Messiah

In Judaism,Messiah (fromHebrew משיח, moshiach, meaning "the anointed one") ishuman descendantKing David, who will rebuildnationIsraelrestoreDavidic Kingdom; thus bringing world peace. Christians consider Jesus Christbe that messiah, as well assonGod andparttrinity. The word Christ (Greek Χριστος, Khristos, "the anointed one") isliteral translation"moshiach".

The Septuagint, an ancient Jewish translation ofOld Testament into Greek, translates all thirty-nine instances ofword as Khristos. The New Testament recordsGreek form Μεσσιας, Messias, only twice,John 1:414:25.

InHebrew Bible

Main articles: JudaismChristianity Jewish Messiah

The messiah-concept playsprominent rolemany books inHebrew Bible (Old Testament). InHebrew Bible, Israelite priests, prophets,kings were anointedoil,so consecratedtheir respective offices. The moshiachanointed "above all his fellows" (Psalms 45:7),therefore embraces himselfallthree offices.

The Hebrew Bible containssmall numberprophecies concerningfuture descendantKing David, who will be anointed asJewish people's new leader (moshiach). This leader will rebuildnationIsraelrestoreDavidic Kingdom.

The Jewish conceptmoshiach (the messiah) has little, if anything,common withChristian conceptJesus Christ as messiah. This subjectcoveredmore detail inentry on Jewish eschatology.

InNew Testament

main article: Jesus Christ asMessiah

Christians as we have comeknowemerged from Judaism infirst century ofCommon Era. The first Christians were Jews,likely subscribedJewish beliefspractices common attime. Among these wasbelief thatmessiah —descendantKing David—would restoremonarchyJewish independence. Accordingmainstream Jewish beliefs,failureJesusrestoreKingdom,his crucifixion by Romans, negated claims that he wasmessiah (since most Jews do not accept that Jesus wasmessiah,rejectuse offull (Christian) name. SeeJewish conception ofmessiah formore detailed discussion ofJewish understanding ofmessiah). Nevertheless, manyJesus's followers—perhaps inspired by encountersJesus after his crucifixionentombment, but also drawing on alternative interpretationsBiblical passages—redefinedconceptmessiahencompassresurrection andpromise ofsecond coming. In additionthis alternative understanding ofmessiah, early Christians brought from Judaism its scriptures, fundamental doctrines such as monotheism,other beliefspractices. See Comparingcontrasting JudaismChristianity.

Christian readings ofHebrew Bible or Old Testament uncover whatsee as hundredsreferencesJesus Christ; some such readings maintain that almost every reading was about not onlytopic ofchapter as such, butalso aboutcomingJesus Christ Himself, if only read properly. In this view,prophecies about Jesus became more definitefuller asages rolled on. Different periodsprophetic revelation have been pointed out: (1)patriarchal; (2)Mosaic; (3)periodDavid; (4)periodprophetism, i.e.,those prophets whose work formpart ofOld Testament canon.

In Islam

Main article: Isa

In al-Qur'an,scriptureIslam, Isa (Jesus)described asProphetAllah (God) as well as messiah. Heregarded, like all other ProphetsIslam, ashuman being,not God incarnate norsonGod. The role ofmessiahIslam isless importance than inJudeo-Christian tradition. The main task ofmessiahIslam isproclaimcomingAhmed.

Alsoimportanceanother figureIslam called al-Mahdi who might be described asmessianic figure, butan entirely different personis not consideredbeMessiahIslam. ShiaSunni opinions on al-Mahdi differ somewhat, but both sects agree that Isa (Jesus),sonMary,the Messiah.

Other Jewish people purportedbe messiahs

Josephus's reportmessiahs infirst century

Josephus asserts thatJesus ofChristians was indeedtrue messiah. However, also from Josephusappears that infirst century beforedestruction ofTemplenumbermessiahs arose promising relief fromRoman yoke,finding ready followers. Josephus speaksthem thus: "Another bodywicked men also sprung up, cleanertheir hands, but more wickedtheir intentions, who destroyedpeace ofcity no less than did these murderers [the Sicarii]. Forwere deceiversdeluders ofpeople, and, under pretensedivine illumination, wereinnovationschanges,prevailed onmultitudeact like madmen,went before them inwilderness, pretending that God would there show them signsliberty" (Josephus, "B. J." ii. 13, §; 4; idem, "Ant." xx. 8, §; 6). Matt. xxiv. 24, warning against "false Christsfalse prophets," gives testimony tosame effect.

About 44 CEman named Theudas appeared, claimingbeprophet. He urgedpeoplefollow himtheir belongings toJordan, which he would dividethem. AccordingActs v. 36 (which seemsrefer todifferent date), he secured about 400 followers. Cuspius Fadus senttroophorsemen after himhis band, slew manythem,took captive others, togethertheir leader, beheadinglatter ("Ant." xx. 5, § 1).

An Egyptian messiahsaidhave gathered together 30,000 adherents, whom he summoned toMountOlives, opposite Jerusalem, promising that at his commandwallsJerusalem would fall down,that hehis followers would enterpossess themselves ofcity. But Felix,procurator (c. 55-60), metthronghis soldiery. The prophet escaped, but thosehim were killed or captured, andmultitude dispersed.

Another messiah, Josephus reports, promisedpeople "deliverancefreedom from their miseries" ifwould follow him towilderness. Both leaderfollowers were killed bytroopsFestus,procurator. Even when Jerusalem was already being destroyed byRomans,prophet, accordingJosephus suborned bydefenderskeeppeople from deserting, announced that God commanded themcome toTemple, therereceive miraculous signstheir deliverance. Those who came met death inflames.

Menahem ben Judah

Unlike these Messiahs, who expected their people's deliverancebe achieved through divine intervention, Menahem,sonJudasGalileangrandsonHezekiah,leader ofZealots, who had troubled Herod, waswarrior. Whenwar broke out he attacked Masadahis band, armed his followers withweapons stored there,proceededJerusalem where he capturedfortress Antonia, overpoweringtroopsAgrippa II. Emboldened by his success, he behaved asking,claimedleadershipalltroops. Thereby he arousedenmityEleazar, another Zealot leader,met death asresult ofconspiracy against him. Heprobably identical withMenahem ben Hezekiah mentioned inTalmud (tractate Sanhedrin 98b)called "the comforter that should relieve".

Bar Kokhba

Withdestruction ofTempleJerusalemappearancemessiahs ceased fortime. Sixty years laterpolitico-Messianic movementlarge proportions took placeShimeon Bar Kokhba (also: Bar Kosiba) at its head. This leader ofrevolt against Rome was hailed as Messiah-king by Rabbi Akiva, who referredhim, Numbers xxiv. 17: "There shall come forthstar outJacob, andscepter shall rise outIsrael,shall smite throughcornersMoab,",Hag. ii. 21, 22; "I will shakeheavens andearthI will overthrowthroneskingdoms. . . ." (Talmud tracate Sanhedrin 97b). Although some doubted his messiahship, he seemshave carriednationhimhis undertaking. After stirring upwar (133-135) that taxedpowerRome, he at last met his death onwallsBethar. His Messianic movement endeddefeatmisery forsurvivors.

MosesCrete

The unsuccessful issue ofBar Kokba war put an endcenturiesMessianic movements, but Messianic hopes were nonetheless cherished. In accordance withcomputation found inTalmud,Messiah was expected440 (Sanh. 97b) or 471 ('Ab. Zarah 9b). This expectationconnection withdisturbances inRoman empire attendant upon invasions may have raised upMessiah who appeared about this timeCrete,who won overJewish populationhis movement. He called himself Moses,promisedleadpeople, likeancient Moses, dryshod throughsea backPalestine. His followers, convinced by him, left their possessionswaited forpromised day, when at his command many cast themselves intosea, some finding death, others being rescued. The pseudo-Messiah himself disappeared (Socrates, "Historia Ecclesiastica," vii. 38; Grätz, "Gesch." 3d ed., iv. 354-355).

In 7th century Persia

The pseudo-Messiahs that followed played their roles inOrient,were atsame time religious reformers whose work influenced Karaism. Atend ofseventh century appearedPersia Isḥaḳ ben Ya'ḳub Obadiah Abu 'Isa al-IsfahaniIspahan (for other formshis namefor his sect see "J. Q. R." xvi. 768, 770, 771; Grätz, l.c. v., notes 1517). He lived inreign ofOmmiad Caliph 'Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (684-705). He claimedbelast offive forerunners ofMessiah andhave been appointed by Godfree Israel. Accordingsome he was himselfMessiah. Having gathered togetherlarge numberfollowers, he rebelled againstcaliph, but was defeatedslain at Rai. His followers claimed that he was inspiredurged as prooffact that he wrote books, although he was ignorantreadingwriting. He foundedfirst sect that aroseJudaism afterdestruction ofTemple.

His disciple Yudghan, called "Al-Ra'i" (= "the shepherd offlockhis people"), who lived infirst half ofeighth century, declared himselfbeprophet,was by his disciples regarded asMessiah. He came from Hamadan,taught doctrines which he claimedhave received through prophecy. AccordingShahristani, he opposedbeliefanthropomorphism, taughtdoctrinefree will,held thatTorah had an allegorical meaningadditionits literal one. He admonished his followerslead an ascetic life,abstain from meatwine, andprayfast often, followingthis his master Abu 'Isa. He held thatobservance ofSabbathfestivals was merelymattermemorial. After his death his followers formedsect,Yudghanites, who believed that their Messiah had not died, but would return.

Serene

Between 720723Syrian, Serene (his namegiven variously insources as Sherini, Sheria, Serenus, Zonoria, Saüra) appeared asmessiah. The immediate occasionhis appearance may have beenrestriction ofliberties ofJews bycaliph Omar II (717-720)his proselytizing efforts. Onpolitical side, this Messiah promisedexpulsion ofMuslims andrestoration ofJews toHoly Land. He had followers evenSpain, whereJews were suffering underoppressive taxationtheir new Arab rulers,many left their homes fornew Messiah. Like Abu 'IsaYudghan, Serene also wasreligious reformer. He was hostilerabbinic Judaism. His followers disregardeddietary laws,rabbinically instituted prayers, andprohibition against"winelibation";worked onsecond day offestivals;did not write marriagedivorce documents accordingTalmudic prescriptions,did not acceptTalmudic prohibition againstmarriagenear relatives (see Grätz, l.c. note 14). Serene was arrested. Brought before Caliph Yazid, he declared that he had acted onlyjest, whereupon he was handed over toJewspunishment. His followers were received back intofold upon giving up their heresy.

Messiahs duringCrusades

Underinfluence ofCrusadesnumberMessiahs increased, andtwelfth century records manythem. One appearedFrance (c. 1087)was slain byFrench; another appeared inprovinceCordova (c. 1117),oneFez (c. 1127). Of these three nothingknown beyondmentionthemMaimonides' "Iggeret Teman" (letter toYemenite Jews)

David Alroy

The next important Messianic movement appears againPersia. David Alroy or Alrui, who was bornKurdistan, about 1160 declared himselfMessiah. Taking advantagehis personal popularity,disturbedweakened condition ofcaliphate, anddiscontent ofJews, who were burdened withheavy poll tax, he set out upon his political schemes, asserting that he had been sent by GodfreeJews fromMoslem yoke andlead them backJerusalem. For this purpose he summonedwarlike Jews ofneighboring districtAdherbaijanalso his coreligionistsMosulBaghdadcome armedhis aid andassist incaptureAmadia. From this point his careerenvelopedlegend. His movement failed,hesaidhave been assassinated, while asleep, by his own father-in-law. A heavy fine was exacted fromJewsthis uprising. After his death Alroy had many followersKhof, Salmas, Tauris,Maragha,these formedsect calledMenahemists, fromMessianic name "Menahem," assumed by their founder.

In Yemen

Soon after Alroy an alleged forerunner ofMessiah appearedYemen (in 1172) just whenMuslims were making determined effortsconvertJews living there. He declaredmisfortunes oftimebe prognostications ofcoming Messianic kingdom,called uponJewsdivide their property withpoor. This pseudo-Messiah wassubjectMaimonides' "Iggeret Teman." He continued his activity foryear, when he was arrested byMuslim authoritiesbeheaded at his own suggestion, itsaid,order that he might provetruthhis mission by returninglife.

Abraham Abulafia

With Abraham ben Samuel Abulafia (b. 1240; d. after 1291),cabalist, beginpseudo-Messiahs whose activitydeeply influenced by their cabalistic speculations. Asresulthis mystic studies, Abulafia camebelieve first that he wasprophet;inprophetic book which he publishedUrbino (1279) he declared that God had spokenhim. In Messina, onislandSicily, where he was well receivedwon disciples, he declared himselfbeMessiahannounced 1290 asyear forMessianic erabegin. Solomon ben Adret, who was appealedwith regardAbulafia's claims, condemned him,some congregations declared against him. PersecutedSicily, he went toislandComino, near Malta (c. 1288), still assertinghis writings his Messianic mission. His endunknown. Twohis disciples, Joseph GikatillaSamuel, both from Medinaceli, later claimedbe prophetsmiracle-workers. The latter foretoldmystic language at AyllonSegoviaadvent ofMessiah.

Nissim ben Abraham

Another pretended prophet was Nissim ben Abraham, activeAvila. His followers toldhim that, although ignorant, he had been suddenly endowed, by an angel, withpowerwritemystic work, "The WonderWisdom," withcommentary thereon. Again an appeal was madeSolomon ben Adret, who doubted Nissim's prophetic pretensionurged careful investigation. The prophet continued his activity, nevertheless,even fixedlast day offourth month, Tammuz, 1295, asdate forMessiah's coming. The credulous prepared forevent by fastingalmsgiving,came together onappointed day. But insteadfindingMessiah, some saw on their garments little crosses, perhaps pinned on by unbelieversridiculemovement. In their disappointment someNissim's followerssaidhave gone overChristianity. What became ofprophetunknown.

Moses BotarelCisneros

Afterlapse ofcentury another false Messiah came forwardMessianic pretensions. AccordingGrätz (l.c. viii. 404), this pretended Messiah isbe identifiedMoses BotarelCisneros. Onehis adherentspartizans was Hasdai Crescas. Their relationreferredby Geronimo da Santa Féhis speech atdisputationTortosa 1413.

Asher Lemmlein

In 1502, Asher Lemmlein (Lämmlein),German proclaiming himselfforerunner ofMessiah, appearedIstria, near Venice,announced that ifJews would be penitentpractice charityMessiah would come within halfyear, andpillarcloud andsmoke would precedeJews on their returnJerusalem. He found believersItalyGermany, even amongChristians. In obediencehis preaching, people fastedprayedgave almsprepare forcoming ofMessiah, so thatyear camebe known as"yearpenitence." But"Messiah" either died or disappeared (see Lemmlein Asher).

ReuveniSolomon Molko

Amongpseudo-Messiahsto be included David ReuveniSolomon Molko. The former pretendedbeambassadorbrother ofKingKhaibar,townformer districtArabia,whichdescendants of"lost tribes"RuebenGad were supposeddwell. He sent topopepowersEuropesecure cannonfirearmswar againstMuslims, who, he said, preventedunion ofJews living ontwo sides ofRed Sea. He denied expressly that he wasMessiah orprophet (comp. Fuenn, "Keneset Yisrael," p. 256), claiming that he was merelywarrior. The credence which he found atpapal court1524,reception accordedhim1525 atPortuguese court (whither he came atinvitationJohn III,where he at first receivedpromisehelp),temporary cessationpersecution ofMaranos--all gavePortugueseSpanish Maranos reasonbelieve that Reuveni wasforerunner ofMessiah. Selaya, inquisitorBadajoz, complained toKingPortugal thatJew who had come fromOrient (referringReuveni) had filledSpanish Maranos withhope thatMessiah would comelead Israel from all lands backPalestine,that he had even emboldened themovert acts (comp. Grätz, l.c. ix. 532). A spiritexpectancy was aroused by Reuveni's stayPortugal. A Marano woman inregionHeraraPuebla de Alcocer declared herselfprophetess, had visions,promisedlead her coreligionists toHoly Land. Shemany who believedher were burned.

Isaac Luria

Isaac Luria (Isaac ben Solomon Ashkenazi Luria) wasJewish advocateKabbalah (esoteric mysticism)claimedbemessiah. Atlater point, his disciplesuccessor, Hayyim Vital Calabrese, was thoughtasmessiah by some Palestinian Jews. Both claimedbe Ephraitic Messiahs, forerunners ofDavidic Messiah.

Isaac Luria (b. 1534Jerusalem; d. 1572Safed, Israel) taughthis mystic systemtransmigrationsuperfetationsouls,believed himselfpossesssoul ofmessiah ofhouseJoseph, andhaveas his missionhastencoming ofmessiah ofhouseDavid throughmystic improvementsouls. Having developed his Kabbalistic systemEgypt without finding many followers, he wentSafed, Israel, about 1569. There he met Hayyim Vital Calabrese,whom he revealed his secretsthrough whom he secured many disciples. To these he taught secretly his messiahship. He believed thatmessianic era would commence inbeginning ofsecond half ofsecond day (ofyear 1000) afterdestruction ofTempleJerusalem, that is,1568.

On Luria's death, Hayyim Vital Calabrese (b. 1543; d. 1620 at Damascus) claimedbeEphraitic Messiahpreachedspeedy advent ofMessianic era. In 1574 Abraham Shalom,pretender toDavidic Messiahship,seems, sentVital, saying that he (Shalom) wasDavidic Messiah, whereas Vital wasMessiah ofhouseJoseph. He urged VitalgoJerusalemstay thereat least two years, whereupondivine spirit would come upon him. Shalom bade Vital, furthermore, notfear death,fate ofEphraitic Messiah, as he would seeksave him from this doom.

Sabbatai Zevi

The most important messianic movement,one whose influence was wide-spread throughout Jewry, lastingsome quarters overcentury, was thatSabbatai (or Shabbethai) Zevi (b. at Smyrna 1626; d. at Dulcigno 1676). Seearticle on Sabbatai Zevimore details.

Sabbethaian pseudo-messiahs

After his death Sabbatai was followed bylineputative messiahs. Jacob Querido, sonJoseph Filosof,brother offourth wifeSabbatai, becamehead ofShabbethaiansSalonica, being regarded by them asincarnationShabbethai. He pretendedbe Shabbethai's sonadoptedname Jacob Tzvi. With 400 followers he went overIslam about 1687, formingsect calledDönmeh. He himself even madepilgrimageMecca (c. 1690). After his death his son Berechiah or Berokia succeeded him (c. 1695-1740).

A numberShabbethai's followers declared themselves Messiahs. Miguel (Abraham) Cardoso (1630-1706), bornMarano parents, may have been initiated intoShabbethaian movement by Moses PinheiroLeghorn. He becameprophet ofMessiah,whenlatter embraced Islam he justified this treason, saying thatwas necessary forMessiahbe reckoned amongsinnersorderatoneIsrael's idolatry. He applied Isa. liii.Shabbethai,sent out epistlesprove that Shabbethai wastrue Messiah,he even suffered persecutionadvocating his cause. Later he considered himself asEphraitic Messiah, asserting that he had marks on his body which were proofthis. He preachedwrote ofspeedy coming ofMessiah, fixing different dates until his death (see Cardoso, Miguel).

Mordecai Mokia???

Another followerShabbethai who remained faithfulhim, Mordecai Mokiaḥ ("the Rebuker")Eisenstadt, also pretendedbeMessiah. His periodactivity was from 16781682 or 1683. He preached at first that Shabbethai wastrue Messiah, that his conversion wasmystic reasons necessary, that he did not die but would reveal himself within three years after his supposed death,pointed topersecution ofJewsOran (by Spain),Austria,in France,topestilenceGermany as prognosticationshis coming. He foundfollowing among Hungarian, Moravian,Bohemian Jews. Goingstep further, he declared that he wasDavidic Messiah. Shabbethai, accordinghim, was onlyEphraitic Messiahwas furthermore rich,therefore could not accomplishredemptionIsrael. He (Mordecai), being poor, wasreal Messiahatsame timeincarnation ofsoul ofEphraitic Messiah. Italian Jews heardhiminvited himItaly. He went there about 1680,receivedwarm welcomeReggioModena. He spokeMessianic preparations which he hadmakeRome,hinted at having perhapsadopt Christianity outwardly. Denounced toInquisition, or advisedleave Italy, he returnedBohemia,then wentPoland, where hesaidhave become insane. From his timesect beganform there, which still existed atbeginning ofMendelssohnian era.

Another Shabbethaians messaish claimant was Löbele Prossnitz. He taught that God had given dominion ofworld to"pious one," i.e.,one who had entered intodepthsKabbalah. SuchrepresentativeGod had been Shabbethai, whose soul had passed into other "pious" men, into Jonathan Eybeschützinto himself. Another, Isaiah Hasid (a brother-in-law ofShabbethaian Judah Hasid), who livedMannheim, secretly claimedberesurrected Messiah, although publicly he had abjured Shabbethaian beliefs.

Jacob Frank

Jacob Frank (b. 1726Podolia; d. 1791), founder ofFrankists, also claimedbemessiah. In his youth he had been brought into relation withDönmeh. He taught that he wasreincarnationKing David. Having securedfollowing among some TurkishWallachian Jews, he came1755Podolia, whereShabbethaians wereneed ofleader,revealed himselfthem asreincarnation ofsoulBerechiah.

He laid stress onidea of"holy king" who was atsame time Messiah,he accordingly called himself "santo señor" (="holy lord"). His followers claimed he performed miracles;they even prayedhim. His purpose, as well as thathis sect, wasuproot rabbinic Judaism. He was forcedleave Podolia;his followers were persecuted. Returning1759, he advised his followersembrace Christianity,about 1,000 were convertedbecame priviliged Polish gentryJewish origins. He himself was convertedWarsaw November 1759. Later his insincerity was exposed,he was imprisoned asheretic, remaining, however, evenprisonheadthis sect. Seearticle on Jacob Frankmore details.

In Christianity

Most Christians have regarded Jesus asoneonly Messiah. Currently thereabout 800 million people who believe this living onearth.

A few million people -fractionone percent - consider Rev. MoonbeSecond Coming Christ.

The MessiahScience FictionFantasy

The idea ofmessiah figure hasbeen an element ingenresscience fiction fantasy. Seearticle MessiahsFictionFantasy.