles to prove himself. And this is a very interesting point because the New Testament is filled with miracles that Yeshua performed. And the Hebrew Bible also speaks of the Messiah performing miracles. So, this is a point where we have a disagreement. And again, he said the world will reach an era of knowledge and spiritual clarity. And this is also spoken of Yeshua in the New Testament. For example, in Isaiah chapter 11, verse 9, we read they shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. So, we see that this is also spoken of Yeshua.
Fighting and Delivering Israel
Now let’s go to the sixth point. He said the Mashiach would fight and deliver Israel from their troubles. And this is also spoken of Yeshua in the New Testament. For example, in Revelation chapter 19, verse 11, we read then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. The one sitting on it is called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. So, we see that Yeshua is also described as one who will fight and deliver Israel.
Conclusion: Comparing the Two Visions
So, we can see that almost all of these points are spoken of Yeshua in the New Testament. And this is very important for us to know that the New Testament Yeshua is the same as the Moshiach of the Hebrew Bible.
The Fulfillment of Torah and the Promise of Peace
Yeshua’s High Regard for Torah
Why do I give it a tick? A lot of people may not know because when you talk about Christianity, you focus on what is obtainable among the Gentiles today, you know, which is a remnant of what we had in the Roman Empire. But the Christianity of Yeshua was actually very Jewish. And in Matthew chapter 5 verse 17 we read: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law, that is the Torah or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfil them. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot will pass from the Torah. Until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.”
Now, the reason I cited this is for you to see the high regard Yeshua and his original followers had for the law. I’m not saying that the Jews of today and of the time of Yeshua, we are able to keep the Torah simply because Yeshua was in their midst. No, I’m not saying that. I just want to show you that he had high regard for the law, that is for the Torah. And you might argue if Yeshua was the Messiah, then why are the Jews not keeping the Torah? But again, you need to understand that right from the beginning. The claims of the Christian is that Yeshua would make appearance 2 times in his first coming. He would come for the people to teach them the way of God and he would be accused falsely and he would die in the first appearance. OK, I don’t want to go much into the theology, but whatever. Yeshua did not fulfill in the first coming. You must understand that from the beginning it is clearly stated that he would fulfill in his second coming. So, it is not like he came and he did not fulfill it. And the Christians were disappointed and you know, they made-up a claim that OK, OK, OK, OK, He has to come back again. No, even while he was here, he was very clear. That he’s going to fulfill only the first part of his mission or his ministry. Without pushing this too much, any Jewish person really this might be surprised that Yeshua actually said this as recorded in Matthew chapter 5 verse 17, that he did not come to abolish the law or the prophet, but he has, you know, come to fulfill it.
Universal Peace: A Shared Expectation
OK, so let’s continue the fifth point, which is very interesting. To the rest of mankind, you know, to those who are not Jews, is that the Moshiach could bring universal peace. Wow. So, I’m gonna. I’m going to give you the tick also. And why is that? In Isaiah chapter 2, verse four, we read that he shall judge between the nations and decide disputes for many peoples, and they shall beat their sword into splashes and their Spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. This is well engraved or adapted in the UN HQ in New York and is expectation of the Christians with regards to the Messiah. Again, you don’t have to argue and say if Yeshua was the Moshiach, why did he not bring world peace? No, these are the things that are reserved towards the end of the age when the world has completed the complete number of years assigned to it by Hashem. And that is the period we refer to as the Messianic era. So, again in the New Testament we read: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be any mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the things, for the former things have passed away.” Again, this is what we have in the Christian New Testament. And this prophecy in the New Testament is not isolated. You know, you can find its reference in the prophecy of Isaiah in Zechariah, Zechariah chapter 8, you know, about this new heaven and new earth. OK, so it’s not like a very brand-new prophecy. You can find it even in the Tanakh in the Jewish Bible. So, it is a expectation of the Christians, the true Christians, that the Moshiach would bring universal peace to this, to this world.
Miracles: A Point of Contention
OK, so let’s continue. And the next point is about miracles. Random is I think by saying. He will not perform miracles to prove himself. I think he was actually making reference to Yeshua. You know, you know, in this case, Rambam was not being neutral. It’s as if he had Christians in mind because in the first coming of Yeshua, it is recorded that he performed miracles to prove that he was the Moshiach. And that was very necessary because you cannot claim to be of God and. You are not able to perform miracle. So, in the Christian Bible this does not really tally. This is the only one that I have given you know, you know, you know, you know this X sign. But again, why would you know any Jewish person who reads the Tanakh think that the Messiah could not perform miracle?
The Moshiach: Prophecy, Miracles, and the Era of Restoration
A Prophet Like Moses
Remember Moses of Moses prophecy said that the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me, a prophet like me. From among you, from your brothers. So, the Moshiach should be a prophet like Moses. So, when you think of the Moshiach as the deliverer, your mind should go back to the deliverance God gave to the children of Israel through Moses. And how did God do this? Through miracles.
The Necessity of Miraculous Proof
OK, so there really need to be miracles for one to tick as the Moshiach, just the Moshiach is not a mere revolutionary, you know, someone that could, you know, lead people to to to fight, to rebel against constituted authorities or against colonizers of Israel. You know, like the Romans or whoever would be in the future. The Moshiach would do this through the help of Hashem, through the help of God himself. And so he really needs to perform miracles and in Micah chapter 7, verse 15 we read. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous signs. Can’t you see? So, God is not going to show this sign from, you know, you know, from nowhere. He will do it through the Moshiach.
Prophecies of Miraculous Deeds
And again, Speaking of the Moshiach, Isaiah made a prophecy which Jesus made reference to Yeshua made references and Jesus answered them. Go and tell John. What you hear and see, the blinds receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear and the dead are raised up, and the poor have goodness preached to them. So, these are some of the miracles that the Messiah could have to do. Else he is not of God.
The Revival of God’s Spirit
There is going to be a revival. The work had do this, the manifestation of that Spirit of God as in the days of old. We’ll have to come back again in the messianic age. And without this real physical manifestation of God’s presence, especially through the Moshiach, then that man is whoever claims to be Moshiach without miraculous, just nothing but in a freedom fighter, you know, just a mere freedom fighter.
Reimagining the Moshiach’s Validation
I will have to stop, stopI wouldn’t say more than this, but I would. Ask anybody that is listening to this to reimagine this idea that the Moshiach will not perform miracles to prove himself. Although Rambam says he might perform miracles, but he does not need to. But I’m saying that he needs to. That is the way to show that he is of God, that he’s a prophet. You know, a prophet like Moses, not a prophet like every other prophets, OK?
The Era of Knowledge and Spiritual Clarity
So, the last one is about the world reaching an era of knowledge and spiritual clarity. Again, what is the messianic age without this? If you go to Habakkuk chapter 2, verse 14, I think this is also written in Numbers. Moses said something like this, but not exactly. And Isaiah said something like that in Isaiah chapter 11. Habakkuk kind of kind of took what Moses said. About the glory of God filling the earth and what Isaiah said about the knowledge of the Lord joined it together. And now that is why I’m citing only Habakkuk, because it says for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. So, this will be fulfilled whether we like it or not. As Rambam clearly stated, it will fulfilled when the Messiah comes, but it’s not in his first appearance as the Christians would tell you.
Restoration and the Moshiach’s Return
And in the New Testament we’ll read in verse twenty-one, or let’s say from verse 19 repent. This is the ancient Christianity. Repent therefore, and turn back that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ that is the Mashiach appointed for you, appointed for the Jews. Yeshua, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago, Moses said. The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. Now, can you see this very ancient Jewish document, Acts of the Apostles? Actually said that Yeshua, that is Jesus, would continue to. Remain in heaven. He said heaven will receive him, but not forever. He said until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets. That the Messiah could only come when in the history of the world we get to the era of restoration, as the holy prophets clearly prophesied. Now you may wonder. What is this era of restoration that the holy prophet spoke of? It is nothing but the restoration of Israel as a nation. Think about it. The Moshiach could remain in heaven until the era of restoration, and we are clearly in that era of restoration which has been visibly fulfilled in 1948. When Israel was restored as an independent nation once again, and also in 1967 when Jerusalem was, you know, restored to the Jews, was liberated and restored to the descendants of David, because the Jews are descendants of David as it stands now. So, we are in that era of restoration and we should expect. Heaven to release the moshiac. So, just in case you might wonder, oh, the Christians have been waiting for Jesus to come since. No, we it is clearly stated that he will continue to be in heaven till the era of restoration, as the prophets narrated.
The Unity of God’s Kingdom and the Moshiach’s Arrival
But without pushing this point too far, I’m only trying to tell you that this is in line with Rambam’s observation from the Hebrew Bible. That the world will reach an era of knowledge and spiritual clarity. Zephaniah said that people would worship God in one tongue in those days. And Zechariah 14 verse nine says that the the Lord would be king over all the earth in that day. He’s also written in Psalm chapter 72. You know, we can quote, you know, different prophets of of of Israel. They saw the same vision and they spoke of the same era. When not just Israel, but the whole world would come to know the one true God, who is the living God, the God of Jacob, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, and I will also add the God of Yeshua, the Messiah.
The Question of Shared Expectation
Now, did you see how many minutes we’ve taken to make this point? We’ve taken a long, long, long, long time to make this point about the Moshiach of the Jews, the Moshiach of New Testament Christianity, the Jesus of Christendom, the Issa of the Muslims. Now let’s come to our topic again. Our topic clearly is saying. That the Christians and the Muslims are expecting a Jesus to come, OK? And the Jews are also expecting a Moshiach to come. Now is this Moshiach of the Jews the same as the Jesus of the Christendom? We’re not talking about the true Christianity, talking about the Christendom and also the Isa or the Jesus of the Muslim. Are they one and the same? Well, the Moshiach of the Jews even come at all. What is the truth about this? At what point are we going to unify and, you know, come to a point where we will now know who is really right all this while.
The Antichrist: A Biblical Perspective
Introduction to the Antichrist
Now, for us to really do justice to this topic, I would like to introduce to you what the Christian Bible refers to as the Antichrist, the Antichrist. I think the Muslims call him the Dajjal. I’m not sure Dajjaj or Dajjal, but let me just use the word Antichrist. OK.
The Jewish Roots of the Antichrist Concept
The Christian Bible, which is very Jewish, spoke of the Antichrist to come. So, these are Jews, because when we talk about the New Testament, you might think it was written by Gentiles. No. The Jews of the 1st century who happened to follow Yeshua spoke of a certain figure that would show up in this world known as the Antichrist. In the Greek it is anti Christos as you have here and this anti Christos. Actually the word anti or anti means against or opposite and Christos is Christ or Mashiach. So, this is the one who is. Who would be an opponent of the Mashiach? You know, he’s a very mysterious figure, but even if we don’t agree on anything, we will agree that this person would seek to fight the Messiah. So, he is against and he’s opposite and he’s the one that is like a false Messiah instead of the Messiah, you know? So,meone making some kind of claims about himself that is not true, as if he is the Messiah. You know, someone who would be able to unite the world under him, just as the Messiah would do. But in reality he is false. So, what leaders would listen to this mysterious figure as we have here?
The Antichrist in the Hebrew Bible: Daniel and Isaiah
Now let’s talk about this Antichrist or anti-messiah. Can we go back to the Hebrew Bible to talk about the Moshiach, the Antichrist? Because I said it is a concept of Christianity. But then again, Christians of the 1st century were Jews, so their view is actually from the Bible. If we go to Daniels chapter seven, we’ll read of someone who would. Appear in the later time of their Kingdom when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face understanding dark sentences. In verse twenty-five we’ll read that through his policy he will cause deceit to prosper in his hand. He will magnify himself in his heart and he will destroy many in their security. He will also stand up against the Prince of Princess, but he will be broken without hand. Did you see that word against? Now a lot of figures have risen, risen in the past, like Antiochus Epiphanes 4, you know, many anti, many should I say fierce kings, king of fierce countenances have shown up and done a lot of evil to the Jews, you know, and they have prospered, but none of them had come in the very end time. Because this particular figure would stand up against the Prince of princes, that is the Mashiach, which means we are talking about an end time figure. So, there would be Antichrist throughout history, no doubt. But here we’re talking about a particular one that would challenge, that would be against the Mashiach. Again, in the Hebrew scripture, prophet Isaiah spoke of a particular person known as the wicked. Isaiah said of the Messiah, of the Moshiach. But with righteousness he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth, and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips. Shall he kill the wicked? Now when he said he shall kill the wicked again, the wicked could be anyone, you know, any, any unrighteous person. But the ancient Jewish understanding of this test as preserved in Targum Jonathan is that this wicked is a certain figure that would come to fight their real Messiah. And if you happen to have access to the Targum, you will see that even the name of this guy was mentioned in the Targum as Arminus. So, I don’t want to go into that. Maybe we’ll make another post on that, but this the wicked. Is originally understood to be a person, so we can say the wicked one.
The Antichrist in the New Testament: Paul and John
And interestingly, when we go head over to the New Testament in second Thessalonians chapter 2, dear Paul, the apostle or one sent by Jesus Christ, spoke of this Antichrist and he gave him the name the man of lawlessness or the man of sin, depending on the manuscript or translation you choose. He called him the son of destruction verse four, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be1 God and verse 8. And then this lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth. And bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.2 Now if you notice when Paul said the Lord Jesus would kill him with the breath of his mouth, he was actually making reference to Isaiah chapter 11 verse 4 where we read that the son of David, the son of Jesse, would destroy this the wicked with the breath of his mouth. So, which means that the ancient Jews identified this wicked person as. The Antichrist. So, what we read in the New Testament is only a reflection of the understanding as preserved in Targum Jonathan of Isaiah. OK, and this is another point to show that the Christian Bible is very dependent on the Hebrew Bible. Again, when Paul spoke of this man as the one who. Opposes and exalts himself against every so-called God. We also know that Paul was actually making reference to the prophet’s prophecy of of Daniel. If we go to Daniel chapter 11, which I’m trying to open now, if you read verse 36. He says the king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself and magnify himself above every God, and will speak marvellous things against the God of gods.3 So, you see that this particular the king is the one that the New Testament identifies as the Antichrist or the man of sin. Again, he was specifically referred to as the Antichrist for the first time by John, who was an apostle of Jesus. Or should I? Should I even say that John coined the phrase Antichrist? I don’t know. But that is the first and only time we see Antichrist. The first and only time we see it is in the writings of John. And John said for many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the Antichrist.4 In other words, John is saying that although Antichrist is going to come, but that they are already here. The opposers of Christ. One remarkable thing about them is that they do not accept that Jesus was human, that he came in flesh. They were already suggesting that Jesus was either a spirit or God that looked like flesh. So, that was the way of identifying this Antichrist.
The Antichrist’s Origin and Deception
Now one remarkable thing we need, we are going to understand from the Christian Bible, the New Testament. Is that the Antichrist would be a Christian. He will come from the Christ and will come from among Christians. That is what the New Testament claims, clearly claims. You know he will come among Christians. He will seek to change the theology of Christianity, the Christology of Christianity. Now I don’t want us to go deep into this again, but let’s proceed to look at. The Antichrist of the Christendom. I hope you’re following our discussion.
The Antichrist: Apostolic Christianity vs. Christendom
Distinguishing Apostolic Christianity from Christendom
Right from the beginning I made a distinction between the true Christianity of the 1st century, which I would liken to Messianic, although it is not exactly as one and the same as what you have to do as Messianic Christianity. But it’s it is better referred to as the apostolic Christianity. And that Christianity is well rooted in Israel, in Judea and Samaria, and is very Jewish.
The Christendom’s View of the Antichrist
So, what about the Christendom? What do they think about the Antichrist? Interestingly, like I said before, there is really nothing much. No, no much information you can get about this Antichrist from the Quran and from the Hadith. The Muslims really know nothing about Christ. You know, you know what you have in the Quran is just references here and there. And because of this, the Muslims rely on the Christendom, not on the true Christians, but on the Christendom to learn about Jesus and also about the Antichrist. So, because of that. The Christendom and the Muslim appear to be expecting the one and the same person as the Antichrist. Please, I want you to know, take your time to understand what I’m saying. The Christendom is expecting an Antichrist, just like the New Testament Bible and the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh clearly prophesied, but the expectations of the Christendom. And the Muslim is completely different from what we read in the New Testament and in the Hebrew Bible. Just as we read of the expectations of the Jews with regards to the Messiah, the expectation of the Christendom or the identification of who the Messiah is as God the So,n, as Almighty God that came to the earth. In the same way, the one whom the Christendom is expecting to be the Messiah, the Antichrist. Is actually completely different from the Jewish and New Testament understanding of this idea of the Antichrist. Arminius, you know, one like Gog. You know, the Jews have several ways to identify this, this Antichrist.
Characteristics of the Antichrist According to Christendom
So, let’s look at the Antichrist among Christendom. First and foremost, they they expect someone like this. You can see in the background is the Dome of the Rock, which definitely is in Jerusalem. And according to the Christian Dome, you can make your research. This is a good summary of the church, the church’s expectation of the Antichrist. According to them, this Antichrist would be a charismatic Jewish king in Jerusalem. Wow. They expect someone, a mysterious figure, to show up in Jerusalem and this guy will be very charismatic. In other words, he will be loved and this guy will be Jewish. You know, like a Jewish man and he will be in Jerusalem. That is the first point for them. Secondly, they expect this. So,-called Antichrist to reconcile with the Jews. So, he will be charismatic. He will be loved by everyone, not just by the Jews, by world leaders, by everyone because of his charisma. And he will reconcile with the Jews. The Jews will love him. And this Antichrist will bring peace, which Christendom and Islam suggest will be a false peace. He will make some kind of covenant with Israel, you know, make them religious again and make some kind of, um, treaties with the president and kings of the world, and they will all agree to lay down their arms. For the first time in the history of humanity, there will really be peace. But the Christians don’t think that this peace will not last. That’s why they say it’s forced peace. I don’t want to go more into it. Now guess what? According to the Christendom, this Jewish man will rebuild the temple. Wow. This Jewish king will go ahead to rebuild the temple. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wowAnd not only that, he will make a covenant, which I’ve hinted at. But there is one more point. There are several other things that the Christendom expects. For example, they expect him to oppose Christendom. Remember, not Christianity, but Christendom. OK, they would expect him to oppose the bishops, to oppose Vatican, to oppose the Christian leaders around the world and their churches, that is to persecute them. But ultimately they expect. They are Antichrist to oppose God. In fact, according to the Christendom, this man would claim to be Jesus. He’s not just coming to as a moshiac, he will claim to be Jesus. And that is why they also added that he will reconcile with the Jews. Because if you claim to be Jesus and come to the Jews, you have some explanations to make to the Jews. You don’t expect the Jews to accept a Moshe that is Jesus Christ. OK, so the Christendom says he will reconcile with the Jews. But according to the Christendom and according to the Muslims, the Jews would not know that this guy is fake. That is what they say is Antichrist. And why do the Christendom and the Muslims think that this mysterious figure is fake? Now pay attention in the eschatology, in the theology of Christendom and Islam, they are not expecting a Jewish king, a Jewish man, to come to Jerusalem and start meddling with politics. Remember that Christendom thinks that Jesus himself is the Almighty God. A lot of Christians think that God will destroy this earth and take, you know, the righteous people to heaven.
The Clash of Expectations: Moshiach vs. Antichrist
Differing Views on Jerusalem and the Jewish People
A lot of Christians do not even recognize Jerusalem as a city belonging to Jews. So, when this man comes as I, as, as, as, as a hill, as, as a man, as a Jewish king to fight for Israel, to deliver them from their troubles, their enemies, and to declare himself king, he would not tick the boxes of the Christendom’s Jesus. Again, when this man comes to reconcile with the Jews, the Christians would have all of the evidence they’d be looking for to prove that this man is not the real Jesus. Because in the theology of many Christians, Jesus is not coming for the Jews, but is coming for the Church, first and foremost the Catholic Church and all of the other daughters of the Catholic Church. The churches that came out of them and he is coming to take them to heaven, not to establish a certain Kingdom of David on earth.
The Christendom’s Rejection of a Jewish Moshiach
So, when he brings peace, the church would oppose him because in their theology this man is not the Jesus of the Bible, but the false and fake Jesus again in the theology of. The Christendom, their understanding of Christ is not someone who would need to build a temple. There would be no point for there to be a temple. They don’t even have any idea of a restoration of the priesthood as Ezekiel prophesied. A lot of them don’t even know that the Jews have a special place in the plan of God. So, when this that this man, this Jewish king. Comes and shows up in Jerusalem. Although the kings of the world would obey him, and many of them are not even Christian nations. We’re talking about nations like Korea, North Korea, China, Japan and all of them, India. But going down to this man, the Christendom would think that they know better and they will not accept him. So, when he rebuilt the temple. They would think that he is the Antichrist and they will expect him to oppose God.
Similarities Between the Moshiach and the Christendom’s Antichrist
But interestingly, when we head over to the New Testament and the Torah and the Tanakh, we see that the description of the Moshiach is strikingly similar to the Christendoms. Description of the Antichrist. For example, they say he will be a charismatic Jewish king in Jerusalem. I don’t want to comment on the word charismatic, but in reality we know that for one to be a good king, he needs to be charismatic. But what we know for sure is that the Messiah that is coming, Jesus of the Bible, the Moshiach of the Jews, would be a Jewish king in Jerusalem. With regards to him being charismatic, we read clearly in the Bible, for example in in in a messianic Psalm of um of um the the sons of Kura, Psalm chapter forty-five, we read. You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever. So, we see a picture of a king that is loved by many people. In as much as I’m I’m not commenting on him being charismatic or not, we know that he will be loved by people.
Reconciliation, Peace, and the Rebuilt Temple
Again, the second point that he will reconcile with the Jews is very strange that people think that Jesus will not reconcile with the Jews. I will comment on this, but again, if you go to Zechariah chapter 12, verse 10. It is clearly written that the Moshiach will reconcile with the Jews, but I’ll comment on this later on the idea of bringing global peace. The Christendom thinks that whatever peace this man would bring would eventually prove to be false. But the truth is that there is no other person that will bring global peace except the Moshiach. There is no provision for an anti Moshiach to bring global peace. There is no provision whatsoever in the Bible. For a first person to bring global peace. I want to talk about rebuilding the temple in as much as I said before that the Messiah himself may not, you know, participate physically in the rebuilding of the temple. We know that there is no messianic age without the rebuilt temple. In other words, there is going to be a third temple standing where it should stand when the Messiah comes, and it talks about making a covenant. And the Psalms that I said before said he will not ultimately oppose God, but he will be blessed by God forever.
The Image of the Moshiach
OK, so where is this thing leading us to? Let’s look at this picture again. This is a picture of a Jewish king in Jerusalem. I don’t know what the Moshiach looked like or will look like, but I’ve adapted this and the face is not really clear, but we can see the. The light of the glory of God coming out from his face. This is pointing to us.
The True Moshiach: Yeshua and the Recognition of Israel
Yeshua: The Jewish Moshiach
What what we’ve studied so far is pointing to us that Yeshua himself is first and foremost the Jewish coming Moshiach. What the true Christians are expecting or who the true Christians. Remember I told you about the true Christians. The one whom they are expecting is one and the same as the one whom the Jews are expecting. Why do I say so? All of the things Rambam spoke of. If someone comes to fulfill it, the Jews would accept the person of the Moshiach, right? If anyone shows up in Jerusalem to fulfill most of the things that Rabbinic Judaism say about the Moshiach. The Jews will have no choice but to accept that person as the Moshiach. But what if the same person also tell the Jews of that world or that generation, which I think should be this generation? What if the same person tell them that, look, I am also the person that came before, believe me or believe me or not, the Jews will also accept him because anyone can make a mistake. And guess what? The scripture clearly spoke of this.
Zechariah’s Prophecy: Mourning for the Pierced One
Like I said before, when we go to Zechariah chapter 12, verse 10, Zechariah, a man that God helped to see the end time, clearly foresaw this scenario. And that is why he professed and said, I will pour, that is Hashem himself, God himself will pour out on the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. A spirit of grace and please for mercy, so that when they look on me on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him as one weeps over the firstborn. As I speak to you today, this passage is very has proven to be very difficult for Jews of post. 1st century age to interpret. A lot of Jews have even suggested that this place is not talking about him, but talking about them. They shall look on them. But when we go back to the Talgum and we go back to the ancient translations and even to the Talmud, we notice that whichever way you have chosen to translate this passage is Speaking of someone that was pierced. Is Speaking of someone that was pierced. And who is this person? Who is this person? This person is none other but the Moshe. And that is why the scripture says that God will first of all pour on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy or supplication. So, God would first of all be willing to forgive them.
Divine Revelation and Recognition
Elsewhere, I think in the book of Ezekiel, we read that God will give them a new heart. God will turn away on godliness from Jacob. And why do you even think that Elijah would come? He would come for this very purpose, to enlighten the Jews. So, this is not a time for God to, you know, use logic and show the Jews that Yeshua is the same one that came before. God will simply open their eyes to come to the true knowledge of who Yeshua is. That is why the scripture says that they will mourn for him as one month for an only child. So, if you read this passage, you’ll see that this is set. This will be fulfilled at the same time when the nations have already gathered to attempt to destroy this nation of Israel that we have today. And it is through the hand of this one whom the Jews have pierced that God will bring deliverance to Israel. So, that is why the Bible said that they will look upon him whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child.
The Rejected Cornerstone and the Coming Deliverer
And there is a debate in the Talmud about who this person really is and because of divert opinions. So,me Jews invented a certain Messiah known as Mashiach Ben Ben Yosef, who would die. But like I said before, this was not the original understanding of the Jews with regards to the Messiah. The Messiah should be one and the same person. So, saying that a Messiah would die complicates the whole issue. Why not just accept that the Messiah would come two times, die the first time, come back the second time as the Deliverer and the Redeemer of Israel? Because this is exactly what this place is saying, that when he comes to deliver, the Jews would recognize him for the first time and mourn. And again, we’ll go back to Psalm 118, which I’ve already cited, which says that the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing. It’s marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it, save us, which means it’s also set at the same time. When the nations of the world had come around Jerusalem to destroy it, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Who is that person that comes in the name of the Lord? He is none other but the Moshiach, Yeshua Ha Moshiach, the one who came before and was rejected.
Distinguishing Yeshua from the Christendom’s Jesus
What I have said so far might be confusing to many people or you know. Complex. But a quick summary of it is that the Jesus of Christendom is not the same Yeshua of the New Testament. So, if you’re a Jewish person watching this post and you’ve watched this far, and you go back to history and find out that in the past Christians used to kill Jews, Christians used to fight and claim Jerusalem, you know? Pistons used to commit all several atrocities to the Jews, all in the name of Jesus. You must understand that the Jesus that they claim to follow is not the same Jesus of the Christian Bible, because if he was the same Jesus, they would have known the special place that the Jews have in God’s plan. And just for you to know that what I’m saying is true if you noticed in this our age. Christians have started to read the Bible again, unlike in those Middle Ages when you know the Romans controlled Christendom. And that is why you see many Christians coming to even sacrifice their life for Israel. Because many Christians have come to realize that the Yeshua of the New Testament is different from the Christian that the Roman Empire introduced to the world. So,rry, the Jesus that the Roman Empire introduced to the world. And I’m asking you to not to believe in Jesus of. The Christendom. But to reconsider believing in Yeshua of the New Testament again, the Antichrist that the church, the Christendom, is expecting appears to be none other but the Moshiach of the Jews.
The True Antichrist: Opposition to the Moshiach
And as a matter of fact, many churches, many Christians tell the Jews to their face. That the Moshiach they are expecting is none other but the Antichrist. Because when the Jews speak of the rebuilding of the third temple, the Moshiach that will bring everlasting peace on earth, many, many, many Christians mock them without knowing that they are mocking themselves. Because the Moshiach, the very concept of the Moshiach in the 1st place is Jewish and the Jewish are not completely out of line, although they have failed. To recognize him in his first coming, God is still in covenant relationship with them. And so the scripture says that when he comes again, God will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication for them to really recognize that the Messiah that has come to deliver them from their enemies is the same one that came before. And so when the Christendom says and the Muslim says that. Interestingly or surprisingly, the Antichrist will reconcile with the Jews. We now know that it is not the Antichrist that will reconcile with the Jews. It is the real Jesus. It should not be a shock to the nations. After all, the Messiah was promised to the Jews first before the rest of mankind came to know about the idea of Christ or Jesus in the 1st place. So, this is a wake up call to any Christian and Muslim watching this post to know that the one that is going to come very soon to deliver Israel is actually the real Messiah. OK, if you do not recognize him as the real Messiah, someone else would lead you to go and fight him and that person that will lead the church. To go and fight the real Messiah is now the real Antichrist, whom the Jews refer to as Arminus. From the prophecy of Daniel, we have strong indication that this person would come from Rome. We have very strong indication from the prophecy of Daniel that this person would come from the 4th beast of Daniel, the 4th Empire. If he doesn’t come from Rome, he would come from the Christian Western world. We have very strong indications to believe that. And As for the real Antichrist, we are very certain that he will oppose God. Why would he oppose God? I mean, by opposing God, I mean he will oppose the real Messiah, the Prince of Princess, the King of Kings, the Tzar Shalom. Why?
The Clash and Triumph: Moshiach vs. Antichrist
The Deceptive Nature of the Antichrist
Because he would be able to deceive. Remember, he walks by deception. He would be able to deceive the rest of the people that the real. Moshiach is the false Moshiach, and when he goes to clash or to rebel or to be against the real Moshiach, he will meet his end. Because the scripture says the Lord will destroy him. The the Messiah, the real Messiah will destroy him with the breath of his lips.
Prophecies of Destruction
So, don’t wait for this clash. That That is to come, because it has already been prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament. The Antichrist will be destroyed as Isaiah prophesied with the breath of his lips, and as we read in the New Testament, then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth. Don’t wait for that to happen. Again, when we read the prophecy of Daniel chapter 8, verse twenty-five, we read that and he shall even rise up against the Prince of Princess, and he shall be broken, but by no human hand. This is very, very important for you to know that there will really be a clash between the real anti Christ and the real Moshiach. Again in Revelation Chapter 19, verse 20, we read that the false prophet who and the beast was captured and with if the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. These two have thrown a life into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.
The Reign of the Moshiach
Now what about the real Moshiach, the Jesus of the Bible, the Yeshua, the Moshiach of the Jews? What did you read about him? Now this, before I proceed, this is a depiction of the third temple in Jerusalem, the mountain of the House of the Lord, the third temple. And this is from biblical2belts.com. The pictures are free. Adaptation of of another person’s work, Henry Henry Surrey. It’s an adaptation. So, Speaking of the Kingdom age, the Messianic age, we read, for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When Jesus comes to reign, he’s going to destroy all oppositions. If you go to Psalms chapter 2, you will read about how all of these oppositions will be subdued and destroyed into pieces by the Moshiach when he comes. And again, Isaiah chapter 2 says, it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of the House of the Lord shall be established at the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills, and all the nations shall flow to it.
A Call to Believe and Reign
What a glorious time to look forward to. If you are yet to believe in the real Moshiach of the Bible, now is the time. Because you have an advantage whether you’re a Jew or a Gentile, whether you’re a Jew of Christendom or Islam. You have an advantage if you believe now. If you believe now, you will be part of those that will reign with him when he comes. You would be able to live forever because that is the promise of the Lord in the Bible that. In that resurrection to come, people would resurrect into life. Those who believe in the Messiah would resurrect into life. They will not be able to die again. Daniel chapter 12 verse two is very clear. Even so come Yeshua, Amen and thank you.
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