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Editor, Andrew Wilson

The Messiah

The scriptures of many religions speak of a coming leader who will consummate the fulfillment of the divine will on earth. He will manifest in his person the righteousness and compassion of God, and he will bring about the final defeat of evil, and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The Hebrew title Messiah--'Christ' in Greek means "anointed one," that person who will be specially chosen by God for this mission and empowered to accomplish it. But while the term Messiah is specific to only a few religions, prophecies that a leader will come and accomplish such a mission are nearly universal. Religions call him by various names: Jews long for the promised Messiah; for Christians the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth, who has already come and ascended to heaven but will reappear (perhaps in a new guise) at his Second Coming. Muslims also expect the second advent of Jesus, who will come as a Muslim Imam, and among Shiite Muslims there are various expectations of a future Imam Mahdi. Buddhist sutras prophesy the coming of the Maitreya Buddha; Vaishnavite Hindu scriptures prophesy the future descent of an avatar named Kalki; Zoroastrian scriptures prophesy the coming of the Saoshyant; and some Confucian texts speak of a future True Man who will finally bring peace to the world by perfectly instituting the Way of Confucius. Various prophecies of these future redeemers are gathered, by religion, in this section.

"Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

Christianity. Revelation 22.20

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness, from this time forth and for ever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Judaism and Christianity. Isaiah 9.6-7

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man. He came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominon and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away. And his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Judaism and Christianity. Daniel 7.13-14

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Christianity. Matthew 24.29-31

Isaiah 9.6-7: See Isaiah 42.1-4, pp. 367-68. Daniel 7.13-14: The 'son of man' is given dominion after the last beast is slain; see Revelation 13.1-18, pp. 777-78n. Christians identify the son of man with Jesus, and thus is the term used in the Gospels; see the following passage. Matthew 24.29-31: This passage occurs in the context of Jesus' discourse on the Mount of Olives; see Matthew 24.3-14, 32-33, p. 776. For a reinterpretation, see Book of Certitude, 33-41, p. 779.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Christianity. Revelation 19.11-16

Rabbi Joshua ben Levi met Elijah at the mouth of the cave of Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai. He asked Elijah, "When will the Messiah come?" Elijah replied, "Go and ask him." "But where is he?" "At the gates of Rome." "And how shall I recognize him?" "He sits among the wretched who are suffering from sores; all the others uncover all their wounds, and then bind them all up again, but he uncovers and binds up each one separately, for he thinks, 'Lest I should be summoned and be detained.'"

Then Rabbi Joshua found him and said to him, "Peace be with you, my Master and Rabbi." The Messiah replied, "Peace be with you, son of Levi." He said, "When is the Master coming?" He replied, "Today."

Then Rabbi Joshua returned to Elijah, who said, "What did he say to you?" He replied, "Peace be with you, son of Levi." Elijah said, "Then he assured to you and your father a place in the world to come." The rabbi said, "He spoke falsely to me, for he said he would come today, and he has not come." Then Elijah said, "He meant 'today, if you hearken to His voice!" [Psalm 95.7]

Judaism. Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a

In the time to come... the Patriarchs will say, "Ephraim, our righteous Messiah, though we are your ancestors, you are greater than we. For you have borne the sins of our children, and you have borne heavy punishments, such as neither the former nor the latter generations have endured, and you became the laughter and the mocking of all the nations for Israel's sake, and you sat in darkness, and your eyes saw no light. And your skin shrank upon your bones, and your body withered like a tree, and your eyes grew dark from fasting, and your strength dried up like a potsherd, and all this befell you because of the sins of our children. Is it your will that your children should enjoy the felicity which God has destined to give them in abundance? Perhaps because of the pains which you have endured in overflowing measure for their sakes, and because thou hast lain fettered in prison, your mind is not at rest because of them?" Messiah will reply, "Patriarchs, all that I have done, I have done only for your sakes and for your children, and for your honor and theirs, so that they may enjoy the felicity which God has destined for them in abundance." Then they reply, "May your mind be appeased, for you have appeased the mind of your Creator and our mind."

Judaism. Midrash, Pesikta Rabbati 162b-63a

Revelation 19.11-16: This is the image of the conquering Messiah, the King of kings, who brings judgment upon the beast--see Revelation 13.1-18, p. 931, and all wickedness. The sharp sword which issues from his mouth symbolizes the power of the king's decree: that is the Word of God. He has a name known only to himself. Sanhedrin 98a: Rabbinic Judaism learned to live with the seemingly neverending delay of the Bible's messianic promises. It turned inward, having been purged of all political ambition after the disastrous defeats in the Jewish War (68-70 >a.d.) and the Bar Kochba Rebellion (132 >a.d.). Here the historical promise of the coming of the Messiah is transformed to a personal encounter of faith. Elijah functions as a heavenly interpreter of God's secrets; cf. Baba Metzia 59ab, p. 682. On the Messiah's suffering, see Isaiah 52.13-53.12, p. 556, and the following passage; also Divine Principle I.3.5.2, p. 933.

And [Jesus] shall be a Sign of the Hour [of Judgment]; therefore have no doubt about it, but follow Me: this is a straight way.

Islam. Qur'an 43.61

The Messenger of Allah observed, "What will be your state when the Son of Mary descends amongst you, and there will be an Imam amongst you? What would you do when the son of Mary would descend and lead you?"

Islam. Hadith of Muslim

The Apostle of Allah said, "Were there remaining but one day of the duration of all time, God would send forth a man from the people of my house, who will fill the earth with equity as it has been filled with oppression."

Islam. Hadith of Abu Dawud

The Imam who will create a world state will make the ruling nations pay for their crimes against society. He will bring succor to humanity. He will take out the hidden wealth from the breast of the earth and will distribute it equitably amongst the needy deserving. He will teach you simple living and high thinking. He will make you understand that virtue is a state of character which is always a mean between the two extremes, and which is based upon equity and justice. He will revive the teaching of the Holy Qur'-an and the traditions of the Holy Prophet after the world has ignored them as dead letters....

He will protect and defend himself with resources of science and supreme knowledge. His control over these resources will be complete. He will know how supreme they are and how carefully they will have to be used. His mind will be free from desires of bringing harm and injury to humanity. Such a knowledge to him will be like the property which was wrongly possessed by others and for which he was waiting for the permission to repossess and use.

He, in the beginning, will be like a poor stranger unknown and uncared for, and Islam then will be in the hopeless and helpless plight of an exhausted camel who has laid down its head and is wagging its tail. With such a start he will establish an empire of God in this world. He will be the final demonstration and proof of God's merciful wish to acquaint man with the right ways of life.

Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 141, 187

Pesikta Rabbati 162b-63a: This rabbinic conception of a suffering Messiah who takes upon himself the sins of Israel stands alongside the older belief that the Messiah would come as a conquering king. This is undoubtedly a midrash on Isaiah 52.13-53.12, p. 556. Compare the standard Christian interpretation of that prophecy as a description of the vicarious suffering of Jesus Christ for the sins of humankind. Qur'an 43.61: Many Muslims await the Second Coming of Christ, who will come to herald the Last Judgment. Hadith of Muslim: In this tradition, Christ will appear in the flesh as a Muslim Imam. Yet most people will not heed, their faith being corrupt; compare Divine Principle I.3.5.2, pp. 933f.

He shall be the victorious Benefactor (Saoshyant) by name and World-renovator [Astavat-ereta] by name. He is Benefactor because he will benefit the entire physical world; he is World-renovator because he will establish the physical living existence indestructible. He will oppose the evil of the progeny of the biped and withstand the enmity produced by the faithful.

Zoroastrianism. Avesta, Farvardin Yast 13.129

Whenever the Law declines and the purpose of life is forgotten, I manifest myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect the good, to destroy evil, and to reestablish the Law.

Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8

When the practices taught by the Vedas and the institutes of law shall nearly have ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of his own spiritual nature in the character of Brahma, and who is the beginning and the end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon the earth. He will be born as Kalki in the family of an eminent brahmin of Sambhala village, endowed with the eight superhuman faculties. By his irresistible might he will destroy all the barbarians and thieves, and all whose minds are devoted to iniquity. He will then reestablish righteousness upon earth; and the minds of those who live at the end of the Kali age shall be awakened, and shall be as pellucid as crystal. The men who are thus changed by virtue of that peculiar time shall be as the seeds of human beings, and shall give birth to a race who shall follow the laws of the Krita age, the Age of Purity. As it is said, "When the sun and moon, and the luner asterism Tishya, and the planet Jupiter, are in one mansion, the Krita age shall return."

Hinduism. Vishnu Purana 4.24

Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 141, 187: These are prophecies of the Imam Mahdi, who will come to establish God's kingdom throughout the whole world and restore true faith. Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8: This is the classic verse on the doctrine of Vishnu's incarnations or avatars. Of the ten classical avatars of Vishnu, nine have come in the past: the fish, the tortoise, the boar, the man-lion, the dwarf, Rama, Rama-with-the-Axe, Krishna, and the Buddha. The tenth avatar is the future savior, Kalki (see below). In addition, many leaders of sectarian Hindu movements such as Chaitanya (1486-1533), Ramakrishna (1836-1886), Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950), his wife Mira Richard "the Mother" (1878-1973), Meher Baba (1894-1969), and Satya Sai Baba (1926-) are revered as avatars whose missions will culminate in the coming of a new age for humanity. Cf. Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1, p. 564.

Thus have I heard: At one time the Buddha was staying near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan monastery on the bank of the river Rohani. Then the venerable Sariputta questioned the Lord about the future Conquerer,

The Hero that shall follow you, The Buddha--of what sort will he be? I want to hear of him in full. Let the Visioned One describe him.

When he heard the elder's speech the Lord spoke thus,

I will tell you, Sariputta; listen to my speech. In this auspicious aeon Three leaders there have been: Kakusandha, Konagamana, and the leader Kassapa too. I am now the perfect Buddha; and there will be Maitreya too before this same auspicious aeon runs to the end of its years.

Buddhism. Anagata-vamsa

In those days, brethren, there will arise in the world an Exalted One named Metteya. He will be an Arahant, Fully Awakened, abounding in wisdom and goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide to mortals willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men, an Exalted One, a Buddha, even as I am now. He, by himself, will thoroughly know and see, as it were face to face, this universe, with its worlds of the spirits, its Brahm-as and its M-aras, and its world of recluses and brahmins, of princes and peoples, even as I now, by myself, thoroughly know and see them. The Law, lovely in its origin, lovely in its progress, lovely in its consummation, will he proclaim, both in the spirit and in the letter; the higher life will he make known, in all its fulness and in all its purity, even as I do now. He will be accompanied by a congregation of some thousands of brethren, even as I am now accompanied by a congregation of some hundreds of brethren.

Buddhism. Digha Nikaya iii.76, Chakkavatti Sihanada Suttanta

Anagata-vamsa: The Maitreya (Pali: Metteya) is predicted to be the future Buddha in the scriptures of both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. In both traditions some consider him as the future Messiah who will usher in the new age of bliss and consummation. On the Anagata-vamsa, see p. 932 note.

Listen attentively with one heart. A man whose spirit shines brightly, a man whose mind is completely unified, a man whose virtue excels everyone--such a man will truly appear in this world. When he preaches precious laws, all the people will totally be satisfied as if the thirsty drink sweet drops of rain from heaven. And each and every one will attain the path of liberation from struggles.

Buddhism. Sutra of the Great Accomplishment of the Maitreya

Miroku, the Great God, comes forth, endowed with the great strength of the three in one--Fire, Water, Earth. Miroku, the Great God, from of old has planted heaven upon earth. Miroku, the Great God, even as comes a thief, has secretly been born below. Leaving behind the highly exalted throne to bring salvation, Miroku has been born below.

Sekai Kyusei Kyo. Inori-no-Shu

Confucius said, "If a Kingly Man were to arise, within a single generation Goodness would prevail."

Confucianism. Analects 13.12

It is only the man with the most perfect divine moral nature who is able to combine in himself quickness of apprehension, intelligence and understanding--qualities necessary for the exercise of command, magnanimity, generosity, benignity, and gentleness--qualities necessary for the exercise of patience, originality, energy, strength of character, and determination--qualities necessary for the exercise of endurance, piety, noble seriousness, order, and regularity--qualities necessary for the exercise of dignity, grace, method, subtlety, and penetration--qualities necessary for the exercise of critical judgment.

Thus all-embracing and vast is the nature of such a man. Profound it is and inexhaustible, like a living spring of water, ever running out with life and vitality. All-embracing and vast, it is like Heaven. Profound and inexhaustible, it is like the abyss.

As soon as such a man shall make his appearance in the world, all people will reverence him. Whatever he says, all people will believe it. Whatever he does, all people will be pleased with it. Thus his fame and name will spread and fill all the civilized world, extending even to savage countries, wherever ships and carriages reach, wherever the labor and enterprise of man penetrate, wherever the heavens overshadow and the earth sustain, wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever frost and dew fall. All who have life and breath will honor and love him. Therefore we may say, "He is the equal of God."

It is only he in this world, who has realized his absolute self, that can order and adjust the great relations of human society, fix the fundamental principles of morality, and understand the laws of growth and reproduction of the universe.

Now, where does such a man derive his power and knowledge, except from himself? How simple and self-contained his true manhood! How unfathomable the depth of his mind! How infinitely grand and vast the moral height of his nature! Who can understand such a nature except he who is gifted with the most perfect intelligence and endowed with the highest divine qualities of character, and who has reached in his moral development the level of the gods?

Confucianism. Doctrine of the Mean 31-32

O peoples of the earth! By the righteousness of God! Whatever you have been promised in the Books of your Lord, the Ruler of the Day of Return has appeared and been made manifest. Beware lest the changes and chances of the world hold you back from Him Who is the Sovereign Truth.

Baha'i Faith. Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, 231-32

Sutra of the Great Accomplishment of the Maitreya: This is from one of the "six Maitreya Sutras" in the Chinese Buddhist canon. Inori-no-Shu: Miroku is the Japanese form of Maitreya, the future Buddha. In the Japanese new religions of the Omoto group, Maitreya is featured as the inaugurator of the new age, the eschatological Kingdom of Heaven. Doctrine of the Mean 31-32: These two chapters express the ideal of the Kingly Man who is to come. On the one hand, they apply to Confucius, and many hold that these chapters were written in praise of him. On the other hand, they anticipate one who has yet to make his appearance in the world. Tablets of Baha'u'llah Revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas, 231-32: Many of the messianic religions which have arisen in modern societies have utopian and universalist visions which embrace the entire globe. Thus, in the Baha'i Faith the new Messiah, Baha'u'llah, realizes in his person the missions of all the redemeers prophesied by the various world religions. See also Divine Principle I.3.4.3, p. 953.

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