The Jewish Theory of Two Messiahs PDF

Q0211 Two Messiahs pp 11/4/04 3:27 PM Page 1
THE JEWISH
CONTENTS TRADITION OF
Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
TWO MESSIAHS
I
The Tradition n a culture that so often
Of Messiah . . . . . . . . . . . 5 claims Judeo-Christian roots,
One Endtime there is often a curiosity—
Deliverer . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 even a fascination—with “things
A Messianic Jewish.” The Jewish people had
Anticipation . . . . . . . . . . 7 thousands of years of history
The Tradition Of with God, a relationship that
Two Messiahs . . . . . . . . . 9 formed the foundation upon
A Messiah which the New Testament was
Who Suffers. . . . . . . . . 10 introduced to the world. As we
A Messiah read the Bible, we can’t help but
Who Delivers . . . . . . . . 15 encounter Jewish places, names,
The Tension and traditions.
Reconciled . . . . . . . . . . 16 In this booklet, staff writer
What Do The Kevin Williams helps us explore
Scriptures Say? . . . . . . . 22 one of those traditions—the
Intermingled Jewish expectation of two
Promises . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Messiahs. It’s our prayer that
One Messiah this examination will help us find
In Two Missions . . . . . . 23 similarities, and differences, that
Was Yeshua The challenge both cultures toward a
Promised One? . . . . . . . 28 more open dialogue around the
timeless wisdom of the Scriptures.
Martin R. De Haan II
Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo:Terry Bidgood
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.All rights reserved.
© 2004 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

TRADITION To help keep in

perspective the Jewish
O
ne of the most traditions we explore in
memorable songs this booklet, we need to
from the musical ask ourselves, “What
Fiddler On The Roof is in would our lives be
the Prologue of Act One. without traditions?” From
“Tradition” introduces the birth to death, traditions
story of a Jewish family and touch nearly every area of
community living in the life. Yet they often take on
small village of Anatevka, special significance in our
Russia, during the harsh era houses of worship. From
of Tsarist rule. The main the highly liturgical to the
character, Tevye, complains very contemporary worship
to God about the difficulty service, tradition plays a
of being a “chosen people” part in how we approach
during an era of pogroms— the King of the universe and
the systematic elimination how our theology is molded.
of Jewish villages. He The prayers we pray, the
concludes, however, that songs we sing, the creeds
without tradition their lives we recite, and the calendar
would be as unsteady as a we use are all influenced by
“fiddler on the roof.” tradition to some degree. No
Tradition plays a role less is true in the synagogue.
in the Jewish community If one word could
and in all of our lives. describe Judaism, many
Customary ways of thinking would agree that it is
and acting give structure to tradition. It has been
daily living and a sense of cultivated like a fine art
connection from one by the Jewish community.
generation to the next. Especially during periods of
2
exile, the family customs of bookshelf, or the Star of

diet, dress, holidays, rest, David kept in a jewelry box.
and worship became Such faint remembrances
extremely important. Even stand in contrast to the
when scattered among the disciplined, highly observant
nations of the world, the Hasidic man who wears his
people of Israel have black hat, curled sidelocks,
retained a sense of identity and a long black coat.
and shared history by Whether placed at the center
passing on customary ways or outer edge of a Jewish
of living and thinking from person’s life, these traditions
one generation to the next. reflect a community’s often-
expressed need for identity,
even when living away from
If one word could their historic homeland.
describe Judaism, Wearing a skullcap,
many would agree which is called a kippah by
some or a yarmulke (ya-ma-
that it is tradition. kah), is an example. There
are no records as to the
Judaism has many forms origin of this tradition. An
and branches, from the ultra- Orthodox rabbi will tell you
Orthodox to the extremely that, as important as this
liberal: Hasidic, Orthodox, masculine head covering
Conservative, Reformed, and is to shared Jewish identity,
Reconstructionist. Among it is not required by the
nonreligious Jewish people, Scriptures. Yet the kippah
there is often a special also shows how one custom
awareness of tradition—even can give birth to others. In
if it’s only reflected in the an attempt to explain why
dusty menorah on the Jewish males wear a head
3
covering, traditional held that the bread and

explanations are handed wine must be blessed first,
down from one generation and then the candles should
to the next. Some Jewish be kindled. The Talmud
fathers tell their children itself does not set down
that the kippah is a reminder the law but offers opinions
of the separation that exists from which the student
between man and God. determines his own opinion.
Others explain that the In the majority of Jewish
tradition is a symbol of the homes, however, the practice
turbans the Levites wore in of lighting the candles first
the temple, as a reminder became the time-honored
of the Jewish person’s tradition that has held its
role as priest (Ex. 19:6). own for hundreds of years.
Even among cherished Tradition plays a
traditions, there is not significant role in Jewish
always agreement on life and thought. Sometimes
what they mean or how traditions provide structure
they are to be applied. and continuity. Other times
One of the most they take on a life of their
cherished traditions in an own and become ways of
observant Jewish home is explaining beliefs, even
the Sabbath meal, which is though many no longer
held on Friday evenings after remember or understand
sundown. According to the why. The latter seems to be
collected oral traditions of the case with the traditional
the Talmud, one rabbi held belief in two Messiahs. Yet,
that the Sabbath candles as we shall see, the tradition
must be lit first, followed by has an understandable
the blessing over the bread explanation that is grounded
and wine. Another rabbi in the Jewish Scriptures.
4
THE TRADITION the Jewish people and to the

OF MESSIAH entire human race” (p.317).
The Dictionary Of
F
aith in the coming Jewish Lore And Legend
Messiah is deeply encapsulates the term
rooted in historical Messiah a bit more
Judaism. Rambam succinctly: “The anointed
(1135–1204), one of their king of the House of David
most-read sages, wrote, of Bethlehem who will be
“Whoever does not believe sent by God to inaugurate
in him [the Messiah], or the final redemption in the
does not await his coming, end of days” (p.132).
denies not only the other For the Christian reader,
prophets but also the Torah there will be many familiar
and Moses, our teacher, for themes that surface
the Torah attests to his between these two views
coming.” 1 of Messiah. For the Jewish
The New Jewish reader, we can only
Encyclopedia defines attempt to paraphrase
the Messiah as “a modified and summarize hundreds
form of the Hebrew of years of theology into
word Mashiah meaning a few pages. In an attempt
‘anointed,’ applied in the to do this, and before
Bible to a person appointed looking more closely at
for special function, such as the Scriptures themselves,
High Priest or King. Later let’s take a look first at
the term Messiah came to some of the extrabiblical
express the belief that a Jewish writings that reflect
Redeemer, that is a divinely messianic themes of the
appointed individual, will in Hebrew prophets.
the end bring salvation to
5
ONE ENDTIME a head that people will

DELIVERER despair of redemption.
One view of the Jewish This will last seven years.
anticipation of the last days, And then, unexpectedly,
for instance, is summarized the Messiah will come
by Raphael Patai in The (pp.95-96).
Messiah Texts: As seen above, the
The pangs of the messianic expectation in
messianic times are Jewish literature is very real.
imagined as having This anticipation is based
heavenly as well as on the Hebrew prophets
earthly sources and who saw a time of terrible
expressions. From tribulation called the “time
above, awesome of Jacob’s trouble.” In the
cosmic cataclysms will midst of that darkest of ages,
be visited upon the earth: the Messiah will come, the
conflagrations, pestilence, conquering King who will sit
famine, earthquakes, hail on His throne in Jerusalem
and snow, thunder and and establish the kingdom
lightning. These will be of heaven here on earth.
paralleled by evils The Apocalypse Of
brought by men upon Abraham, an extrabiblical
themselves: insolence, book, says:
robbery, heresy, harlotry, Then I will sound the
corruption, oppression, trumpet out of the air,
cruel edicts, lack of truth, and will send mine Elect
and no fear of sin. All One [the Messiah],
this will lead to internal having in him all my
decay, demoralization, power, one measure [of
and even apostasy. each of my attributes];
Things will come to such and this one shall
6
summon my despised of the great King and

people from the nations, hope of Israel.
and I will burn with fire The word messiah literally
those who have insulted means “anointed,” as does
them and who have ruled the word Christ. In Israel,
over them in this Age priests were anointed, kings
(ibid, p.96). were anointed, and some
Jewish sources are
consistently clear that King
Messiah will be known as The anticipation of
the “Prince of Peace,” and national deliverance
during His reign, “there will through a person
be a resurrection of the dead,
followed by the great day of anointed by God
judgment for all mankind. has been a
The way to the Garden of theme of Judaism
Eden will be revealed.” 2
throughout the ages.
A MESSIANIC
ANTICIPATION theologians believe God
The anticipation of divinely anointed others for
national deliverance the purposes of redeeming
through a person anointed Israel from some calamity.
by God has been a theme Therefore, rabbinic tradition
of Judaism throughout the has often seen messianic
ages. Sometimes this shared characteristics in the
expectation became a hope deliverers of Israel. Here
in false messiahs. At other are just four in a long list
times, the title of messiah of persons referred to as
came to rest on men who “messiah” in extrabiblical
reflected characteristics Jewish literature.
7
Enoch. “That angel Often, however, the

came to me, . . . saying, anticipation of a deliverer
‘You are the Son of man allowed the people of Israel
[i.e., the Messiah] who art to put their faith in persons
born for righteousness, and who raised their hopes
righteousness has rested without being able to
upon you. The righteousness deliver. According to The
of the Ancient of days shall New Jewish Encyclopedia,
not forsake you’” (1 Enoch “Most leaders of messianic
70:17-18). movements are known as
Moses. “My beloved false messiahs. The most
is like a gazelle” (Song 2:9). important of these were
Rabbi Yitzhaq said, “Just as David Alroy in the 12th
this gazelle can be seen and century; David Reubeni in
then again hides itself, so the 16th century; Shabbetai
the first Messiah [Moses] Tzevi in the 17th century;
revealed himself to the and Jacob Frank in the 18th
Children of Israel and then century. It is important to
again hid himself from note that some of the so-
them.” 3 called false messiahs had
Hezekiah. “The Holy the support of the great
One, blessed be He, wanted intellects and spirits of their
to make Hezekiah [king of day. Shabbetai Tzevi was
Judah] the Messiah.” 4 accepted enthusiastically by
Menahem ben scholars, rich men, and poor
’Amiel. “This is the men alike” (p.318).
Messiah of the lineage of The list goes on and
David, and his name is on. In short, in Judaism
Menahem ben ’Amiel. He there is room for many
was born during the reign of potential “candidates”
David, king of Israel.” 5 spanning the entirety
8
of Israel’s history. Most Jewish Scriptures. An often-

recently, a sect of ultra- repeated concept within the
Orthodox (Lubavitchers) in tradition of Israel is that
New York believed (and still there is not one Messiah
believe) that Chief Rabbi but two: Moshiach ben Yosef
Menachem Schneerson was and Moshiach ben David
the messiah. When he died (Messiah son of Joseph and
in 1994, they turned to Messiah son of David). Like
Isaiah 53 to predict his the kippah and the candles
resurrection and ascension we’ve already mentioned,
to the throne in Jerusalem. this is a tradition established
To this day, this sect has not by the rabbis long ago and a
chosen another chief rabbi matter we shall examine in
as they await Schneerson’s closer detail.
resurrection. Pick up almost any
Jewish dictionary or
THE TRADITION encyclopedia, look up the
word messiah, and you will
OF TWO find references to not one
MESSIAHS messianic figure but two:
W
ithin Judaism, Messiah ben Joseph and
however, there is Messiah ben David. But
another way of why? How did such a
approaching the anticipation dichotomy come to be?
of Messiah that deserves In the years following the
special attention. This idea destruction of the temple in
is not simply messianic AD 70, Jewish sages looked
in principle, but is a way of at the Scriptures and saw
explaining descriptions of two distinct characteristics
the great King Messiah of the promised Messiah
that is deeply rooted in the in the texts. As they
9
studied these dissimilar the chastisement for our

characteristics, they saw peace was upon Him, and
promises so divergent as to by His stripes we are
be seemingly incompatible. healed. All we like sheep
have gone astray; we have
A MESSIAH turned, every one, to his
WHO SUFFERS own way; and the Lord
According to Isaiah 53:2-8, has laid on Him the
He shall grow up before iniquity of us all. He was
Him as a tender plant, oppressed and He was
and as a root out of dry afflicted, yet He opened
ground. He has no form not His mouth; He was
or comeliness; and when led as a lamb to the
we see Him, there is no slaughter, and as a sheep
beauty that we should before its shearers is silent,
desire Him. He is despised so He opened not His
and rejected by men, a mouth. He was taken
Man of sorrows and from prison and from
acquainted with grief. And judgment, and who will
we hid, as it were, our declare His generation?
faces from Him; He was For He was cut off from
despised, and we did not the land of the living; for
esteem Him. Surely He the transgressions of My
has borne our griefs and people He was stricken.
carried our sorrows; yet Some modern rabbis
we esteemed Him stricken, insist that this passage
smitten by God, and has nothing at all to do
afflicted. But He was with the Messiah. They
wounded for our say the unidentified “He”
transgressions, He was in this passage should be
bruised for our iniquities; interpreted as the people of
10
Israel. In other words, the ox knows its owner and

end of verse 3 might read, the donkey its master’s
“And we [the Gentile crib; but Israel does not
nations] hid, as it were, our know, My people do not
faces from Israel; Israel was consider. Alas, sinful
despised, and we did not nation, a people laden
esteem Israel. Surely Israel with iniquity, a brood of
has borne our griefs and evildoers, children who are
carried our sorrows.” corrupters! They have
This explanation has its forsaken the Lord, they
own difficulties, as it would have provoked to anger
suggest that Isaiah was not the Holy One of Israel,
written for the Jewish people they have turned away
but for the Gentiles. Even backward (Isa. 1:2-4).
if that were true, this Further complications
interpretation views the arise by interpreting Isaiah
chosen people as an 53 as a people and not a
innocent sacrifice for the person. To suggest that
sinning nations of the world. all of Israel must die
Yet the prophecy of Isaiah as a sin offering would
begins with the words of a contradict the promises
God who is brokenhearted of Jeremiah 31:35-36.
over the sins of His people Thus says the Lord, who
Israel. Isaiah begins with gives the sun for a light by
the following words: day, the ordinances of the
Hear, O heavens, and moon and the stars for a
give ear, O earth! For the light by night, who
Lord has spoken: “I have disturbs the sea, and its
nourished and brought up waves roar (The Lord of
children, and they have hosts is His name): “If
rebelled against Me; the those ordinances depart
11
from before Me, says that Israel is the suffering

the Lord, then the seed servant of Isaiah 53, Rabbi
of Israel shall also cease Jonathan ben Uzziel from
from being a nation early in the second century
before Me forever.” wrote:
God’s promise is that Behold my servant
Israel shall never cease to Messiah shall prosper;
exist—that they will never he shall be high, and
be cut off from the living. To increase, and be
suggest that the people of exceeding strong: as
Israel must die for the sins the house of Israel
of the nations is problematic looked to him through
because biblically, whenever many days, because
Israel suffered, it was their countenance was
invariably because of her darkened among the
own sin, not for the sins of peoples, and their
others. complexion beyond
Israel’s experiences teach the sons of men. 6
all of us, Jew or Gentile, This disciple of Hillel,
about the character of God. one of Israel’s most
Israel’s history is a word renowned and respected
picture for all people to better rabbis, saw the suffering
understand who God is and servant of Isaiah 53 as
what the consequences of sin being the Messiah.
are. But to insinuate that the The Babylonian Talmud
Jewish people as a whole agrees:
must suffer and die as an The Messiah—what is his
atonement for the iniquities name? . . . The Rabbis
of the Gentiles is without say, the leprous one;
biblical precedence. those of the house of
In contrast to the thought Rabbi say, the sick one,
12
as it is said, “Surely temple, wrote:

he hath borne our As the Old Testament
sicknesses.” 7 and Jewish tradition
The 16th-century taught that the object
scholar Rabbi Moshe of a sacrifice was its
Alshekh wrote: substitution for the
Our Rabbis with one offender, so Scripture and
voice, accept and affirm the Jewish fathers also
the opinion that the teach that the substitute
prophet is speaking of to whom all these types
king Messiah. 8 pointed was none other
than the Messiah. 9
To entertain the notion
A disciple of Hillel, that the people of Israel
one of Israel’s would have to become an
“offering for sin” (Isa. 53:10)
most renowned and breaks with the simple
respected rabbis, meaning of the text and
saw the suffering departs from their own
traditions concerning
servant of Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53. For the Jewish
as being the people to become a sin
Messiah. offering, or asham in the
Hebrew, would mean
becoming a substitutionary
Alfred Edersheim atonement for a repentant
(1825–1889), noted scholar sinner—an offering without
and author of a number of spot or blemish. Without
books on Jewish life and repentance by the sinner,
worship in the years before there could be no
the destruction of the atonement for him. For
13
a substitutionary shall be healed by his

sacrifice to be acceptable, wounds, at the time that
it had to be made in the the Eternal will bring him
temple in Jerusalem by the anew. Hasten the day
sinner or there could be no when he will assemble
atonement. At no time in us a second time by the
human history have Jewish hand of the one who
people died as an asham (a shall endure forever. 10
sin offering in the temple) The overtones of Isaiah
to atone for Gentile sins. 53 cannot be missed. The
It seems more practical fact that the Jewish people
and in keeping with the text pray for “him” to accomplish
that the prophet is speaking all these deeds leaves one
of a unique person, the with the impression that
Messiah. This continues they are not praying for
to be the interpretation in Gentile atonement but for
many Jewish circles today. their own, by the hands of
Consider the following the Messiah.
prayer offered in While many modern
synagogues around the rabbis believe Isaiah 53 to
world on Yom Kippur, the be about Israel, the older
Day of Atonement: tradition, that the suffering
Our righteous Anointed is servant is the Messiah, is
departed from us; horror no less respected. Judaism is
has seized us and we also known for having more
have none to justify us. than one opinion. As the
He has borne the yoke of story goes, you can have
our iniquities. He bears two Jewish men and three
our sins on his shoulder Jewish opinions—and they
that we may find pardon can all be accepted as
for our iniquities. We legitimately “Jewish.”
14
So Isaiah 53, from a and a kingdom, that all

traditional Jewish peoples, nations, and
perspective as well as languages should serve
a plain reading of the Him. His dominion is
text, appears to say that an everlasting dominion,
someone—a unique which shall not pass
person—is going to suffer away, and His kingdom
and die, and that this the one which shall not
suffering servant is the be destroyed.
Messiah. This regal and victorious
description of Messiah has
A MESSIAH been the expectation of
WHO DELIVERS many people for millennia.
If you were an oppressed Jewish people of faith have
and dispersed people clung to the tradition and
hoping for a conquering promise of a deliverer, a
king (as the Jewish people Savior who would throw
were in AD 70), then off the yoke of oppressive
Isaiah 53 would not be very governments and establish
encouraging. Passages like an indestructible kingdom
Daniel 7:13-14 would be on earth.
much more appealing: Certainly, the Bible
I was watching in the appears to support such
night visions, and behold, a king:
One like the Son of Man, Of the increase of His
coming with the clouds of government and peace
heaven! He came to the there will be no end, upon
Ancient of Days, and they the throne of David and
brought Him near before over His kingdom, to order
Him. Then to Him was it and establish it with
given dominion and glory judgment and justice from
15
that time forward, even Messiahs: one who suffers

forever. The zeal of the and dies, and the other a
Lord of hosts will perform great king who conquers all
this (Isa. 9:7). of God’s enemies.
In mercy the throne In the 10th century,
will be established; and as Catholicism had spread
One will sit on it in truth, throughout Europe, and
in the tabernacle of David, Islam had taken root in the
judging and seeking Middle East, there was a
justice and hastening great deal of discussion
righteousness (Isa. 16:5). about who the Messiah
Even the New Testament would or should be. The
mirrors the hope of a Jewish people were feeling
Messiah seated on a throne: pressed on both sides and
He will be great, and will yearned for a Savior.
be called the Son of the The collective oral
Highest; and the Lord traditions of the Talmud had
God will give Him the been recorded 400 years
throne of His father earlier but gave no single
David (Lk. 1:32). and clear expectation. In
fact, the oral tradition of
THE TENSION the rabbis presented many
RECONCILED views, some of which
These scriptural dichotomies appeared contradictory to
between a suffering and a one another and spurred
conquering Messiah were so great debate. One highly
discordant that for at least regarded rabbi during
some Jewish students and Europe’s Medieval Period
scholars, there was only one was a Babylonian rabbi,
way it could be reconciled— Sa’adiah Gaon (882–942),
there had to be two who attempted to narrow
16
the scope of the debate with work of the suffering

a two-Messiah position. servant, Messiah son
According to Michael of Joseph. Rabbi Gaon
Brown: appears to have been a
[Rabbi Sa’adiah Gaon] lone voice in an era of
explained that there upheaval, persecution, and
would actually be two Jewish assimilations into the
Messiahs, the Messiah Christian and Muslim world.
son of Joseph (mentioned His work was picked up
explicitly in the Talmud a few decades later by Rabbi
in b. Sukkah 52a), who Hai Gaon because the
was associated with a Jewish community in what is
time of victory mixed now modern Iraq was still
with hardship and looking for clarification on
calamity, and the what to expect about the
Messiah son of David, coming Messiah.
who would establish The biblical references
God’s kingdom on the to Joseph as a type of
earth. 11 Messiah are mysterious yet
Apart from the singular understandable in light of all
Talmudic reference, Rabbi that the patriarch Joseph
Gaon is the earliest known endured in order to become
Jewish scholar to articulate the eventual deliverer of his
this two-Messiah position, people. Joseph’s redemptive
and one of the only people suffering and life story was
to develop it into the thought by some to be a
“Messiah son of Joseph” parallel to those messianic
theology. However, for Rabbi passages that spoke of a
Gaon, the coming of the suffering servant.
Messiah son of David was The extrabiblical
contingent entirely on the book Joseph And Asenath is
17
based on the two biblical is true of King David, who

characters. Asenath, through a covenant with
according to Genesis, God founded an everlasting
became Joseph’s wife in dynasty, expanded the
Egypt and bore him two borders of Israel, and
sons: Ephraim and planned to build “a house”
Manasseh (Gen. 46:20). for God.
Joseph And Asenath was In the two-Messiah
originally written in Greek, approach, some texts point
likely in Alexandria, Egypt, to Messiah son of David, yet
and adopted by both Jewish other texts of Jewish tradition
and Christian movements speak of another mighty
for its many rich pictures of warrior who more closely
pagans becoming faithful reflects the experience of
believers and a holy bride. Jacob’s son Joseph. Raphael
In the years during the Patai, in The Messiah Texts,
formation of the Talmud, writes:
Joseph And Asenath was still He is the warrior-Messiah
quite popular, though later whose coming was
rejected as nonbiblical. Its predicted to his first
influence presenting Joseph ancestress, Rachel.
as a type of a redeemer When, after years of
during such a historical barrenness, Rachel finally
juncture cannot be gave birth to a son, she
overlooked. called his name Yosef,
But the Bible alone saying, “May the Lord
demonstrates many clear add [yosef] to me another
and godly characteristics of son” (Gen. 30:24).
Joseph, certainly suitable for A Midrash fragment
a comparison with the explains: “Hence [we
expected Messiah. The same know] that the Anointed
18
of War will arise in the another extrabiblical source

future from Joseph.” 12 written in Aramaic around
This warrior in whom the time of the temple’s
much hope was placed, destruction in AD 70:
however, suffers and dies. And whosoever is
As noted earlier, this delivered from the
death is important predicted evil shall see
because, according to the My wonders. For My son,
two-Messiah position, the the Messiah, shall be
Messiah son of David revealed, together with
those who are with him,
and shall gladden the
According to survivors four hundred
years. And it shall be,
the two-Messiah after those years, that My
position, the son, the Messiah, shall
Messiah son die (Esdras 7:27-30).
Though Jewish in origin,
of David cannot it is understandable that
appear until the such a text would not be
Messiah son considered an authoritative
book within Jewish theology
of Joseph suffers as it calls the Messiah God’s
and dies. “son.” Esdras uses language
that is similar to that used
of Yeshua (today recognized
cannot appear until this first by the anglicized name
Messiah suffers and dies. “Jesus”), who was attested
The second Messiah’s arrival by His followers to be God’s
is contingent on the first Son. But from a historical
arrival. According to yet perspective, because the
19
messianic figure in Esdras of the age in which they live,

dies, he is considered by this man will go with his
Hebrew scholarship to be followers to Jerusalem. But
the Messiah son of Joseph. the rabbi’s predictions
Speaking of the Messiah continue:
who would suffer and die, And when Messiah ben
Rabbi Hai Gaon wrote: Joseph and all the people
At that time a man will with him will dwell in
arise from among the Jerusalem, Armilus will
Children of Joseph . . . hear their tiding and will
and he will be called come and make magic
Messiah of God. And and sorcery to lead many
many people will gather astray with them, and he
around him in Upper will go up and wage war
Galilee, and he will be against Jerusalem, and
their king. . . . But most will defeat Messiah ben
of Israel will be in their Joseph and his people,
exile, for it will not and will kill many of
become clear to them them . . . . And he will
that the end has come. slay Messiah ben Joseph
And then Messiah ben and it will be a great
Joseph, with the men calamity for Israel. 14
who rally around him, Armilus in Jewish
will go up from the tradition is considered to be
Galilee to Jerusalem. 13 the devil, an anti-messiah
According to this rabbinic character originating from
tradition, then, Messiah son Gog and Magog. It would
of Joseph will come from appear that this Armilus
the region of Galilee, and defeats this messianic
though many will not character and crushes the
recognize the importance people’s messianic hope.
20
The text continues: will remain cast out [in

Why will permission be the streets] for forty days,
granted to Armilus to slay but no unclean thing will
Messiah ben Joseph? In touch him, until Messiah
order that the heart of ben David comes and
those of Israel who have brings him back to life,
no faith should break, as commanded by the
and so that they say: Lord. And this will be
“This is the man for the beginning of the
whom we have hoped; signs which he will
now he came and was perform, and this is
killed and no redemption the resurrection of
is left for us.” And they the dead which will
will leave the covenant come to pass. 16
of Israel, and attach Although Messiah son of
themselves to the Joseph is killed, Messiah son
nations, and the latter of David brings him back to
will kill them. 15 life.
Continuing with this two- For the Christian reader,
Messiah position, the rabbi these themes may sound
predicted that many would very familiar, though not
place their hope in Messiah particularly accurate. For the
son of Joseph. Their hopes Jewish reader, these rabbinic
would be dashed so that prophecies may border on
they would fall away from the absurd.
Judaism. And then they
would fall into calamity
among the Gentiles. But the
story does not end here:
When Messiah ben
Joseph is killed, his body
21
WHAT DO THE and to Him shall be the

SCRIPTURES SAY? obedience of the people
(Gen. 49:10).
B
ecause the Hebrew Written approximately
word translated 4,000 years ago, this
“messiah” means prophecy attributed to the
“anointed,” the Scriptures patriarch Jacob states that
speak of both kings and the “rule” or authority over
priests as being “anointed” Israel as a nation would be
ones. In one text, even the established and maintained
Persian King Cyrus is through the tribe of Judah.
referred to as God’s “Behold, the days are
“anointed” because he was coming,” says the Lord,
used by God to deliver His “that I will raise to
people from exile (Isa. 45:1). David a Branch of
Even so, the Scriptures point righteousness; a King
to an anointed prophet, shall reign and prosper,
priest, and king who would and execute judgment
do for God’s people what and righteousness in the
they could not do for earth” (Jer. 23:5).
themselves. Jewish literature Written nearly 2,600
often refers to this unique years ago by the prophet
individual as “King Jeremiah, the lineage and
Messiah.” rule of the Messiah is once
again predicted to come
INTERMINGLED through King David’s
PROMISES bloodline.
The scepter shall not Therefore the Lord Himself
depart from Judah, nor a will give you a sign:
lawgiver from between his Behold, the virgin shall
feet, until Shiloh comes; conceive and bear a Son,
22
and shall call His name ONE MESSIAH IN

Immanuel (Isa. 7:14). TWO MISSIONS
“Immanuel” means “God There are many other
with us,” and His birth was prophecies that could be
to be miraculous. A virgin, listed and discussed beyond
one who never knew a man, the scope of this booklet.
would bear a child. But it’s important to see
But you, Bethlehem how the Hebrew Scriptures
Ephrathah, though themselves allude to the
you are little among merging of suffering and
the thousands of Judah, power in one Person.
yet out of you shall come God said through the
forth to Me the One to prophet Isaiah, “Say to the
be Ruler in Israel, whose daughter of Zion, ‘Surely
goings forth are from of your salvation is coming;
old, from everlasting behold, His reward is with
(Mic. 5:2). Him, and His work before
The birthplace of this Him’” (Isa. 62:11). This is
Messiah is Bethlehem. how it is rendered in nearly
In the Hebrew language every English translation.
it means “House of Bread.” Grammatically, it is a bit
How can we assume that awkward: Salvation is
this verse is referring to the coming, and His reward is
Messiah? Because He is with Him, and His work
set to rule Israel. But before Him. It sounds as if
more important, His goings “salvation” in this passage is
forth are from everlasting. an actual person. Perhaps
He has been waiting in the God has planted another
wings of eternity for the clue in His Word. The word
right moment to come salvation in this passage is
to the earth. also a proper Hebrew
23
name—Yeshua. So, it would will reign in Jerusalem as

then read, “Say to the Conqueror, Deliverer, and
daughter of Zion, ‘Surely King of the world. As God’s
Yeshua is coming; behold, ultimate Anointed One,
His reward is with Him, and Yeshua fulfills the word
His work before Him.’” pictures of every provision of
Grammatically, it makes the Law, the Prophets, and
sense. the Psalms (see Lk. 24:44)
Was there ever a man that God has ever given.
named Yeshua of the tribe of Some rabbis have built
Judah, from the house of their case for two (or more)
David, attested to have been Messiahs on the opinions of
born of a virgin in the town other rabbis. But the case
of Bethlehem? Yes! But most for Yeshua was made by
people know Him by His multiple witnesses who lived
anglicized name—Jesus. with Him 2,000 years ago.
For those who believe Those around Him routinely
Yeshua was the predicted saw the manifestation of
Messiah who was born in God in and through Him,
Bethlehem to die outside the and they proclaimed Him
walls of Jerusalem, the dual the Messiah, the Son of God.
themes of a suffering and Suffering Messiah.
powerful Messiah merge into Like Messiah son of Joseph,
one Person. In His first Yeshua suffered and died—
coming, He fulfilled the fulfilling the prophecy:
picture of Joseph whose Surely He has borne our
betrayal and suffering was griefs and carried our
used by God to “save” His sorrows; yet we esteemed
people. In His promised Him stricken, smitten by
return, He will fulfill the God, and afflicted. But He
word picture of David who was wounded for our
24
transgressions, He was pardoned for his

bruised for our iniquities; sake, though we were
the chastisement for our accounted smitten,
peace was upon Him, stricken from before
and by His stripes we the Lord and afflicted.
are healed. All we like But he shall build the
sheep have gone astray; sanctuary that was
we have turned, every polluted because of
one, to his own way; our transgressions
and the Lord has laid and given up because
on Him the iniquity of of our iniquities; and
us all (Isa. 53:4-6). by his teaching shall
In the synagogues many his peace be multiplied
centuries ago, it was upon us, and by our
common to take the devotion to his words
Scriptures and amplify the our transgressions
text to help impart the fuller shall be forgiven us.
meaning to the All we like sheep have
congregations. These been scattered; we had
amplifications, or wandered off each on his
paraphrased translations, own way; but it was the
were called Targumim Lord’s good pleasure to
(Targum in the singular). forgive the transgressions
Here is one English of us all for his sake.
translation of the Targum This was the understood
Isaiah, from the same verses meaning of Isaiah 53 in the
as above: second century. It would
Then [the Messiah] shall clearly be the Messiah who
pray on behalf of our would suffer and die, and
transgressions, and our people’s sins would be
iniquities shall be forgiven through His work.
25
The historical Yeshua the Lord shall prosper in

was taken by force and His hand (Isa. 53:10).
executed by the Romans. The Messiah was to be
Yet another remarkable an offering—a sin offering
event was witnessed not that had to be slaughtered.
by a few, not by dozens, But His days would be
but by hundreds of men prolonged nonetheless.
and women in Jerusalem. He would die, but death
He rose from the dead! would not hold Him. This
Orthodox Rabbi Pincas too was prophesied by the
Lapide writes, “This Jesus psalmist: “Nor will You let
was utterly true to the Torah, Your Holy One see decay”
as I myself hope to be. I (Ps. 16:10 NIV).
even suspect that Jesus was
more true to the Torah than If there was ever
I, an orthodox Jew.” 17
Lapide also writes, “I a person who fit
accept the resurrection of the description of
Easter Sunday not as an the rabbis’ concept
invention of the community
of disciples, but as a of a Messiah son
historical event.” 18 This of Joseph, it was
too was in keeping with this historical
the prophet Isaiah:
Yet it pleased the Lord to figure,Yeshua.
bruise Him; He has put
Him to grief. When You If there was ever a person
make His soul an offering who fit the description of the
for sin, He shall see His rabbis’ concept of a Messiah
seed, He shall prolong His son of Joseph, it was this
days, and the pleasure of historical figure, Yeshua.
26
The Returning, For the Lord Himself

Conquering Messiah. will descend from heaven
Does Yeshua also fit the with a shout, with the
description of the rabbis’ voice of an archangel, and
Messiah son of David? with the trumpet of God
Yes. He was of the line (1 Th. 4:16).
of the house of David and I saw heaven opened,
said He would return as the and behold, a white horse.
conquering King of Israel. And He who sat on him
If you read His words was called Faithful and
and the teachings of His True, and in righteousness
disciples, you will see that He judges and makes war.
He promised to come again. His eyes were like a flame
And when He returns, He of fire, and on His head
will establish His throne in were many crowns. He
Jerusalem: had a name written that
Then the sign of the Son no one knew except
of Man will appear in Himself. He was clothed
heaven, and then all the with a robe dipped in
tribes of the earth will blood, and His name is
mourn, and they will see called The Word of God.
the Son of Man coming on And the armies in heaven,
the clouds of heaven with clothed in fine linen, white
power and great glory. and clean, followed Him
And He will send His on white horses. Now out
angels with a great sound of His mouth goes a sharp
of a trumpet, and they will sword, that with it He
gather together His elect should strike the nations.
from the four winds, from And He Himself will rule
one end of heaven to the them with a rod of iron.
other (Mt. 24:30-31). He Himself treads the
27
winepress of the fierceness WAS YESHUA THE

and wrath of Almighty
God. And He has on His
PROMISED ONE?
I
robe and on His thigh a n this booklet, we
name written: KING OF have examined Jewish
KINGS AND LORD OF theology concerning
LORDS (Rev. 19:11-16). two Messiahs. The first,
Yeshua, or Jesus if you Messiah son of Joseph,
prefer, will return again as would come as the one
the conquering king. The who would suffer, die, and
expected messianic figure be resurrected. And His
of Daniel 7:13-14 will be death would prepare the
visible: way for the coming of the
I was watching in the Messiah son of David, the
night visions, and behold, conquering King of kings.
One like the Son of Man, For the Christian
coming with the clouds of reader, based on repeated
heaven! He came to the testimony from Jewish men
Ancient of Days, and they and women in the New
brought Him near before Testament, it becomes clear
Him. Then to Him was that these two Messiahs
given dominion and glory are one and the same—the
and a kingdom, that all historical person known as
peoples, nations, and Jesus, who came, suffered,
languages should serve died, and rose again.
Him. His dominion is In the fullness of time, His
an everlasting dominion, resurrection will reach its
which shall not pass pinnacle when He returns in
away, and His kingdom power and glory to assume
the one which shall not His throne in Jerusalem.
be destroyed. For the Jewish reader,
28
these claims may as yet as one mourns for his only

seem unsubstantiated. son, and grieve for Him as
Looking at what has one grieves for a firstborn.
been presented here In that day there shall
from a strictly rabbinical be a great mourning in
viewpoint, leaning on the Jerusalem (12:10-11).
commentaries and the
rabbis as your singular
guide, you may not yet If Yeshua was who
be convinced.
Apart from the life of
He said He was,
the one known as Yeshua, then the two
Jewish theology may make Messiahs easily
an assumption of two
Messiahs. But if Yeshua was
meld into a
who He said He was, then cohesive unity—
the two Messiahs easily one who came and
meld into a cohesive unity—
one who came and is
is coming again to
coming again to fulfill all fulfill all that the
that the Bible requires. Bible requires.
The fact that Yeshua
could be overlooked as the
Messiah of Israel should What do the rabbis
come as no surprise. think of this passage? Here,
Certainly, it does not at least, is the opinion of
surprise the Almighty, whose one 16th-century rabbi,
prophet Zechariah wrote: Moshe Alshekh:
They will look on Me I will yet do a third thing,
whom they pierced. Yes, and that is, that “they
they will mourn for Him shall look unto me,” for
29
they shall lift up their For us to have pierced

eyes unto me in perfect Him, He would have
repentance, when they to have been here on
see him whom they earth before the scene
pierced, that is Messiah, described in Zechariah
the Son of Joseph; for our 12. He could not have
Rabbis, of blessed pierce-marks on Him that
memory, have said that we would recognize as
he will take upon himself having been given Him
all the guilt of Israel, and by us (humankind)
shall then be slain in the unless there were
war to make atonement something recognizable
in such manner that it about Him and the
shall be accounted as if pierce-marks on Him. 20
Israel had pierced him, Someone was pierced.
for on account of their sin Yeshua was nailed to the
he has died; and, execution stake, suffered,
therefore, in order that it and died. This resonates
may be reckoned to them with the scholarship of
as a perfect atonement, Rabbi Hai Gaon:
they will repent and look And at that time a man
to the blessed One, will arise from among the
saying that there is none Children of Joseph . . .
beside him to forgive and he will be called
those that mourn on Messiah of God. And
account of him who died many people will gather
for their sin: this is the around him in Upper
meaning of “They shall Galilee, and he will be
look upon me.” 19 their king . . . . But most
Messianic rabbi Bruce of Israel will be in their
L. Cohen writes: exile, for it will not
30
become clear to them You need not be among

that the end has come. 21 the mourners. Whether you
Rabbi Hai Gaon are Jewish or Gentile, the
(mentioned earlier on “Light of the world” waits for
pp.17,20-21) writes that you to acknowledge that He
Messiah son of Joseph will is the one true Messiah, who
be resurrected, “And this was pierced and who is
will be the beginning of the coming again.
signs which he will perform,
and this is the resurrection Blessed are You
of the dead which will come O Lord, our God, King of
to pass.” 22 the universe, who fulfills
His promises and has
promised us the Messiah,
A day is coming our Redeemer. May our
when all Israel will hearts be turned toward
You, Almighty One, and may
mourn because they we be found faithful on the
did not know the day of the Messiah’s return,
One who had the One in whom the New
Covenant, Your promised
been pierced. salvation, is made manifest
according to Your eternal
A day is coming when all plan. Though our sins be
Israel will mourn because many, though they be red
they did not know the One as scarlet, make them
who had been pierced. They white as snow through
will mourn because so many the death and resurrection of
generations will have passed Your Son. Blessed are You,
and missed the Promised O Lord, who gives us
One, God’s Anointed. salvation.
31
ENDNOTES Publishing Co., 1928)

1. Hilchos Melachim From 11. Answering Jewish
The Mishneh Torah Of The Objections To Jesus, Vol. 2
Rambam,11:1 by Michael Brown (Grand
2. Dictionary Of Jewish Rapids: Baker Books, 2002),
Lore And Legend (London: p.212
Thames and Hudson Ltd, 12. The Messiah Texts
1991), p.132 by Raphael Patai (Detroit:
3. Pesikta de Rav Kahana Wayne State University
by Bernard Mandelbaum Press, 1988), p.165
(Jewish Theological 13. ibid, p.168
Seminary Of America, 14. ibid, p.169
1962), pp.91-92 15. ibid, p.169
4. B. Sanhedrin 94a 16. ibid, p.169
5. www.religiousstudies. 17. The Resurrection Of
uncc.edu/jcreeves/sefer_ Jesus: A Jewish Perspective
zerubbabel.htm by Pinchas Lapide (Eugene:
6. Targum Jonathan on Wipf and Stock Publishers,
Isaiah 53, ad Iocum 2002), p.11
7. Sanhedrin 98b 18. ibid, p.13
8. What The Rabbis 19. Everyman’s Talmud:
Know About The Messiah The Major Teachings Of The
by Rachmiel Frydland Rabbinic Sages by A. Cohen
(Columbus: Messianic (Schocken Books, 1995),
Publishing Co, 1993), p.53 p.95
9. The Temple: Its Ministry 20. The Suffering Messiah
And Services by Alfred In Jewish Sacred Writ,
Edersheim (Hendrickson www.bethelnyc.org/
Publishers, 1994), p.98 sufferingmessiah.asp
10. Prayer Book For The 21. The Messiah Texts, p.168
Day Of Atonement (Hebrew 22. ibid, p.169
32
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Q0211 Two Messiahs pp 11/4/04 3:27 PM Page 1

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

TRADITION To help keep in

exile, the family customs of bookshelf, or the Star of

covering, traditional held that the bread and

THE TRADITION the Jewish people and to the

ONE ENDTIME a head that people will

summon my despised of the great King and

Enoch. “That angel Often, however, the

of Israel’s history. Most Jewish Scriptures. An often-

studied these dissimilar the chastisement for our

Israel. In other words, the ox knows its owner and

from before Me, says that Israel is the suffering

as it is said, “Surely temple, wrote:

a substitutionary shall be healed by his

So Isaiah 53, from a and a kingdom, that all

that time forward, even Messiahs: one who suffers

the scope of the debate with work of the suffering

based on the two biblical is true of King David, who

of War will arise in the another extrabiblical source

messianic figure in Esdras of the age in which they live,

The text continues: will remain cast out [in

WHAT DO THE and to Him shall be the

and shall call His name ONE MESSIAH IN

name—Yeshua. So, it would will reign in Jerusalem as

transgressions, He was pardoned for his

The historical Yeshua the Lord shall prosper in

The Returning, For the Lord Himself

winepress of the fierceness WAS YESHUA THE

these claims may as yet as one mourns for his only

they shall lift up their For us to have pierced

become clear to them You need not be among

ENDNOTES Publishing Co., 1928)

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