The Messiah; Job Requirements from a Jewish Perspective

[Abu Juwairiya]

JOB REQUISITION: מָשִׁיחַ , JUDAISM'S MESSIAH

The "Job Requisition" template for the position of Jewish Messiah in Table II-1
describes who, according to the Hebrew Bible, this person will be, what his known
attributes are, and what he is expected to accomplish. Further elaboration on its
contents follows the table.

Table II-1 – "Job Requisition" for the promised מָשִׁיחַ

Category Requirements

Position Available מָשִׁיחַ - the Jewish Messiah.

Job Description To usher in the messianic era, as foretold in the Hebrew Bible, and to preside
over the people of Israel as their king, sitting on the throne of King David.

Job Requirements To execute and successfully complete the messianic agenda, as described in
the Hebrew Bible, within one lifetime.

Prior Job Experience None.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess attributes that must include, but are not
necessarily limited to, the following:

1. Be the seed (a direct descendant) of King David, through King Solomon
(e.g., 2Samuel 7:12-16)
2. Be a spiritual and political/military leader (e.g., Isaiah 2:3, 11:2-3,6; Daniel
7:14)
3. Be married and have children during his term (e.g., Ezekiel 46:16-17)
Performance Appraisal

Criteria

The successful candidate will be expected to complete the messianic agenda
and, thereby, bring about certain conditions during his reign, though some
actions will commence prior to his being identified as the Messiah. These
must include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

1. The coming of Elijah to herald the Messiah’s arrival (e.g., Malachi 3:1,23-
24[4:5-6]3)
2. Building the Third Temple in Jerusalem (e.g., Ezekiel 37:26-28)
3. In-gathering of the Jewish exiles to the Promised Land (e.g., Isaiah 11:12)
4. Reunifying Judah and Israel into one people (e.g., Ezekiel 37:22,24)
5. Establishing world peace (e.g., Isaiah 2:4)
6. Bringing about the universal knowledge of God (e.g., Isaiah 11:9)
7. Realizing the general resurrection of the dead (e.g., Daniel 12:2)

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

As summarized above, the Messiah is not a divine representative sent by Allah, but a reviver and torchbearer of Jewish thought, belief systems and future aspirations. Any one who claims to be the Messiah but does not say the Jews are the promised nation and not fully agree to their version is rejected. I will briefly expand on some of the above points.

1. The real Messiah must be either accompanied or coincide with an appearance of another Prophet, Ilyas [Elijah] who will verify the former's authenticity.

2. The Third Temple of Sulayman (AS) [the area where both Masjid Aqsa and the Al Qubbut As Sakhr are now built over] must be recreated (and as a result will mean a highly successful war with Muslim countries, not just Arab nations).

4. 'Reunifying Judah and Israel into one people', meaning Israel will occupy all lands adjacent to Israel including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan etc.

5. 'Bringing about a universal knowledge of God' meaning the world will become Jewish and will be under Jewish law and religion.

6. 'Establishing world peace' meaning under Jewish global rule

 

[Cariad]

So Yeshua was not the Messiah as the Jews claimed so. Then the Quran is in error?

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

So Yeshua was not the Messiah as the Jews claimed so. Then the Quran is in error?

Thank you for your reply. The Jewish opinion is exactly what it appears to be; a Jewish perspective alone and does not represent anything else. If everything that is said by Jewish scripture that includes the Talmud (which Jews revere, treasure, respect and listen to more than the Torah) is correct than racism is nothing short of a divine instruction.

If you look at Jewish websites, books, forums and other aspects of religious discussion, those books of exegesis which gentiles have little access to (since they are in Classical Hebrew) there is a volume of evidence often given by Jews worldwide as to the credibility of Jesus as the Messiah and why he does not meet the criterion at all using un-translated Jewish works of interpretation by their scholars.

That being said, it is not the Islamic viewpoint. As you can imagine, the Jewish religion of today (and for the most part since the last two thousand years) is not what it once was and its people are not the ones divinely selected and so its interpretation, its version, its analysis and its commentary is not divine; hence why what Judaism says about itself is not taken seriously just as Christianity refuses to accept the same criterion.

 

[Cariad]

So is Yeshua the Messiah or no?

Not all Jews refused Jesus as Messiah. Even today amongst the Messianic Jews there is acceptance that Yeshua did fulfil the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. Also of course the first followers of Yeshua were Jews, the name "Christian" was not given to followers of Yeshua for many many years after His earthly death. They were first known as followers of The Way.

 

[Abu Juwairiya]

So is Yeshua the Messiah or no?

Not all Jews refused Jesus as Messiah. Even today amongst the Messianic Jews there is acceptance that Yeshua did fulfil the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. Also of course the first followers of Yeshua were Jews, the name "Christian" was not given to followers of Yeshua for many many years after His earthly death. They were first known as followers of The Way.

Thank you for telling me. I was not aware that they were Jewish. I came across the name and was intrigued by them but there was not much information, so thanks again for enlightening me.