I’m curious about what exactly the Jewish Messiah is expected to do. What are the main stream Jewish theories on the Messiah, his arrival, and his nature? I’m aware of some of the scriptual basics, but not the Jewish interpretation of that scripture.
The Jewish Messiah is expected to be a male-line descendant of King David, recognized as king by a properly-ordained Jewish court (which would make the prior return of Elijah the prophet a precondition of Messianic revelation). He is expected to bring about a spiritual renaissance of return to Torah observance amongst the wayward children of Israel, and impress the nations of the world with his wisdom. He is expected to gather in the exiles of Israel, rebuild the Holuy Temple on its former site in Jerusalem. The result of all this is expected to be peace on Earth, with all nations recognizing that the G-d worshipped by the Jews is the true Master of all Creation and uniting in G-d’s service.
Related question - how would one recognise Elijah on his return?
Grim
Thanks cmkeller.
I would also like to know how one would recognize the return of Elijah.
Probably the same way that Jesus would be recognized if He returned.
We don’t know. Presumably, that will be made clear at the time.
Early Christian iconography took images from the writings of the prophets, and assumed them to be literal (rather than poetic), and then told stories about how Jesus fulfilled them: like riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (and an ass), etc. In fact, in Jewish tradition, there is almost nothing about what the Messiah (or Elijah) will look like or do to be recognized.
When the lion lies down with the lamb, and weapons of war disappear, and nation doth not lift up hand against nation… well, then we’ll know it’s happened.
Our best analogy is the biblical story of the Exodus. The enslaved Israelites were promised, by God, that they would be freed from slavery, and so it happened, but there was no advance prediction of the name or identity of the man at the center of that freedom, and no advance description of what would befall, except in the broadest terms.
The Tim:
Presumably he would be able to convince people of who he is by demonstrating certain signs he predicts coming true - it is expected that anyone claiming prophecy should be able to thusly back up his claim (Deuteronomy 18:21). He’d also show some talent in reconciling sons and fathers that don’t get along (Malachi 4).
Or, he might just show us his driver’s license (category Z, firey chariots).