The Role of the Messiah

Many of the world's religions have hope in a future heroic figure who will rescue the righteous, judge the wicked, and restore peace to the world, like Krishna in Hinduism, Maitreya in Buddhism, and the Second Coming in Christianity. While similarities may be noted, there are great differences between these coming figures. In Judaism, this figure is the messiah, who is the Anointed One of God as foretold of in the Hebrew Bible.

Christians believe the messiah - that is, the one foretold in the Hebrew Bible - has come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth; Jews emphatically do not believe that Jesus is the messiah.

When Will the Messiah Come?

A wide variety of opinions have been given by Jewish scholars as to the circumstances that will prompt the messiah's arrival. Some say the messiah will come when the world is especially good; others say when the world has become especially evil. The biblical clues that are offered suggest the messiah will come after a period of war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16).

The Messianic Age

When the messiah does come, he will inaugurate the messianic age (sometimes called the Olam Ha-Ba, World to Come). The Tanakh employs the following descriptions about this period:

- Peace among all nations (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3)
- Perfect harmony and abundance in nature (Isaiah 11:6-9) (but some interpret this as an allegory for peace and prosperity)
- All Jews return from exile to Israel (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5)
- Universal acceptance of the Jewish God and Jewish religion (Isaiah 2:3; 11:10; 66:23; Micah 4:2-3; Zechariah 14:9)
- No sin or evil; all Israel will obey the commandments (Zephaniah 3:13; Ezekiel 37:24)
- Reinstatement of the Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-27)

[link to www.religionfacts.com]

Beginning with the Jewish Tanakh's description of the Messianic age, let us discuss what exactly the role of the Hebrew Messiah is.

Last Edited by Agent of Light on 01/05/2016 05:54 PM