This is addressed to the Rabbis of the New Jerusalem. We address the New Jerusalem, because we can see a new generation of Jews living in Jerusalem today, and it is the capital of the traditional Promised Land known as Israel. The land is somewhat smaller, perhaps, but Israel nonetheless exercises a substantial amount of influence from the Euphrates to the Egyptian River as it did during the haydays of King David - perhaps more, come to think of it.
This is also for the Christian Ministry, and the other people of the book for them to view also.
As I explained in the earlier part of this book, I did not write this book just to write a book: It began as honest letters to the ministry, inquiring about the Tabernacle and The Two Anointed Ones, of whom I had read in the Bible. In the early days, writing about the need to understand the language of God, comparing it to understanding Greek, I did not then realize the implications of what I had said. For I was later to learn that we all rely upon the Greek Version of the Bible, the Septuagint, written by seventy or seventy-two rabbis at the command of Ptolemy Philadelphus about B. C. 270. Had I known this was so, whilst writing this book, I would not have apologized so profusely for not knowing Hebrew. Now I must apologize for not knowing Greek as well...
But it seems now that it is the Greek which, in terms of the Bible, must establish our Basis for Truth. We do, however, have the Dead Sea Scrolls as a measure of the actual Hebrew against the Greek Septuagint. If there are any older Hebrew versions of the Bible than the Essene's texts, I am not aware of them.
So in understanding the meaning of this and that in the Bible, we must always ask, "What did the Greek version say? What was its understanding?" For it was written by men; and those translators picked and chose certain Greek usages translating from the Hebrew to the Greek. If, for instance, the Septuagint says the same thing as the King James version of the Bible, as concerning the Two Anointed Ones of chapter four of Zechariah, then we can rely upon the King James version in that case as being True. This is our foundation for truth.
It is certainly no secret in this book that the thrust of it was to inquire of the Two Anointed Ones: to determine their Truth. In the inquiry, it became apparent to the writer, through his personal relationships with the Ministry and his letters, that The Two Anointed Ones seemed to be an unknown in religious thought. As one can see in my letters, I was led to believe that I was the only one who had seen the Two Anointed Ones in the Bible; and I was obviously frustrated and nonplussed that such a thing could be true: that I, alone among two thousand years of men, was the first to see the Two Anointed Ones. I simply could not believe it.
Finally the day came that I read the Dead Sea Scrolls; and they confirmed what I had been writing concerning these Two Anointed Ones. So I addressed this in my book, in the latter letters; and still I received no response. I was simply banging my head against a solid wall which, it appeared to me, was to no avail. Still, in my letters, I addressed the fact that I knew there were even more documents floating around which would confirm me. Some I have mentioned in my book; others, like The Provincial Letters, which I recently discovered, sympathized with me; for now I know that even the structure of my book, and how it came to be, is not a new thing. But you have to read Pascal to understand what I mean by this. Grant me this, that my tongue has been considerably restrained as compared to Pascal's tongue. And unlike Pascal, I have chosen to avoid discussing those things which seem to preoccupy the learned: right and wrong, as measured by worthiness to their assumptions. Rather, I have arrived at the conclusion that if we cannot get over the hurdle of truthfulness, all other things seem to be ancillary issues. Can righteousness be found in a man who obediently partakes of Mass and does all the right things, according to his peers, when, at the same time, it is found out that he has tucked away certain issues of the Bible and will not inquire into them to ascertain truth? Or it is found that he will not answer those who inquire of Him when the inquiry does not suit his pleasure? Thus, I concluded that Righteousness cannot come forth until these men are willing to inquire into Truth, and help others attain to a more perfect wisdom. Having discovered liars, I concluded that it would be of little help commenting on the nature of other sins if one cannot get men to see their first sin: lying.
Then the day came that I began reading the Jewish library. And I must say this was the greatest shock of my life: to have finished my book, in terms of the letters to the Ministry, and learned that the Jews had always expected Two Messiahs or Anointed Ones.
When I engaged in communication with knowledgeable people, the ministry or rabbis, I cannot remember ever not mentioning The Two Anointed Ones. I clearly mentioned them to Reverend Jahnes, Pastor John, and the head of the Jewish Theology Department for a major university. The latter individual was one with whom I had an extensive conversation flying across the Atlantic to Israel and who was seated next to me. This person did not even hint that Two Messiahs laid at the foundation of Rabbinical studies and belief. Needless to say, after discovering the Jewish Library on my own and certainly from no help from the direct contact I had with others, I feel like I have been treated like a mushroom. And I wonder how it is that I was able to be kept in the dark so long.
We can all reflect back and wonder whether had I gone to a seminary of some sort whether I would have learned the things I now know more quickly. But in all fairness to me, I communicated with learned men and women who had gone through those places of education; and if they did not mention what is now so obvious to me, then I suspect my education in such places would have been a complete waste of time and energy. For I would not have learned what I now know. And what I now know is that by faith alone I am a Jew; that is to say, from my early days of writing I was a Jew and didn't know it.
The Jews are measured by other things beyond the basic story line of the Bible, concerning the Messiahs, however. These other things involve the laws of Moses, and the formulas for adherence to those laws. By this measure, I am a liberal Jew, like the head of the Jewish Theology department next to whom I sat on the plane. She believed that those practices are to be applied according to what they can do for you; that every person must relate to the observance of them in their own way: i.e., if they help you live a better life, observe them; if not, ignore them. That was her understanding of them; and at the time of our flight to Israel she was going to Jerusalem to participate in a wake being held for a lost relative. I remember that she did not particularly look forward to it, since the home in which she was staying observed the Laws of Moses fairly strictly; and, in this case, she would be cloistered in a house for a week, wearing black clothes and not being permitted to do any kind of work at all, including turning on a light switch. And in this regard, I am more like her. I have no reservations at all in turning on a light switch on the Sabbath or Holy Days. But I try to relax on these days and I certainly avoid going to work. Still, I appreciate those who are working on Sundays, as I have gotten accustomed to going to the store to purchase something from them now and then, when I need it. For instance, if my yacht breaks down on a Sunday, or if I run out of LPG, the gas I need for cooking, on a Sunday, I can appreciate those who are working on those days. But I think they should have their Sabbaths also. And I see nothing wrong with them picking some other day of the week. The Moslems have their day of the week, and the Christians picked Sunday as their day; but individually I think we can all have our own pick of the seven days, as long as we at least reserve one day of the week for rest, which is the intent of the saying, And God rested on the seventh day, which was Saturday. But I do think about this, and I do think that it would be a wonderful thing if all of us could celebrate the same day of rest as our God. If we were all to do this, I think we should all learn very quickly what is meant in the word rest. Let's all give it some thought, however, and maybe we can find a way to share this day of rest the way He intended it. After all, He certainly felt He needed a day of rest after the creation; and I know that after the last six days (six thousand years) we all can do with a little rest. For it has been a terrible and turbulent six days.
In reading the New Testament you hear a lot about the Christians being relieved of the Curse of the Law. And I wonder if they understand what they are talking about. You can read the scriptures as well as I, and you can see that Jesus never said anything of the like; in fact, He said the contrary, that not one jot of the law shall go unfulfilled. And referring to Elias when Jesus was being transfigured atop the Mount of Olives, He said that Elias shall come and restore all things unto you. And the restoration referred to was in reflection of the disciples' questions concerning raising a Tabernacle to Jesus and Moses.
So this Curse of the Law business doesn't make sense to me. And as for their implication that Christianity is relieved from having to experience the Curses laid down in prophesy, from Moses's time onward, I don't understand this either. I understand their conclusion that by believing in Christ and doing what He commanded of them, i.e., Love one another as I have loved you, one would receive through Grace the covering of the Holy Spirit and, in the context, covered from the curses of the Prophets. And I can understand that following Him one would be protected from temptation, which is the intent of a passage in Isaiah and also Revelation: i.e., to protect you from the Temptations of Sin.
I think we can all agree that in terms of the sayings of Jesus, should one follow them, one would be protected from these temptations. But few are perfect in this measure; and I am sure that the Rabbis would agree with me, for I know that if they read what Jesus said they would have to agree with him wholly. Their only point of disagreement can be found solely in Jesus's statement that He is the Son of God, which statement no man can prove or disprove until that day which God shows His Final Hand..
The problem is, I don't see many people really following Christ's sayings.. They use Jesus to justify their own ways, rather than follow Him; and I think there is a major difference between following someone and using someone. And, as we emphasized several times earlier, Jesus said, one must be perfect as the Father and being perfect as the Father meant doing His Will. The Way I read the Bible, I have no doubts that the complete Bible is God's Will; and this includes the Prophets, upon whom Jesus is based and defined as The Christ. Jesus certainly recognized the Prophets as being His Justification for whom He is, and the authority which is vested in Him. And, to retrace our steps a bit more, we know that the definition of a Prophet, according to the Will of God, is a Prophet whose prophesies come True. Thus, we see statements by Zechariah and Isaiah, among others, who say, Thus, when you see this or these things come to pass you will know that the Lord has sent me...
Modern Christian beliefs ultimately get back to Paul; and Paul, to my knowledge, is not a Prophet; that is to say, He has not yet been established as a Prophet, because I don't know of any prophesies of His which have come true; and the prophesies with which I am familiar do not seem to agree with the prophesies of the Prophets. I am not saying Paul is a False Prophet, but rather that He is a Prophet yet to be proved. And in this context we must put the Prophets first before him, in terms of measuring the Truth or the Will of God.
Paul was a man just like you and me. He had certain understandings of the Gospel of Jesus and passed them on to us. I can't quarrel with any of them, except in terms of his prophesies, I can only say, Wait; and in terms of his own perfection of the Gospels, I think he should not have referred to them from time to time as His Gospel. And this tends to show his orientation to the Gospel of Jesus; sometimes He made the Gospel in his mind as His Gospel and put his own requirements upon it. And to get back to the baseline of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to remove Paul, so to speak, to understand it, and then inquire whether Paul was in perfection unto it. And I can only surmise at this point, because I have not studied Paul in the same detail that I have studied the Prophets, that Paul is substantially in accord with His Master, who is Jesus; and I would not find any fault with him, except that which I have already mentioned. Rather, I would applaud Him, for He is the one upon whom the world today owes its Christian fatherhood, for He did the work of Christ, perhaps more than any other, in spreading the Gospel. And no one can take this dignity away from him.
But I am not writing this to you for the purpose of talking about Jesus; as I have pretty well covered that element of my book in the earlier sections. Rather, what I would like to address is what you thought about these Two Messiahs, what your understanding of them was, and why you believe what you do.
We are doing this for a purpose: to show the Ministry how relevant I actually was in terms of traditional Jewish teaching.
As I came to the end of this book, I began wondering whether I ought to rewrite it, to remove my ignorance from it. After all, I now know that I am a Jew, and I could rewrite the book as a scholarly study relying upon Judaic thought. But the book was never intended as a scholarly study; rather, it was intended as an inquiry into Truth. And the first measure of that Truth is that things that are well known as Truth are completely ignored by those who claim to hold the Truth. Again, I am speaking of the Ministry who should have known about the Two Anointed Ones in scripture. At least, they should have known about the Essene's version, because that version met the headlines as being new and significant historical information which all scholars should be enticed to discover. As for the Ministry apparently not being aware of Judaic thought, which is their competition, I am flabbergasted that they are so ignorant as concerning your beliefs. And this bothers me, because they spend so much time claiming how they converted this Jew and another, and they take pride in it; and I wonder how they can convert a Jew from Judaism when they do not even know themselves what the Jew believes. They do the same thing with the Moslems, however, and I cringe when I hear a Minister talk about converting Moslems to Christianity; for such a thing is an impossibility, since the Moslems already pay their respects to Jesus and certainly the Koran is more strict in social instruction than the simple commandments of Jesus the Christ. At issue, in reality, in terms of converting a Moslem, is convincing a Moslem that Jesus is the Son of God; they already believe that both Jesus and the Virgin Mary are equal signs of God, and that Jesus is not only a Prophet of God but also the Messiah of God. So Moslems --the people of the Koran--cannot say they do not believe in Jesus or His Commandments; they have already accepted Him. Further, the Koran does not claim to be a new religion or establish a new god; rather it says, in a manner of speaking, it is an umbrella religion which basically confirms both the teachings of Jesus and the Judaic Bible: that these things are true. So converting a Moslem to Christianity seems to be a process which doesn't make much sense. Rather, I think the Christians ought to listen to what the Moslems are saying: that both Jesus and the Judaic Bible are true. And in this regard they and I are in agreement.
I took issue with the Son of God business mentioned in the Koran; however, as I explained earlier in this book, but only in the context that the Virgin Birth, the definition of Her Son, is defined by Isaiah as God on earth walking as a man. I suppose you can call that thing the Son of God, if you like. But Jesus certainly never implied that He is separate from God: i.e., another god. Rather, everything He said pointed to the identity of being a Servant of God. He prayed to God, the Father, and served Him, as He expected us to pray and serve Him. Further, Jesus claimed to be One with the Father; that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. We can see in the context of Prophesy that the Messiah is defined in the Word of God; anyone claiming to be the Messiah has to say, I am in the Father; and, in terms of the Messiah, the Word of God is in Him, because He knows it; so He must also say, and the Father is in Me. So it is that Jesus said, I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Now, if one is true to That Word, one can also say, If you see me you see the father; or, to put it another way, If you had known the father, you would have known me. And one knowing these things can add, to those who do not see what is in him, But you do not know the father; otherwise you would have known me.
But to Mohammed we owe a special favor: For He pointed out the importance of the Sign of the Virgin to me. And nothing, in this day, can be more relevant than this observation. For the sign of the Virgin, as Isaiah described Her, involves a special event in prophetic history: the Scattering of Israel. Thus, you can see why I harp on the Virgin so much, in terms of reconciling the Messianic epitaphs to the Jews; for one now has to answer my question, which is based upon Mohammed's observation: Whether Israel is now awaiting that particular sign in prophesy. And that is the key question in my entire book. So my book, in this regard, owes its strength to Mohammed for having pointed out something which had escaped my eye. And in this sense I must pay homage to Him and recognize His claim, at least through the conception of my book, that the Koran is the umbrella which wraps the Christian and Jewish religions into one thing: a True faith in God.
I mention this as Truth, because the measure of Truth which we are now confronting is the New Jerusalem and its New Generation of Jews who must now ponder Mohammed's claim, that the Virgin and Jesus are equal signs of God. I warrant that the Sign of the Virgin is going to have as much impact upon humanity as Jesus had. That is to say, by definition, that the Sign of the Virgin had to already have happened for Prophesy to be True: for Isaiah to be a True Prophet of God. And I suspect that you will all agree with me that pretty much all of Isaiah's prophesies have already come True; and they are easy to measure, being things upon which we can agree, looking back in history and even upon our own times. So now we have to decide upon that wonderful thing called the Sign of the Virgin, whether She and her child have already come or had to come. And you, in the New Jerusalem, have to make that decision. I have confidence that you will do as I have already suggested and say that it is done, so we can now get on with the business of Glorifying God, our Father in Heaven.
In all fairness to the Jewish fathers in history, as we have mentioned earlier, it is my opinion that the Old Jerusalem made an honest mistake. For the epithets of the Messiah, the signs of His Coming which relate to the time of the Deliverance, by far outweigh by number the epithets of the times relating to the Sign of the Virgin. We can see, in the formation of the Bible, which is based upon the criteria, or precept, that the Messiah is basically an unrecognizable character, being the weakest man in Jerusalem, for instance, or one whose comeliness and Beauty are such that no one would desire Him; that less emphasis in the text relating to the definition of the time of the Sacrificed Messiah had to be dedicated; as compared to the emphasis put on defining the time of the Deliverer, for instance. For now, standing at the end of days, we can look back through history, and then look at our own time, and see many signs of the Deliverance epoch taking place, with many already fulfilled and completed. The Pharisees who crucified Jesus did not have this luxury of measuring time. In fact, the only measure of the time of sacking Jerusalem and its temple was put in the Sign of the Virgin, so it appears to me.
Though Jesus, from my reading of the Gospel, never claimed in His own words, to be the Son of that Virgin; and rather our understanding of Him being that Son is based upon the Testimony of the Apostles; we can agree that any argument concerning it is now a mute point. It doesn't add anything to our argument, since time has now passed, including the scattering and sifting of the Jews among all the nations, and the gathering of them back to the Holy Land. We cannot stand in this day and say that we are waiting for that sign of the Virgin which preceded the Diaspora and the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. It is an impossibility to make such a claim, that we are waiting for the Sign of the Virgin, a thing which by design antedated the sacking of the Temple! We have to conclude, in this regard, that Scripture has us by the throat; and the grip is so strong we cannot get away from it; unless, of course, we start manipulating the Word of God to smooth it and remove its definite parts. And if you do that I will lay my own curse upon you.
The Jews have a long standing tradition of separating the Messiah into two Messiahs. The first to come is Messiah ben Joseph, also called Messiah ben Ephraim, since Ephraim received Joseph's principal inheritance. He is envisioned as the first commander of the army of Israel in the Messianic Wars prophesied by Ezekiel, concerning Gog and Magog. The head of Gog and Magog is Armilus, an agent of Satan, and it is believed that Messiah ben Joseph will die at his hands in the war to come.
Perhaps each epoch of warfare involved an anticipation that Messiah ben Joseph would come; many thought the Napoleonic Wars were the Wars of Gog and Magog; and after each event we discover Israel still waiting its Messiah, first of whom to come is anticipated to be Messiah ben Joseph.
In the war with Gog and Magog, Israel is defeated and the Messiah is killed, answering to the Suffering Messiah prophesies, and His corpse is left unburied in the streets of Jerusalem for forty days. Neither beast nor bird of prey dares to touch the body, however. Then Messiah ben David comes whose first act is to bring about the resurrection of Messiah ben Joseph. If this theme sounds familiar to you, you may recall we saw it before in the story of Mot...
As to the origin of these beliefs, we have the suggestion that the Messiah ben Joseph legend began in Talmudic times. Perhaps the creation of Messiah ben Joseph was as a result of the rabbis taking note of the Suffering Messiah epitaphs and reconciling them into a split Messiah: one who dies and One who is identified with the Deliverance of Israel.
Daniel 9.24, agreeing with Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22 and 69, shows the Messiah being cut off after sixty-two weeks.
Most of the prophesies focus upon a Messiah who is a successful Prince. We recall the Light of the Gentile who appears to the Redeemed of Israel, whose mouth is a sword. Connected with him is the Prince mentioned in Daniel who is called Michael and connected with a character who comes in the clouds of Glory and is One like unto the Son of Man. Two hundred years after Daniel wrote his prophesy, the author of 4 Ezra brings forth a Messiah who is a man from the sea whose mouth is a sharp sword and like a flaming fire. He stands atop Mt. Zion and rebukes all those who come against My People Israel
Realizing that one Messiah was a temporal ruler: King Messiah, in Talmudic times it appears that Messiah ben Joseph was created as a precursor of the Messiah King--called Messiah ben David. To reconcile the death of Messiah ben Joseph, the rabbis speculated that it is Gog who kills him --though Isaiah 53 clearly says God is responsible for the deed--for the wickedness of my people He bruised the Messiah--and it pleased Him to do it! In any event Messiah ben Joseph is supposed to raise the armies of Israel against their enemies, all allied with Gog and Magog; and Messiah ben Joseph is killed in the conflict. Messiah ben David then is supposed to come --in some legends Messiah ben David will bring him back to life and will lead Israel to the ultimate victory and the Messianic era of bliss.
Another explanation for the death of the Suffering Messiah seems to be derived from the fact that his being would be on the model of Moses; therefore, like Moses he must die and not be allowed to witness [cross the Jordan river] the Restoration of the people to the Holy Land. Hence, the completion of the work of Redemption was assigned to King Messiah ben David. This thesis then restates Moses the Deliverer and Lawgiver as Messiah ben Joseph, where Joshua, who inherited the leadership of the people after Moses and performed the actual Deliverance across the Jordan river, is restated in the form of Messiah ben David in the Latter Day Restoration of Israel. This scenario can be traced as follows:
4 Ezra 7:27-30: And whosoever is delivered from the predicted evil shall see My wonders. For My son, the Messiah, shall be revealed, together with those who are with him, and shall gladden the survivors four hundred years. And it shall be, after those years, that My Son, the Messiah, shall die, and all in whom there is human breath. Then shall the world be turned into the primeval silence seven days, as it was at the first beginnings...
Y. Suk. 55b: And the land shall mourn, every family apart [Zech. 12:12]. Two have interpreted this verse. One said: This is the mourning over the Messiah, and the other said: This is the mourning over the Evil Inclination. (which will be killed by God in the Messianic days).
B. Suk. 52a And the land shall mourn [Zech. 12:12]. What is the reason of this mourning? R. Dosa and the rabbis differ about it. R. Dosa says: [They will mourn] over the Messiah who will be slain, and the rabbis say: [They will mourn] over the Evil Inclination which will be killed [in the days of the Messiah]... The rabbis have taught: The Holy One, blessed be He, will say to Messiah ben David, may he be revealed soon in our days!:" Ask of Me anything, and I shall give it to you", for it is written, The Lord said unto me, Thou art My son, this day have I begotten thee, ask of Me and I will give thee the nations for thy inheritance (Ps. 2:7-8). And when he will see that Messiah ben Joseph will be slain, he will say before Him: "Master of the World! I ask nothing of you except life! " God will say to him: "Even before you said, life, your father David prophesied about you, as it is written, He asked life of Thee, Thou gavest it him [Ps. 21:5]."
Sefer Hekhalot, BhM 5:187-88: R. Yishma'el said: Metatron said to me: "Come and I shall show you the Curtain of the Place which is spread out before the Holy One, blessed be He, on which are engraved all the generations of the world and their deeds, whether they did them or will do them until the end of all generations." And I went and he showed me the fingers of his hand like a father who teaches his son the letters of the Tora...
And I saw Messiah ben Joseph and his generation, and all the deeds which the nations of the world will do there. And I saw Messiah ben David and his generation, and all the battles and wars of their deeds, and their acts which they will perform with Israel, whether for good or for bad. And I saw all the battles and wars which Gog and Magog will do in the days of the Messiah, and all that the Holy One, blessed be He, will do with them in the Future to Come. And there were the chiefs of the generation, whether among Israel or among the nations of the world, whether they did or will do in the Future to Come, until all generations, all was engraved there on the Curtain of the Place. And I saw them all with my own eyes, and at the end when I had seen I opened my mouth and spoke in praise of the place.
Hai Gaon, Responsum: When eight years will be left of the years of the end, which are the years of the beginning of the redemption...a man will rule over Israel for not less than nine months and not more than three years. And at that time a man will arise from among the Children of Joseph...and he will be called Messiah of God. And many people will gather around him in Upper Galilee, and he will be their king...But most of Israel will be in their exile, for it will not become clear to them that the end has come. And then Messiah ben Joseph, with the men who rally around him, will go up from the Galilee to Jerusalem, and they will slay the procurator of the King of Edom, and the people who will be with him...And when all the nations hear that a king has arisen among the Children of Israel in Jerusalem, they will rise up against them in the other countries and will expel them, saying: "Until now you were with us in faith, and so that you should have neither king nor prince; but now that you have a king you must not dwell in our land"
And many of Israel will go out into the desert... and will dwell there in tents, and many of them will lack bread and water...and they will suffer in accordance with their deeds. And many of them will leave the covenant of Israel, for they will become weary of their lives...
And when Messiah ben Joseph and all the people with him will dwell in Jerusalem, Armilus will hear their tiding and will come and make magic and sorcery to lead many astray with them, and he will go up and wage war against Jerusalem, and will defeat Messiah ben Joseph and his people, and will kill many of them, and will capture [many] others, and divide their booty...And he will slay Messiah ben Joseph and it will be a great calamity for Israel...Why will permission be granted to Armilus to slay Messiah ben Joseph? In order that the heart of those of Israel who have no faith should break, and so that they say: "This is the man for whom we have hoped; now he came and was killed and no redemption is left for us." And they will leave the covenant of Israel, and attach themselves to the nations, and the latter will kill them.
And to those who are left in the Land of Pathros, Messiah ben David will reveal himself..
And most of the slain will be [scattered] in the land for forty days. When Messiah ben Joseph is killed, his body will remain cast out [in the streets] for forty days, but no unclean things will touch him, until Messiah ben David comes and brings him back to life, as commanded by the Lord. And this will be the begining of the signs which he will perform, and this is the resurrection of the dead which will come to pass. And then Messiah ben David and Elijah and Israel, who come from the deserts to Jerusalem, will sit in safety and peace for many days, and will build houses and plant vineyards, and they will succeed in herds and property, until Gog will hear their tiding...And the Land of Gog and Magog is of the Land of Edom...And they will come to fight and they will wage war against Jerusalem, and Messiah ben David, and Elijah and all the people who are in it...
Mid. Lequah Tov, pp. 258-59: The sages said: "R. Hiyya commanded his generation: 'When you hear that an insolent king has arisen, do not dwell there, for he will decree, All those who say the God of the Hebrews is One, should be killed. And he will command and abolish the Tora from Israel...' They said to him: ' My master, where shall we flee?' He said to them: 'To Upper Galilee...'"
Ka. Huna in the name of R. Levi said: "This teaches [us] that Israel will be gathered in Upper Galilee, and there Messiah ben Joseph will look for them from the Galilee. And they will go up from there, and all Israel with him, to Jerusalem...And he will go up and rebuild the Temple, and offer up sacrifices. And the fire will descend from heaven. And he will smite all the Canaanites. And he will go up against the Land of Moab and slay half of it and capture the other half. And they will pay tribute to him. And at the end he will make peace with Moab..and they will dwell in safety for forty years, and will eat and drink, and foreigners will be your cultivators and your vintners...
"And after all this, Gog and Magog will hear and go up against them... and will enter and kill him [Messiah ben Joseph] in the streets of Jerusalem...And Israel will see it and say: 'The Messiah is lost to us, and no other Messiah will come.' And they will mourn him in four family groups...And the Holy One, blessed be He, will go forth and fight them [Gog and Magog]...and the mountains will move and the hills will shake, and the Mount of Olives split asunder from His arrows. And the Holy One, blessed be He, will descend upon it, and Israel will flee and escape...And thereafter Israel will be exiled to a desert of reeds, to graze among the saltwort and the roots of broom bushes for forty-five days. And Clouds of Glory will surround them. And there Israel will be hidden. And all those who will have in their heart a bad thought against the Holy One, blessed be He, the clouds will cast them out and the Canaanites will slay them. And many of Israel will go out to the Canaanites, and those [who do this] will have no share with Israel in the World to Come.."1
The scenario of Messiah ben Joseph does not leave him much to hang on to. For to understand his position, we have to be Him and consider what He might think or do when He arrives. The first thing the King Messiah must do, according to the rabbis, is commune with them in the Tora, addressing the arguments in the Oral Tora according to the tradition of the Mishnah, etc. When we consider this, we first off realize that He is going to see some unusual goings on in the dialectics. Some of these things are going to require him to do opposite things to satisfy the arguments posed in behalf of Him. He, according to Rabbinical thought, must use the Tora for argumentation sake to elucidate the other prophesies, just as the Mishnah does. And in this He will catch you in your contradictions. Let me give you a for instance: In the Bavli we have the following:
Bavli XLVII.S [Reverting to Bar Qappara's statement:] "The Messiah, as it is written, 'And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge of the fear of the Lord, and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord' (Is. 11:2-3)."
T. And R. Alexandri said, "The use of the words 'for quick understanding' indicates that he loaded him down with good deeds and suffering as a mill [which uses the same letters] is loaded down."
U. [Explaining the same word, now with reference to the formation of the letters of the word to mean "smell,"] said Raba, "[The Messiah] smells and judges, for it is written, 'And he shall judge not after the sight of his eyes nor reprove after the hearing of his ears, yet with righteousness shall he judge the poor' (Ex. 11:3-4)."
V Bar Koziba ruled for two and a half years. He said to rabbis, "I am the Messiah."
W. They said to him, "In the case of the Messiah it is written that he smells a man and judges. Let us see whether you can smell a man and judge."
X. When they saw that he could not smell a man and judge, they killed him.
I think we can agree that the use of the words "for quick understanding" requires the Messiah to be able to "smell out" interpretations of scripture which are without understanding and not according to the Will, or Word, of God. In simple terms He would have to reconcile all of your understandings to the Word of God. This is why He would be called Faithful and True. But you must see the burden of Truth you have required of Him; and in this sense it is a heavy load, as one labouring under the weight of an abnormal burden of sheaves, or a Mill.
Let's examine this burden you have placed upon him. Firstly, you have told him that He is to be killed in a war against Gog and Magog, and another, following Him as King Messiah also, will resurrect Him. I don't think you would like to be that character; certainly I wouldn't, nor should I think would he. For you have given him no purpose but to die in a lost battle, with his followers being scattered into the desert to await King Messiah number two; i.e., Messiah ben David.
The Messiah ben Joseph figure does not answer to the many epitaphs of a writer, which presumably he would have to be to answer to the dogmas of the Oral Tora; further, according to Isaiah 49.6 He must be a light to the Gentiles and restore the preserved of Israel; even inherit the desolate heritages. This, in retrospect, suggests that Messiah ben Joseph has no inheritance to claim, for He can neither restore the preserved of Israel nor inherit the desolate heritages. We know that this verse relates to the Messiah of the Deliverance and a period which substantially has to be now because in the preceding verse we have:
Isaiah 49.5 And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
This scenario requires that Israel is not yet gathered--perhaps in the process of the gathering, but certainly not yet gathered. According to the rabbis' scenario, Messiah ben Joseph, the first of the two Messiahs, is the one engaged in the initial gathering process. Ezekiel confirms that the scenario involving Gog and Magog involves the Gathered Israel: For isn't God's question to Gog, in that day, When my people Israel are at peace will thou not know it? (In another place we are asked, who are those who like birds fly to their windows?):
Ezekiel 38.7 Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
38.8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the Latter Years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
38.9 Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
38.10 Thus saith the Lord God; it shall also come to pass that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
38.11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
38.12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
38.14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God: In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
38.16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
38.18 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face.
38.22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.Isaiah 24.6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
24.18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
38.23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.
39.28 Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
31.5 As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.
33.17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
33.18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? Where is the receiver? Where is he that counted the towers?
33.19 Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.
33.3 At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.
33.4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.
33.5 The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and rightousness.
33.6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.
33.7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.
33.8 The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.
33.10 Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
33.11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
33.12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
27.11 When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour
27.12 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.
27.13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
33.13 Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.
33.20 Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.
39.29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
65.9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
The time of Gog and Magog is a time when Israel is gathered and dwells safely. The Lord God then says He will make an example out of Gog and Magog, and those who are with them, and they will sanctify the Lord through a great sacrifice of blood; not the Messiah's blood, but Gog and Magog's blood. For they will come up against the mountains of Israel to do their evil work and the Lord will defend Israel against them. And He points out that Israel is a people living on a land once desolate; it is no longer desolate: they have already inherited the desolate heritages. This means that Messiah ben Joseph has to be the Deliverer mentioned by Isaiah who inherits the Desolate heritages.
As regarding the Preserved of Israel at that time, we have to take God's Word for it that the people restored to the land and live safely in it, before Gog and Magog are brought up against it, are Preserved, that God will never again turn his face away from the Children of Israel. They are not kinda sorta preserved; they are preserved and defended by God. This scenario does not warrant a scattering of any of Israel's troops into the desert from any kind of defeat by Gog and Magog. For the Messiah ben Joseph and his followers cannot be preserved if they are defeated and chased into the wilderness. This means that your Messiah ben Joseph has to relate to another epoch, if he is to die according to another diaspora scenario. And the only one we have which would be earlier than the Gathering or Deliverance Scenario is the scenario of the Virgin Birth:
Isaiah 7.13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
7.14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a Virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
7.15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
7.16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
7.23 And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.
7.24 With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
7.25 And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.
Clearly the Sign of the Virgin is the sign of the scattering of Israel, not the Gathering of the Preserved of Israel. So, for you to find Immanuel, you must look into the time of the scattering of Israel And that time the Lord says:
Isaiah 51.19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?
We can liken the time of the Virgin to the time of Hezekiah, where Isaiah prophesied against him and his people, saying that they would be carried off to Babylon and that he would not live but die, for Isaiah said to him: Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live (II Kings 20.1). Thus:
II Kings 22.7 And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
22.8 And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.
22.9 Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
22.16 What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
22.17 Behold, the Lord will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.
22.18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy Lord's house.
22.19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall pull thee down.
22.20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
22.21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22.22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
22.23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
22.24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
22.25 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the Lord hath spoken it.
In like manner the Children of Israel are dispersed, but this time to all the nations of the world, sifted among the nations, and burned, as one would melt silver and gold to remove the dross. As concerning this event, the Lord asks:
Isaiah 27.7 Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?
54.1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
54.4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed...and shalt not remember the reproach of thy Widowhood any more.
54.5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
27.8 In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.
27.9 By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.
27.10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.Isaiah 53.1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
53.2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
53.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.Testament of Benjamin II.
And the Lord shall judge Israel first, for their unrighteousness; for when He appeared as God in the flesh to deliver them they believed Him not.Zechariah 14.5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
14.6 And One shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.Zechariah 12.9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
12.10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.Isaiah 65.11 But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
65.12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
65,15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.
65.16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of Truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of Truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.
Several things are quite apparent in these verses. Firstly, God calls the Children of Israel His Widow and further clarifies that He is her husband. How could she be his widow if it were not for the fact that he had died? Then He stands in Jerusalem before them that pierced Him (the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem) at the time when He seeks to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. This time is in the Latter Day sequence involving Gog and Magog. In this scenario the Suffering Messiah is behind us; it already happened and He was already pierced by Jerusalem before he seeks out Gog and Magog.
When He says These are the wounds I received in the house of my friends, he is referring to those who are closest to Him. The closest friends to the Messiah are the Children of Israel or Jerusalem We recall that the Children of Israel are given special stature by God because their Father, Abraham, was the first Friend of God. Again, these friends cannot be Gog and Magog or their friends.
He asks whether Israel was smitten by Him as He was smitten. Was there a fair exchange which took place? He says in measure you will debate it.
Isaiah 53.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
53.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
53.8...for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
53.9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Clearly the offence against the Messiah does not come from another people. The offence comes from those whom Isaiah calls My People. And they are the Children of Israel. It is the Children of Israel who have stricken the Messiah, and it is for the transgression of my people that He was stricken, not the hands of Gog and Magog! For:
Isaiah 63.8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
63.9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.'
Hence, we can see that Isaiah and Zechariah are both in clear agreement that it is the people of God, My People, who injured the Messiah and esteemed him not. Further, in two different places we see that this injury of the Messiah by My People becomes a vehicle of purging sin from them.
In the Apocryphal Adam and Eve story we have:
Adam and Eve 24.4 Then came the Word of God to Adam, and said unto him, O Adam, as thou hast shed thy blood, so will I shed my own blood when I become flesh of thy seed; and as thou didst die, O Adam, so also will I die. And as thou didst build an altar, so also will I make for thee an altar on the earth; and as thou didst offer thy blood upon it, so also will I offer my blood upon an altar on the earth.
24.5 And as thou didst sue for forgiveness through that blood, so also will I make my blood forgiveness of sins, and blot out transgressions in it.
42.7 And again, as regards the Water of Life thou seekest, it will not be granted thee this day; but on the day that I shall shed My blood upon thy head in the land of Golgotha.
42.8 For my blood shall be the Water of Life unto thee, at that time, and not to thee alone, but unto all those of thy seed who shall believe in Me; that it be unto them for rest forever.
Certainly at the time of the Deliverance the Messiah King is one who carries Judgment and Righteousness. Now here is one way in which the judgment and righteousness will come forth, according to Isaiah:
Isaiah 42.1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my spirit upon Him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
42.2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
42.3 A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto Truth.
42.4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
42.6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.
This clearly does not relate to a warrior King Messiah, for this Messiah does not go into the streets, nor is his voice heard in the streets. He simply is not commonly seen among men. That is the thrust of it. But He is seen, and it has to be through the Reed, which He bruises through writing, since reeds seemed to be used for that purpose in those days. And a bruised reed would be one whose point had long since waxed into bruised fibers from over use.. The flax of course was used for paper and I can visualize this character pressing the reed to the flax so much that the flax smokes. In this way He brings forth judgment unto Truth. He, in fact, does exactly what the rabbis have expected of Him, with regard to the Torah; and He sets righteousness and His Law. He is like Moses. And because He is not seen in the streets, it can probably be anticipated that He is one who would be overlooked and not noticed rather than chastised for the sins of the people. In the Suffering Messiah scenario mentioned above, it is clear that the Suffering Messiah has aggravated My People such that they wound Him and are the cause by which He is pierced. I should hope that the Writing Messiah need not suffer these expectations.
When does a child know he has done wrong? We all know the answer: when he is reproved and / or punished. Putting Jacob in this relationship with God, since we know God threatened to punish Jacob, we must ask when the last reproof was given. The answer is 70. A.D., when Titus laid siege to Jerusalem, burned the temple, and caused the nation to scatter--never more to rest on their land of Israel - and to be burned until but a remnant were left. This Diaspora is the greatest ever promised against the Children of Israel; and the punishment came in 70.A.D. and hopefully was finished in 1946. Let me say, then, O Lord, It is finished.
There are two things to consider here: Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben David would know this; and since they are the Servants of God, it is also apparent that they would know their Father's wishes and curses.
Now they have to be smarter than I. And if I can see these things, how the Virgin sets the sign of the diaspora, then cannot they also? If you cannot see it, just say so. And we shall show it to you...
So, let us give the Messiah of the Deliverance a break, and not burden Him down with the expectations of a people who must force Him to fulfill prophesy of being murdered which, as should be discerned from the above, has to have already happened at the time of the Virgin Birth, which is the time when Israel was scattered to all the nations.
Numbers 24.17 And I shall see him, but not now:
I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.24.18 And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies;
And Israel shall do valiantly.
24.19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion,
and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Thus we have such epithets as A Star shall rise in the east; or, You shall fear the name of the Lord from the West and His Glory from the east. Since we know there are Two Messiahs then these things concerning the Star and the Scepter can be used as a guide to ascertain things to come.
For instance, according to the rabbis, the Star is the sign of the King: For they have read this verse as:
Targum Onkelos [on Num. 24:17-18]
I see him, but not now,
I behold him, but he is not nigh:
A king shall arise from Jacob,
And the Messiah2 shall be anointed from Israel,
And he shall slay the lords of Moab,
And he shall rule over all sons of man,
And Edom shall become his possession,
And Seir a possession of those that hate him,
And Israel shall succeed in prosperity.
How is it that the Star became the sign of the King and the Scepter seems to be the sign of the Messiah, the sign of His Anointing? According to the Masoretic Bible we have:
Numbers
24.17 I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not nigh;
There shall step forth a star out of Jacob,
And a scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And shall smite through the corners of Moab,
And break down all the sons of Seth.
And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir also, even his enemies, shall be a possession;
While Israel doeth valiantly.
And out of Jacob shall one have dominion,
And shall destroy the remnant from the city.
Out of Jacob shall one have dominion has to relate to the Messiah of the dominion: i.e., the final dominion of God as it is determined in the Latter Days. Perhaps, then, we can read this as:
Because of the Star of Jacob, out of Him shall the Scepter Messiah of Israel have dominion.
Perhaps the earliest definition of the "scepter" is in Genesis 49:10, where Jacob (Israel) is leaving his twelve sons and Joseph's two sons their blessings or will of Inheritance. The question at that sitting was, who among the sons would receive the blessing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in terms of who would rule over the twelve tribes. In this Will we also have perhaps the earliest recorded Inheritance of the Messiah(s).
Genesis 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Ezekiel certainly considered the Scepter to be the epithet of the King, or ruler, for we have:
Ezekiel: 19.14 And the fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation.
20.37 And I shall cause you to pass under the Rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
Using Ezekiel's language, we can interchange the Rod and the Scepter to be the same thing: i.e., Ruler.
We understand that the Hebrew word for Stave is the same as for Lawgiver. Theodore Gaster's translation of the Zadokite Document says:
Zadokite Document Nevertheless, God still remembered the Covenant which he had made with their forbears and raised from the priesthood men of discernment and from the laity men of wisdom, and He made them hearken to Him. And these men 'dug the well--that well whereof it is written, 'Princes digged it, nobles of the people delved it, with the aid of a me.hôqueq' [Num. 21.18]. The 'well' in question is the Law. They that 'digged' are those of Israel who repented and departed from the Land of Judah to sojourn in 'the land of Damascus'. God called them all 'princes' because they went in search of Him, and their glory was never gainsaid (?) by any man's mouth. The term mehôqueq [which can mean 'lawgiver' as well as 'stave'] refers to the man who expounds the Law. Isaiah has employed an analogous piece of imagery when in allusion to the Law he has spoken of God's producing a tool for His work' [cf. Isa. 54.16]. As for the 'nobles of the people', these are the men that come, throughout the Era of Wickedness, to delve the well, using as their staves [Heb. Me-hôq-eq] the statutes [Heb. huq-im] which the Lawgiver prescribed [Heb. haqaq ha-mehôqeq] for them to walk in. Without such 'implements', they would, indeed, never achieve their goal until such time as the true Expositor arises at the end of days.3
As concerning the term Scepter, He is regarded by the Zadokite Document as the Leader of the Community:
Zadokite Document As for the 'star', that refers to every such interpreter of the Law as indeed repairs to 'Damascus', even as it is written: "There shall step forth a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel' [Num. 24.17]. The 'scepter', it may be added, is the leader of the community, for in the exercise of his office he shall 'batter all the sons of pride', as the Scripture says.4
The Scepter has always been understood as the leader of the Community. I don't think it is necessary, therefore, to inquire into the meaning of this term, or its implication, in Genesis 49:10 or Numbers 24.17. Both have the intent of referring to The Leader of the people. The Targum Onkelos took this one step further to translate the Scepter, being the Leader of the People, to the Messiah. So we can leave this part of the prophesy with the understanding that the Scepter refers to the Leader and when it is used with respect to prophesy, it refers to the Leader to Come, or Anointed.
The Targum Onkelos does something further, here, as it carries a redundant expression. For it really says, and the Anointed shall be anointed from Israel. We wonder at his purpose in this, because if he were referring to the King (star) out of Jacob being the same thing as the Messiah anointed from Israel, He should have said, A king shall arise from Jacob, and he shall be anointed from Israel. But this apparently is not what he intended and rather addressed Two Anointings, so it appears.
In Amos we have an indication what is meant by star:
Amos 6.26 But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.
In this usage, we have star being used synonymously as images. In this way we can apply the term Star to mean the Image of God. Thus, we can say:
There shall come the Image of God out of Jacob,
And the Leader of the People (the King) shall rise out of Israel
We can return to Isaiah again, concerning the Sign of the Virgin:
Isaiah 7.14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel , which means, God is with us , is consistent with the reading of star as being the Image of God with us. And in Isaiah chapter 9 we have a confirmation that the sign raised unto us is God Himself:
Isaiah 9.6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. '
As concerning this, we have the Testimony of Jesus, saying two things of importance: Firstly, in John 5.46 He says: For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. Jesus claimed to be the thing of which Moses wrote; He also said He was the Angel of whom Moses spoke:
Deut. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
18.16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
18.17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
18.19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
And Exodus:
Exodus 23.20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.
23.21 Beware of Him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in Him.
23.22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine adversaries.
23.23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
Jesus testifies in John 13.44: He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. 13.45: And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
Jesus, testifying through John's book of Revelation, says:
Rev. 22.16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Therefore, on these two points, that concerning the Image of God and that being the same symbol viz a viz the Star, the Testimony is amazingly specific and on target concerning Jesus the Christ's image of Himself as compared to that which is required, at least, in the members of one of the Messiahs.
1 Enoch 48
There I saw the fountain of goodness
Which was inexhaustible.
Around it were many fountains of Wisdom
All the thirsty drank from them
And were filled with Wisdom.
And they lived with the Good, the Holy, and the Elect.
In that hour in which the Son of Man was named
In the presence of the Lord of Spirits,
And his name is Head of Days,
Ere the sun and the signs were created,
Ere the stars of heaven were made,
His name was named before the Lord of Spirits.
He will be a Staff to the good to stay themselves and not fall,
He will be the light of the Gentiles
And the Hope of those who are troubled of heart.
Daniel:
Daniel 7.8: I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
7.9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
7.10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
7.11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
7.12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
7.13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of Man came with the Clouds of Heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
7.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
7.20 And of the ten horns that were in his [the beast's] head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
7.21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
7.22 Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdoms.
7.23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
7.24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
7.25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
7.26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
7.27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
7.28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
Revelation:
Rev. 1.10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
1.11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia...
1.12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
1.13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks, One like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
1.14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
1.15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
1.16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
1.17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
1.18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
14.14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
14.15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
14.16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.
14.17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.
14.18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
14.19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
14.20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.
Genesis:
Genesis 27. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau EDOM].
27.33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
27.34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
27.35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtlety, and hath taken away thy blessing.
27.36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
27.37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
27.38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
27.39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
27.40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
27.41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
Isaiah:
Isaiah 63.1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in Righteousness, mighty to save.
63.2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
63.3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury: and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
63.4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
63.5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.
63.6 And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
63.7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
63.8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
63.9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
63.10 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the Shepherd of his flock? Where is He that put his Holy Spirit within him?
Secrets of Enoch:
Enoch 22.10 And the Lord summoned one of his archangels by name Pravuil, whose knowledge was quicker in wisdom than the other archangels, who wrote all the deeds of the Lord; and the Lord said to pravuil:
22.11 Bring out the books from my store-houses, and a reed of quick-writing, and give it to Enoch, and deliver to him the choice and comforting books out of thy hand.
Book 1, Enoch
I saw angels beyond count,
A thousand thousand, ten thousand times ten thousand,
circling the house.Michael,and Gabriel, Raphael and Phanuel,
And holy angels beyond count.
With them the Head of Days,
His head white and pure as wool
His raiment indescribable.
4 Ezra:
4 Ezra And it came to pass that after seven days I dreamt a dream at night. There arose a violent wind from the sea and it stirred all its waves. Out of the heart of the seas the wind caused the form of a man to come up. I looked and this man flew with the Clouds of Heaven. Wherever he turned his countenance, everything he saw trembled. Wherever the voice went out of his mouth, all that heard his voice melted away as wax melts when it feels fire. After this I saw that from the four winds of Heaven was gathered together an innumerable multitude of men to make war against the Man who came up out of the sea. But he cut out a great mountain and flew up upon it...When he saw the assault of the multitude coming near him, he neither lifted his hand nor held a spear or any weapon. But out of his mouth he sent a fiery stream and from his lips a flaming breath, and from his tongue he shot forth a storm of sparks...It all fell on the assault of the multitude which was preparing to fight and it burned them all up, so that suddenly the innumerable multitude was nothing but dust and ashes and smell of smoke...But he will stand upon the summit of Mount Zion. And Zion will come and will be made manifest to all men, prepared and built, as you saw the mountain cut out without hands. But he, My Son, will reprove the nations that have come for their ungodliness, and the rebukes are like a storm and will reproach them to their face with their evil thoughts and with tortures with which they are destined to be tortured - like flame. Then He will destroy them without labor by the Law, which is like fire...the survivors of your people, even those who are found within my Holy Borders, will be saved. Then he will destroy the multitude of nations gathered together, and will defend the people who remain. And he will show them many wonders.
Zephaniah:
Zeph. 1.8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord's Sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
1.12 And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, neither will do evil.
3.9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.
Haggai:
Haggai 3.23 In that day, saith the Lord of Hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shelaltiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of Hosts.
Zechariah:
Zech. 4.6 Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.
4.7 Who are thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain...
4.8 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you.
13.5 But He shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
13.6 And one shall say unto Him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
So here is yet another name for Him, which I can now introduce to you: He who was wounded in the House of His Friends.
Malachi:
Malachi 4.2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings: and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
4.5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
4.6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers. lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Isaiah:
Isaiah 4.1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
4.2 In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
4.3 And it shall come to pass that He that is left in Zion, and He that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called Holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.
4.4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
29.27 Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the Burden thereof is heavy: His lips are full of indignation and His Tongue as a devouring fire.
Testament of Benjamin:
Test. of Benj. II.6 And then shall He judge all the Gentiles, as many as believed him not when He appeared upon the earth. And He shall convict Israel through the Chosen Ones of the Gentiles.
We have another name for Him here: He who Convicts Israel through the Chosen Ones of the Gentiles.
Jeremiah:
Jer. 23.6 In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His Name whereby He shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.
Revelation:
Rev. 10. And I saw another mighty angel come down from Heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire..And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.
Habakkuk:
Hab. 3.4 And his brightness was as the light; He had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the Hiding of his power:
Isaiah:
Isaiah 42.1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth;
Odes of Solomon:
Odes 23 And his thought was like a letter: His will descended from on high, and it was sent like an arrow which is violently shot from the bow: And many hands rushed to the letter to seize it and take and read it. And it escaped their fingers and they were affrighted at it and at the Seal that was upon it...But a wheel received it and came over it. And there was with it a sign of the Kingdom and of the Government. And everything which tried to move the wheel it mowed and cut down...the letter was one of command, for there were included in it all districts. And there was seen at its head, the head which was revealed even the Son of Truth from the most high Father. And He inherited and took possession of everything. And the thought of many was brought to nought. And all the apostates hasted and fled away. And those who persecuted and were enraged became extinct. And the letter was a great volume, that was wholly written by the Finger of God. And the name of the Father was on it, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to rule for ever and ever.
Isaiah:
Isaiah 41.26 ...yea, there is none that heareth your words. The first shall say to Zion, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings. For I beheld, and there was no man: even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
Zechariah:
Zech. 11.16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but He shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
12.8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and He that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David: and the house of David shall be as God, as the Angel of the Lord before them.
12.10 They shall look upon me whom they have pierced...In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem:
Isaiah:
Isaiah 43.10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am He: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
49.1 Listen O isles, unto me: and hearken, ye people from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. And He hath made My mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; In his quiver hath He hid me. And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified..though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.
Revelation:
Rev. 19.11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness he doth judge and make war.
19.12 His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself.
19.13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
19.14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
19.15 And out of His Mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a Rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
19.16 And He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
19.20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
19.21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
20.1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
20.2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.
20.3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season.
20.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them...and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
20.5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
20.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection.
John (Testimony of Jesus):
John 6.63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh prophiteth nothing: The Words that I speak unto you, They are Spirit, and they are Life.
13.46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
12.47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
Ezekiel:
Ezek. 34.12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that He is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the Cloudy and Dark Day.
34.23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my Servant David; He shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd;
36.26 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you..A new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and ;I will take away the Stony heart out of your flesh and will give you an heart of flesh. Then the heathen that are left around about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and planted that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
38.14 Therefore, ...in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
Isaiah:
Isaiah 28.10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest by wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest , and this is the refreshing, yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept...that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Matthew (Testimony of Jesus):
Matt. 13.41 The Son of Man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear..and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Mark (Testimony of Jesus):
Mark 13.26 And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
13.27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Luke (Testimony of Jesus):
Luke 16.26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence...If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
Ezekiel:
Ezek. 1.27 And I saw as the color of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
1.28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
2.1 And he said unto me, Son of Man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
2.2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
2.9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
2.10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
3.1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
9.3 And the Glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
Daniel:
12.5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
12.6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
12.7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Ezekiel
Ezek. 9.4 And the Lord said unto him, go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
9.5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
9.6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
9.11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
10.1 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
10.2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
10.6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim; then he went in and stood beside the wheels.
10.7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
Revelation:
Rev. 10.5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
10.6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer.
10.7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
10.8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
10.9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10.10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
10.11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
11.1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
Ezekiel:
Ezek. 3.2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
3.3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
B. Sanh:
98 b Some say: "Menahem son of Hezekiah is his name..." And the rabbis say: "The Leprous of the house of Study is his name, as it is said, Verily, he hath borne our diseases, and our pains - he carried them and we thought him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isa. 53.4)"...Rav said: "If he is of those who live [today], then he is like our Holy Master as {Rabbi Y'huda the Prince], and if he is of those who have died, then he is like Daniel the beloved man."
Y. Ber.:
5a The rabbis said: "King Messiah, if he is of those who are alive {today}, David is his name, and if he is of those who have died, David is his name..." R. Y'hoshu'a ben Levi said: "Tzemah (Shoot)6 is his name." R. Yudan the son of R. Aybo said: "Menahem [Comforter]7 is his name."
John (Testimony of Jesus):
John 5.45: Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
15.26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which procedeth from the Father, He shall Testify of Me. And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
16.7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I depart, I will send him unto you.And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of Righteousness, and of judgment.
Of sin, because they believe not on me.
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.
Of Judgment, because The Prince of this world is judged.
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: For He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.
B. Sanh:
98.b Rav Y'huda said: "Rav said that the Holy One, blessed be He, will in the future raise for them [for Israel] another David, for it is said, They shall serve the Lord their God and David their king whom I will raise up unto them (Jer. 30.9). It does not say 'raised up,' but 'will raise up.'"
Rav Papa said to Abbaye: "But it is written, And David My Servant shall be their prince forever (Ezek. 37:25) [He answered: "They will be like Caesar and vice-Caesar."
B. Bab. Bath.:
R. Sh'muel bar Nahmani said in the name of R. Yohanan: "Three are called by the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, and they are: the righteous, the Messiah, and Jerusalem..."
Perqe Shalom:
R. Yoyse the Galilean said: "The name of the Messiah is Peace, for it is said, Everlasting Father, Prince Peace Isa. 9.6)..." R. Yose the Galilean said: "Great is peace, for in the hour in which King Messiah is revealed to Israel, he begins with peace, for it is said, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings who announceth peace (Isa. 52.7)."
Matthew (Testimony of Jesus):
Matt. 10.34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
10.35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Sifre Deut.
65 a R. Y'huda expounded: "The burden of the word of the Lord: In the land of Hadrakh and in Damascus shall be His resting place...(Zech. 9.1) This [the word of Hadrakh] is [a reference to] the Messiah who will be sharp [hard] towards the nations of the world, and soft [rakh] toward Israel."
Lam. Rab. 1:51
What is the name of King Messiah? R. Abba bar Kahana said: "Lord [Adonai ] is his name, for it is written, I will raise unto David a righteous Shoot...In his days Judah shall be saved....And this is the name whereby He shall be called: The Lord is our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5-6)." For R. Levi said: "happy is the country whose name is like the name of its king and the name of whose king is like the name of its God..." R. Y'hoshu'a said: "SHOOT [Tzemah ] is his name, for it is written, Behold a man whose name is Shoot and who shall shoot up out of his place and build the Temple of the Lord (Zech. 6:12)." R. Yudan in the name of R. Aybo said: "MENAHEM [COMFORTER] is his name, for it is written, Because the Comforter is far from me (Lam. 1:16)." In the house of R. Shela they said: "SHILOH is the name of the Messiah, for it is written, Until Shiloh will come (Gen. 49.10, and the word is spelled Shela." In the house of R. Hanina they said: "Hanina is his name, for it is written, For I will show you no favor [hanina] (Jer. 15:13)." In the house of R. Yannai they said: "YINNON is his name, for it is written May his name be continued [yinnon] as long as the sun (Ps. 72:17." R. Biva of Srungaya said: "NEHIRA [Light ] is his name, for it is written, And the light [nehora] dwelleth with him (Dan. 2:22), and it is spelled nehira." R. Y'huda ben R. Shim'on said in the name of R. Sh'muel ben R. Yitzhaq: "This King Messiah, if he is of those who are alive, his name is DAVID, and if he is of those who have died, his name is DAVID." R. Tanhuma said: "I shall tell you the reason: [It is written] He giveth great salvation to His king, and showeth mercy to His Anointed (Ps. 18:51). [Thereafter] it is not written 'and to David,' but to His anointed to David and his seed..."
Mid. Mishle:
Rav Huna said: "The Messiah is called by seven names and they are: Yinnon, Tzidqenu [Our Justice], Tzemah [Shoot] Menahem {Comforter], David, Shiloh, and Elijah."
The Messiah is called by eight names: Yinnon, Tzemah, Pele [Miracle], Yo'etz [Counselor], Mashiah [Messiah], El [God], Gibbor [Hero], and Avi 'Ad Shalom [Eternal Father of Peace].
Zohar Hadash, Mid. haNe'elam to Songs:
There is yet another fragrance, and that is King Messiah who is called Fragrance. For it is written, And He shall make him fragrant with the fear of the Lord (isa. 11:3). And therefore he is called Fragrance.
Moses (Deuteronomy):
Deut. 17.14 When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;
17.15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose: One from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.
17.16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.
17.17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.
17.18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
17.19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
17.20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
Moses (Exodus):
Exodus 18.20 Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, land rulers of tens.
18.21 And let them judge the people, at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.
19.18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19.19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
23.20 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee, to bring thee in the way and to bring thee into the places which I have prepared.
23.21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
23.22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
23.23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.
John (Testimony of Jesus):
John 5.46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
5.47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
Matthew (Testimony of Jesus):
Matt. 5.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
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