BOOKS: BIBLICAL STUDIES (1500BC-AD70) / EARLY CHRISTIAN PRETERISM (AD50-1000) / FREE ONLINE BOOKS (AD1000-2008)
AD70 Dispensationalism: According to
that view, AD70 was the end of 'this age' and the start of the 'age to come'.
Those who lived before AD70 could only 'see in part' and such, lacking
the resurrection and redemptive blessings which supposedly came only
Herod's Temple in Jerusalem
fell. Accordingly, AD70 was not only the end of Old
Testament Judaism, but it was also the end of the revelation of
Christianity as seen in the New Testament.
AD70 Dispensationalism: According to that view, AD70 was the end of 'this age' and the start of the 'age to come'. Those who lived before AD70 could only 'see in part' and such, lacking the resurrection and redemptive blessings which supposedly came only when Herod's Temple in Jerusalem fell. Accordingly, AD70 was not only the end of Old Testament Judaism, but it was also the end of the revelation of Christianity as seen in the New Testament.
material is being archived for balanced representation of all Preterist views,
but is classified under the theological term hyper (as in beyond
the acceptable range of tolerable doctrines) at this website. The
classification of all Full Preterism as Hyper Preterism (HyP) is built
upon well over a decade of intense research at PreteristArchive.com, and
the convictions of
the website curator (a
former full preterist pastor). The HyP
theology of resurrection and consummation in the fall of Jerusalem, with its dispensational line in AD70
(end of old age, start of new age), has never been known among authors
through nearly 20 centuries of Christianity leading up
to 1845, when the earliest known Full Preterist book was written.
Even though there may be many secondary points of agreement between
Historical/Modern Preterism and Hyper Preterism, their premises are undeniably and fundamentally different.
THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS "HYPER PRETERIST"
"Full Preterist" material is being archived for balanced representation of all Preterist views, but is classified under the theological term hyper (as in beyond the acceptable range of tolerable doctrines) at this website. The classification of all Full Preterism as Hyper Preterism (HyP) is built upon well over a decade of intense research at PreteristArchive.com, and the convictions of the website curator (a former full preterist pastor). The HyP theology of resurrection and consummation in the fall of Jerusalem, with its dispensational line in AD70 (end of old age, start of new age), has never been known among authors through nearly 20 centuries of Christianity leading up to 1845, when the earliest known Full Preterist book was written. Even though there may be many secondary points of agreement between Historical/Modern Preterism and Hyper Preterism, their premises are undeniably and fundamentally different.
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS "HYPER PRETERIST"
SOME DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES OF SYSTEMATIZED HYPER PRETERISM
It is important to keep in mind that many ideas and doctrines full preterism appeals to - such as the complete end of the Old Covenant world in AD70 - are by no means distinctive to that view. Many non HyPs believe this as well, so one need not embrace the Hyper Preterist system in order to endorse this view. Following are exceptional doctrines which, so far as I've seen, are only taught by adherents of Hyper Preterism.:
DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY STANDARD FULL PRETERISM
DISTINCTIVE DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY VARIOUS FORMS
The Return of Jesus (Isa) in the Bible, the Qu'ran and Hadith
By R. Simeon Ben Jochai, Luqman al-Mu’ammar II
c. March 04, 2003 AD/ AH 1424/5763 CE
In light of the turmoil in the current world situation, many Christians, Jews, and Muslims have departed from the Straight Path to follow their culturally bound emotions and traditions. Their view of the world shapes and colors everything they think and do. Please consider the following idea:
“What would you be thinking and doing if you were born in a different culture than the one you are now in? Have you ever tried to think out of your “cultural Box”?
It is not easy to think rationally. While in a Malaysia, I had the opportunity to read a interesting book, “The International Jew”, i.e. “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” by the famous automobile tycoon, Henry Ford. The book was in every major bookstore in Malaysia (and perhaps every Muslim country in the world) and spoke about “how the Jewish peoples had a corporate plan to trick and use America to take over the world”! I checked the internet and found the book easily. As I read, it made you have an intense hate for anything Jewish or American. Since Malaysia is a Muslim country I am sure this book had a wide reading and that the majority of the population wholeheartedly felt they are completely justified now in despising all Jews and Americans due to this evil conspiracy.
Then, a strange thing happened, for God/Allah understands the finest mysteries:
I was reading an article, “Japan’s WWII ‘Schindler’ leaves a controversial legacy” ,http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1213/p08s01-woap.html , about a Christian Japanese diplomat saving 10,000 Jewish people from the Nazis. The book they discuss is called “Chiune”. Then I saw it, the article says,
“Academics have noted the popularity of books (in Japan) based on “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a fabricated Jewish plot that was first translated by Japanese Army officers in the 1930s to stoke nationalism.”
Then it hit me. The Germans and Japanese created this book (The Protocols of the Elders of Zion), as deliberately written lies against the Jewish and American peoples to scapegoat and foster a nationalistic “hate” to the point of creating a world war. Likewise, have Muslim radicals knowingly deceive their own Muslims neighbors with the same lies in our day?
I believe they have, and few realize, even now what they have quietly done.
This kind of “terrorism” is far more destructive than 9/11.
Therefore, I write this article in order to challenge you to “THINK BEYOND YOUR CULTURAL LIMITATIONS! (presumptions)”. All three groups have serious “parroting” of traditional errors they need to compare to the truth of Holy Scriptures. They need to see the errors, repent (change) their current thinking and seek reconciliation for the sake of a better future for all our children. The first group we will consider is the Muslims view of Jesus’ Return ( then Jewish and Christian view). Why? Because what we believe about our future influences how we think and act today.
The Muslim Vision of the Future:
The standard Muslim view can be found in such books as “Jesus will Return” by Harun Yahya, and “Did the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) predict the Second Coming of Jesus and World War III” by M Zakiuddin Sharfi. They most often quote heavily from the Hadith.
What is not standard in their writing is often much critical thinking about what is being taught. The very first problem they must face is:
Problem One: Is there any direct reference about the Return or Descent of Jesus
(Nuzul ‘Isa) in the Quran?
Classical Quranic Commentators speculate about only one unclear, indirect verse
in the Quran,
“And there is none of the people of the Book but must believe in him (Jesus/Isa) before his death; and on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them.” (Surah 4:159).
Every other Muslim doctrine on the Return of Jesus comes from the Hadiths.
There is currently a great debate among the Muslim community about the authority of the Hadiths.
Some Muslims agree saying the Hadiths are “extremely important writings”. In the cover of Sahih Al-Bukhari , Dr. Khan, 1996/1417H it says, “Besides the Noble Qur’an, The second most important book for a Muslim is Sahih Al-Bukhari, because Allah’s Messenger has left two things for the guidance from Allah. One of these is the Noble Qur’an and the other is Ahadith (Sunna).”
Other Muslim disagree saying the Hadiths are “uninspired, error-filled books” written by men and even go as far as accusing most Muslims in the world of “shirk/blasphemy” for lifting it up to be an unholy “partner/idol” to the holy Qu’ran! They hold to a “Qu’ran only” view. (seewww.freeminds.org , www.malaysia.net , www.submissions.org , www.shia.org to name a few).
The Hadith: Problems and Questions:
Hudhaifah bin Asid al Ghifari says: “Once the Holy Prophet joined our company and we were engaged in mutual talk. He asked, ‘What are you talking about?’ The people said, ‘We are talking about Resurrection.’ He said, ‘Resurrection will not take place until ten (10) Signs have appeared.’ He then pointed out the 10 Signs.
The Dajjal (Anti-Christ)
Rising of the Sun in the West
Descent of Jesus, son of Mary
Gog and Magog
First big landslide in the East
Second big landslide in the West
Third big landslide in the Arabian Peninusla
A fire which will arise from Yamen and will drive mankind towards the plain of Resurrecton.
Will Jesus lead Muslims in Prayer according to the Hadith?
In 4 Hadiths, (Jabir bib Abdullah, Uthman bin Abi al-As, Majammi bin Jariah, Abu Umamah Baheli), they say clearly, Jesus did not lead the Muslims in Prayer at his descent while in 3 other Hadiths, (Hadrat Abu Hurairah, Hadrat Hudhaifah bin Yaman) they say clearly he did lead them in prayer.
The multiple, clear contradiction here is a very serious one. The negative Hadith’s even gave the reason why Jesus did not lead in prayer—Muslims are leaders of one another and is not in need of a leader! The positive Hadith are very clear as well. It is from the Hadiths that most Muslims follow the “detailed” Traditions not spoken clearly in the Qu’ran. Muslim Sharia law, details of murdering apostates to Islam, details of a woman covering her head in a mandatory way, severe punishments, how many prayers one is to say, and a thousand other details are found, and obeyed as if it was as holy as the Qu’ran. How can such obvious contradictions exist, and people base life and death decisions on it?
Hadith Verses saying Jesus “Did not lead Prayer”.
“Jabir bin Abdullah reports that the Holy Prophet (while relating the story of the Dajjal) said, “At that time suddenly Jesus, son of Mary (on whom be peace) shall appear among the Muslims. Then the people will stand up for Prayer, and he will be asked ‘Step forward, O Spirit of Allah (and lead us in Prayer); but he will say, ‘No: your own leader should step forward and lead the Prayer.” (Musnad Ahmad: Rawayat Fab bin Abdullah) pg.12.
“Hadrat Jabir bin Abdullah says that he heard the Holy Prophet say: then Jesus son of Mary will descend. The leader of the Muslims will say to him, ‘Come, lead us in the Prayer’ but he will say, ‘No: you yourselves are leaders of one another.”
(Muslim, Bayab Nuzul Isa Ibn Maryam; Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Fabir bin Abdullah) pg.12.
“Abu Umamah Baheli while mentioning the Dajjal in a lengthy Hadith reported,
Exactly at the time when the Imam of Muslims will have stepped forward to lead them in the Morning Prayer, Jesus, son of Mary shall descend upon them. The Imam will step back, forward (to lead the Prayer), but Jesus, placing his hand between his two shoulders, will say, ‘No, you should lead, for the congregation had assembled to follow you.’ So the Imam will lead the prayer.” (Ibn Majah, Kitab al Fitan: pg.13/14.
Hadith Verses saying “Jesus did lead the Prayer”:
“Hadrat Abu Hurairah reports that the Holy Prophet (after making mention of the appearance of the Dajjal) said: ‘In the meantime, when the Muslims will be making preparations to fight him, will be lining up (for the Prayer) and the Iqamah will have been pronounced, Jesus, son of Mary shall descend and lead them in the Prayer, and the enemy of Allah (Dajjal, the AntiChrist) on seeing him shall start dissolving like salt in water.” (Mishkat, Kitab alFitan, with reference to Muslim) pg.11).
“Hadrat Abu Hurairah reports that the Holy Prophet said, ‘How will you be when the son of Mary (Jesus/Isa) will descend among you, and your Imam (the leader of Prayer) at that time will be from among yourselves? (Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith Anibiya, Bab Nuzul Isa; Muslim, Nuzul Isa;Musnad Ahmad, pg.11.)
“Hadrat Hudhaifah bin Yaman reports (with reference to the Dajjal; Then when the Muslims will stand up to offer the Prayer, Jesus, son of Mary will descend just in front of them and he will lead the Muslims in Prayer.” (Mustadrak Hakim, A brief version of this Tradition has also been reported in Muslim and Hafiz bin Hajar in his Fath al-Bari, Vol.VI, p.450, has declared it to be authentic).
Other Contradictions in the Hadith about Jesus’ Return:
Q. Where did Jesus kill the (AntiChrist) Dajjal? At Lod, Israel, or at Afiq, Syria?
A. Three (3) Hadiths say that the Dajjal would be killed by Jesus at Lod (Lydda) which is 13 miles SE of Tel Aviv and it is also the International Airport. One (1) Hadith says that the Dajjal would be killed near the mountain pass of Afiq, also known as modern Fiq, the last Syrian city on the border between Syria and Israel.
Jesus kills Dajjal at Lod, Israel?
“Hadrat Nawwas bin Sam’an Kilabi reports ‘Then the son of Mary will go in pursuit of the Dajjal and will overtake him at the gate of Lod, and will kill him.”
(Muslim, Dhikr ab-Dajjal; Abu Daud, Kitab al-Malahim; Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Fitan; Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Fitan, pg.12/13”.
“Mujammi’ bin Jariah Ansari says, ‘I have heard the Holy Prophet say that the son of Mary will slay the Dajjal at the gate of Lod.’ (Musnad Ahmad; Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Fitan, pg.13).
“Abu Umamah Baheli reports, ‘Outside there will be the Dajjal along with 70,000 of the armed Jews. As soon as he will look at Jesus (upon who be peace) he will start melting like salt water, and will flee. Jesus will say, ‘I will strike you a blow which will not let you live.’ And he will overtake him at the eastern gate of Lod, and Allah will cause the Jews to be defeated.” (Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Fitan, pg.13,14”).
Jesus kills Dajjal at Afiq, Syria?
“Safinah, freed slave of the Holy Prophet reports, ‘Then Jesus (on whom be peace) will descend and Allah will cause the Dajjal to be killed near the mountain pass of Afiq.” (Musnad Ahmad, pg.14”).
Which Hadith is true? Which Hadith is a lie? Both are approved Traditions!
There are many more contradictions, but I would wish the scholar to look them up themselves if they wish.
Did the Dajjal melt like salt in water or like lead at the sight of Jesus?
Three Hadiths say “like salt in water” but one Hadith says “like lead”
“Uthman bin Abi al-As says, “I have heard the Holy Prophet say:
…On seeing Jesus he will start melting like lead.”
Statements of Self-Doubt in the Hadith:
It seems very odd, that prophetic statements are made with obvious uncertainty and lack of clarity. In one Hadith, it is uncertain whether Jesus would perform the Hajj or Urmah or both after his descent. In another Hadith, it is uncertain whether the Dajjal will live for “40 days, 40 months, or 40 years.” This kind of self-doubt seems very bizarre for prophetic literature!
“Hadrat Abu Hurairah has reported that the Holy Prophet said, …(Jesus/Isa) will distribute so much wealth that people will be satiated with it; and he will abolish the tribute; and he will encamp at Rauhafa (a place 35 miles from Madinah) and from there will go to perform Hajj or Umrah or both.” (Musnad Ahmad, Marwiyat Abu Hurairah; Muslim, Kitab al-Hajj), pg.11).
“Abdullah bin Amr bib As reported that the Holy Prophet said, “The Dajjal will appear in my Ummah and will live for forty (I do not know whether he said 40 days, or 40 months, or 40 years”). (Muslim, Dhikr ad-Dajjal), pg.13).
Therefore, these are but a few examples of the many problems in Islamic eschatology never openly discussed among Imam’s worldwide. The Hadith is openly contradicting and abrogating the teaching of the Qu’ran in many areas.
The Qu’ran states the People of the Injil (Gospel of Jesus) must obey the shariah of the Injil given by God Himself to Jesus. In the Qu’ran, Jesus (Isa) is stated as saying,
“I have come to you…to attest the Law which was before me and to make lawful to you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and Obey me (Jesus/Isa).”
“When Jesus came with clear Signs, he said: Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and Obey me (Jesus)” (Surah 43:63).
According to the teaching of the Qu’ran, all righteous Christians exist and obey Jesus unto the Hour of the Day of Judgment and enter Paradise! Jesus (Isa) is not a dead Prophet, but the Eternally Living, sinless, “Word/Messiah” from God.
The Future of Islam:
The Hadith has alternating views of the future of Islam prior to the Day of Resurrection. In (Sahih al-Bukharai, Vol.1, pg 68, No.80) one finds the world becoming increasing wicked before the Judgment Day,
“Narrated Anas Allah’s Apostle said, ‘From among the portents of the Hour are the following:
1. Religious knowledge will be taken away by the death of Religious learned men. (Therefore, true knowledge of God will decline, and the majority will be hypocrites who will use Islam for their own power, personal wealth, and deceit).
2. Religious ignorance will prevail. (Therefore, people will seem to know God, yet in reality, they are Ignorant of God.)
3. Drinking of Alcoholic drinks will be very common.
4. There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse.
5. Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty (50) women will be looked after by one man.
6. Extensive false accusations of unchastity, slander.
7. The earth’s settling and sinking down.
8. Transformation of people into monkey’s and pigs would appear.
9. Musical entertainment and singers appear. (This is why the Taliban in Afghanistan sought to destroy all forms of entertainment.)
10. A solar eclipse
The Hadith teaches that just before the End of the world comes, there will be a great war between the Muslims and the Jews with a great deal of killing. One army would invade India, and the other would be the Ummah who follows Jesus, the Spirit of Allah. It teaches that Jesus would return to guide the Muslims as a just ruler, and in some quotes as a Muslim himself. Nature itself would fight for Jesus, with the trees, roots, walls and rocks being able to speak and warn Jesus. The Hadith teaches Jesus will break the cross, kill all pigs, kill many Jews and the AntiChrist, do away with all taxation of non Muslim peoples, bringing an end to all poverty and war. Then for 7 years the people will live in a state of no ill-will and enmity between any two people.
A vision of the future is powerful, yet do you not remember all the contradictory remarks in the Hadith? Can the “mak ri fa tu’llah”, i.e, “the Divine Life Knowledge” you seek be found where the “hukakat” i.e. “Truth” is so seriously lacking? Is there a better “tarekat”, i.e., “the Way” revealed through the true Spirit and Light “yimani” of Allah?
Oh, Muslim, God weeps over every innocent child’s death, both born and unborn. He grieves over this world, so full of deceit, sorrow, selfishness, and loss so Ignorant of the Straight Path.
The One true God, who is closer than the vein on your neck does not believe that for every 1000 men, only one will be in hell, whereas for every 1000 women, only one will be in heaven, and the rest in Hell fire!
(Mishkat, Al-Masabih, Vol.I).
No, our God, Most Gracious doesn’t say to some, “To paradise, and I do not care!”, and to others, “To hell, and I do not care!” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol.8, 1981, pgs. 362, 363, Nos. 534-535). This is the worst lie, the greatest contradiction and abrogation, the greatest deception and twisting imaginable! The Dajjal revealed. Why?
Our God, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate… Does…Care… for you!
He loves you with and ever-lasting, ever-deepening, all-consuming, ever-seeking Zeal of true Love.
Najmo’d-Din Razi relates in (Marmuzai-e asadi dar mazmurat-e da’udi), Tehran, 1352 AHS/1973.
“ Now, in exposition of the truth about Jesus and the Antichrist and the respective similarity and contrast between them, it may be said that the similarity is superficial and the contrast fundamental. From the point of view of appearance, they are both called the “Messiah”, and both have a donkey, and they are both alive, and they both bring the dead to life.
Now, Jesus is called the “Messiah” through traveling the heavens, while the Antichrist is called the “Messiah” by traveling through the earth from east to west. Jesus is heavenly and the Antichrist is earthly. Jesus has vision and confers vision on others; visionary because in his infancy he said, “Indeed, I am the devotee of God”, and conferring vision by virtue of healing the “blind and the leper”, while the Antichrist is blind and the blinder of others, for he presents the Truth as falsehood and falsehood as the Truth.
Now, Jesus brings the dead to life as a miracle to provide grounds of faith, while the Antichrist quickens the dead as a demonstration of powers to lure one into denying faith. And the emergence of the Antichrist out of the earth serves to bring about a reign of oppression, (*under compulsion), and corruption on earth, while the descent of Jesus from heaven is to bring about a reign of equity and justice.
Be aware, that all is in the realm of form is a reflection of that which is in the realm of spirit, and all that is in the realms of form and spirit is represented in man.
Hence, the ‘Jesus-ness’ in you is your spirit (*the Hope of glory) as of Jesus, it is said: “We breathed of Our Spirit into it (Mary’s womb)” (Tahrim [The Banning], 12), while of you it is said: “I breathed of My Spirit into him (Adam)” (Hejr, 29(*Adam had potential to die an eternal death). Jesus brings the dead to life,(*never to die again) as the spirit brings life to the lifeless frame. Jesus had a mother, whereas the Divine Breath served in place of a (*earthly) father for him; likewise, the spirit (of each person) is mothered by the elements and (*has choice to be) fathered by the Breath. Jesus is sublime, and the spirit is sublime. Jesus is the (*Eternal) Word, and the spirit is the Word, as indicated by the expression that the “spirit is by command of my Lord” (Esra [The Night Ascension], 85). Jesus rode the donkey, as the spirit rides the body.
And the Antichrist is represented in you as your ‘demanding ego (*fleshly controlled or soulish inner person or even a community of vain belief)’. The Antichrist is one-eyed, just like your ego, seeing only the world and being blind to the hereafter. Whatever the Antichrist presents as heaven is actually hell and what he presents as hell is really heaven; by the same token, the ego presents carnal passions and pleasures as paradisical, though they are actually infernal, and it presents one’s spiritual devotion and worship as hellish, though they are really heavenly in nature.
The Antichrist mounts a donkey, and your ego possesses bestial qualities. The mystery of it all is that, though Jesus was in the world, as was the Antichrist (*see Injil/I John 2:18,19,22) Jesus was carried up to heaven, while the Antichrist was locked up in the bowels of the earth. Then the Antichrist will first be brought out to rampage over the earth and create havoc and wreak corruption, claiming (*false) divinity. Next, Jesus will be brought down and given dominion, claiming to be the devotee of God. He will succeed in slaying the Antichrist, then set about establishing a reign of prosperity, justice, and equity. After a time, he will pass from this world, and the Day of Judgment will be at hand.
In the same way, spirit and (soulish) ego are brought together in the world of humanity. However, the spirit is taken up to the heaven of the heart, while the Antichrist of the ego is confined in the earth of the human state.
It takes several years for humanity to develop its full potential and for the constituents of the body to properly mature. First, the Antichrist of the ego emerges from the confines of infancy, mounted on the ass of animal qualities, launching forth on its program of wreaking havoc in the world, claiming divinity in the manner of “Have you seen the one who makes his desire his god…? (Jathiyah [Kneeling], 23) and exhorting one towards the hell of greed and lust as the heavenly goal, while decrying the heaven of devotion and worship as hell. He slays the believers of praiseworthy, angelic qualities with the unbeliever’s hands of satanic and condemnable qualities, raising the dead powers in human nature, until, all of a sudden, a grace unimaginable bears from on high the Jesus of spirituality, mounted on the regal wings of the Gabriel of the Law, taking flight from the lofty heaven of the heart to descend into the world of humanity.
Reason, left behind, gazes at his departed stirrup,
While Love surges ahead, mounted by his side.
Jesus slays the Antichrist of the ego, by severing his head of material nature, and establishes the dominion of justice and equity of spirituality in the world of humanity, destroying the swine of greed, shattering the cross of fleshly nature, and slashing the bonds of passion.”
Oh, dear Muslim. The One True God, whom I believe in and love, earnestly wants you to follow His Truth, and not any Islamic tradition of lies, which bind up people’s minds in Ignorance.
You are not alone, the Jews, and Christians have the same battle to find the Clear Truth, the Straightest Path amidst their traditions. This battle must not be one of “flesh and blood” but instead, it must be fought in the realm of Muslims, Jews, and Christians finding true piety.
Let us weep and seek His face together! Let us never give up true reconciliation, true forgiveness, true repentance from sincere hearts and minds. Too much is at stake to do anything else for the sake of a Healed Vision of the Future. To God is thy final Goal, for the salvation that comes from God is that of being completely delivered from myself and being placed into perfect union with Him.
Please read on and then once finished, send me your feedback.
Salamun Alaikum (end of part 1).
c. March 04, 2003 AD/ AH 1424/5763 CE
Akie’m Shalom (Part II of III)
By R. Simeon Ben Jochai
The Jewish Vision of the Future:
The traditional Jewish understanding of the Messiah is two-fold. One is based on the Holy Scriptures of the Prophets of Israel, like Daniel, David, Isaiah, and the other on the Traditions [Mishneh Torah] (similar to the Hadith, yet Jewish) of Maimonides( Ramban) (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon),(1135-1204) in his commentary to tractate Sanhedrin, of the Babylonian Talmud, and the Hasidic scholar, Rashi.
When the Moschiach, i.e., Messiah, or Anointed One, comes, he will usher in a Messianic era of peace and prosperity for not only Israel, but also all the nations of the world. The sign of this Olam Haba (Hebrew for “The world to come” is that Eliyah the prophet comes, and then the war with Gog/Magog, followed by:
The Messiah comes to expand the borders of Israel and compel all
Israel to walk in observance of the Torah.
2. The Holy Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its same site.
Law statues of the former times; line of descent and purity of tribal and Levitical lineage prophetically reinstituted, animal sacrifices, (Mitizvos) Sabbatical/Jubilee years renewed as before.
Eventually, war, hatred and famine will end, and an era of peace and prosperity, and study of the Torah will come upon the Earth.
Maimonides outlines the following;
“ In future times, the King Mashiach will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He will rebuild the (Beis Ha) Mikdash and gather in the dispersed remnant of Israel. Then, in his days, all the statutes will be re-instituted as in former times. We will offer sacrifices and observe the Sabbatical and Jubilee years according to all their particulars set forth in the Torah:
Whoever does not believe in him, or does not await his coming, denies not only (the statements of) the other prophets, but also (those of) the Torah, and of Moshe, our teacher, for the Torah attests to his coming, stating (Devarim 30:3-5).
And the Lord your G-d will bring back your captivity and have compassion upon you. He will return and gather you (from among all the nations)…Even if your dispersed ones are in the furthest reaches of the heavens, (from there will G-d gather you in)…G-d will bring you (to the land).
These explicit words of the Torah include all that was said (on the subject) by all the prophets. There is also a reference (to Mashiach) in the passage concerning Bilaam, who prophesies about the two anointed (kings): the first anointed (king) , David, who saved Israel from her oppressors, and the final anointed (king) who will arise from among his descendants and save Israel (at the End of Days). The following (quoted) phrases are from that passage: [Bamidbar 24:17-18]
“I see it, but not now” – This refers to David; “I perceive it, but not in the near future” This refers to the King Mashiach.
“A star shall go forth from Yaakov” – This refers to David, (as it is written [II Shmuel 8:2], “He smote Moab and measured them with a line’); “he shall break down all of Seth’s descendants” – This refers to King Mashiach (about whom it is written [Zechariah 9:10], “He will rule from sea to sea”).
“Edom will be demolished”- This refers to David (as it is written [Cf. II Shmuel 8:6 and 8:14], “Edom became the servant of David”); his enemy, Seir, will be destroyed” – This refers to the Mashiach, (as it is written in Ovadiah 1:21], “Saviors will ascend Mount Zion [to judge the mountain of Esau…]”).
2. Similarly, in regard to the cities of refuge, it is stated (Devarim/Deut. 19:8-9),
“When G-d will expand your borders…you shall add three more cities.” This command has never been fulfilled. [Surely,] G-d did not give this command in vain, [and thus was that it be fulfilled after the coming of the Mashiach]. There is no need to cite proof texts on the concept [of the Mashiach] from the words of the prophets, for all [their] books are filled with it.
3. Onr should not entertain the notion that the King Mashiach must work miracles and wonders, bring about new phenomena within the world, resurrect the dead, or perform other similar deeds. This [definitely] is not true…
4. If a king will arise from the House of David who delves deeply into the study of the Torah, and like David his ancestor, observes its mitzvos as prescribed by the Written Law and the Oral Law; if he will compel all Israel to walk in [the Way of the Torah] and repair the breaches [in its observance]; and if he will fight the wars of G-d; we may, with assurance, consider him the Mashiach.
I he succeeds in the above, builds the [Beis HaMikdash on its site, and gathers in the dispersed remnant of Israel, he is definitely the Mashiach.
He will then perfect the entire world, [motivating all the nations] to serve G-d together, as it is written [Zephaniah 3:9] “I will make the peoples pure of speech so that they will call upon the Name of G-d and serve Him with one purpose.
One should not entertain the notion that in the Era of Mashiach any element of the natural order will be nullified, or that there will be any innovation in the work of creation. Rather, the world will continue according to its pattern.
Although Yeshayahu (Isaiah) [Yeshayahu 11:6] states, “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat,”
these [words] are an allegory and a riddle. They mean that Israel will dwell securely together with the wicked gentiles who are likened to wolves and leopards, as in the verse (Jeremiah) [Yirmeyahu 5:6], “A wolf of the deserts despoils them, a leopard watches over their cities.” [In this era, all nations] will return to the true faith and no longer plunder or destroy. Instead, at peace with Israel, they will eat that which is permitted, as it is written [Yeshayahu 11:7], “The lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
Similarly, other prophecies of this nature concerning Mashiach are analogies. In the Era of the King Mashiach, everyone will realize what was implied by these metaphors and allusions.
Our Sages taught: (Berachos 34b) “There will be no difference between the current age and the Era of Mashiach except (our emancipation from) subjugation to the (gentile) kingdoms.”
The simple meaning of the words of the prophets appears to imply that the war of Gog and Magog [Yechezkal Ch.38] will take place at the beginning of the Messianic age. Before the war of Gog and Magog, a prophet will arise to rectify Israel’s conduct and prepare their hearts [for the Redemption], as it is written; [Malachi 3:23] “Behold, I am sending you Eliyah(u) before the advent of the great and awesome Day of God.”
He will not come in order to declare the pure, impure, nor to declare the impure the pure, nor will he come in order to disqualify the lineage of those presumed to be flawless descent, nor to validate lineage which is presumed to be blemished. Rather, he will come in order to establish peace in the world; as the above prophecy continues [Malachi 3:24], “He will bring back the hearts of the fathers to the children.”
Some of the Sages say that Eliyahu will appear immediately before the coming of Mashiach.
All these and similar matters cannot be clearly known by man until they occur, for they are undefined in the words of the prophets. Even the Sages have no established tradition regarding these matters, beyond what is implied by the verses; hence there is a divergence of opinion among them.
He will purify the lineage of the Levites first, and then define the lineage of the Israelite tribe. This will be done through his prophetic gift.
The Sages and the prophets did not yearn for the Messianic Era in order that the Jewish people rule over the entire world, nor in order that they have dominion over the gentiles, nor that they be exalted by them, nor in order that they eat, drink and celebrate. Rather, their aspiration was that the Jewish people be free to involve themselves in Torah and its wisdom, with out anyone to oppress or disturb them, and thus be found worthy of life in the World to Come, as we explained in Hilchos Teshuvah.
In that Era there will be neither famine nor war, neither envy nor competition, for the good things will flow in abundance and all the delights will be as freely available as dust. The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d. The Jews will therefore be great sages and know the hidden matters, and will attain an understanding of their Creator to the full extent of human potential; as it is written [Yeshayahu 11:9], “For the world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the ocean bed.”
Finally, one should not try to calulate the appointed time for the coming Mashiach. Our Sages declared: [Sanhedrin 97b] “May the spirit of those who attempt to calculate the final time of the Mashiach’s coming expire!”
The teachings outline of Rambam (1135-1204) Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) are highly respected by both Jewish and Muslim scholars today. How do I now this? Badawi, and Huseyin Atay, Muslim and Arab professors, both honor him. In 1985, Pakistan and Cuba sponsored the UNESCO conference on Maimonides. This Sage of Jewish history was also the physician to the Sultan of Egypt in Cairo.
Just as the Hadith is exulted by most Muslims as the true future vision of Islam (see article I, which outlines many of the errors in the Hadith), so the Mishneh Torah of Maimonides is exulted in the same way as the true vision of Judaism.
Sadly, this lies at the very ROOT of the Problem!
Why? Which should be the greater authority? G-d, His Word, through the Prophets of divinely revealed, and inspired Scriptures? Or men who are Sages, but are men nonetheless, and uninspired, and yet control the vision of present-day Zionist Israel and the great majority of Jewish people in the world. The implications of the correctness of this vision impacts the entire world for better or worse.
Let us compare the Vision of the Jewish future as given by Maimonides with the one given by the Jewish Holy Scriptures, and see how well they match up.
AD 70: Haram as Sharif, Ninth of Av,
the Second Destruction of the Jewish Temple and its Implications on the Future Vision of Israel.
The “Wailing Wall” in Jerusalem represents the Jewish peoples greatest sorrow over the lost “true worship” of G-d according to the teachings of the Torah and Prophets. In AD 70, over one million Jewish people were killed in the city by their own infighting and the siege attack of the Roman army under Titus. Over 97,000 were taken away into captivity. Countless numbers starved to death, many others died of plague throughout the Judean region. More Jewish people died during this time, than during the entire Jewish Holocaust of the Nazi era.
Today, the Jewish people can no longer offer the required and proper animal sacrifices to G-d. They cannot trace their lineage of priesthoods and tribes due to this great tragedy in history. As a Jewish people, they were scattered all over the world from their land, to live as foreigners in strange countries at the mercy of other peoples who do not know G-d as they do. Many of them departed from their daily faith in the Torah because they felt that G-d had abandoned them. The sorrow of this time still runs very deep in their history.
As an example of this cultural pain, same feeling would exist among Muslim people today if the Kaaba in Mecca had been destroyed by a radical Muslims attempt to defend it and a Jewish Temple built next to its original site! No longer could a Muslim then truly fulfill the Hajj, and though Islam would continue to exist, something would always seem to be lacking somehow, and a continual desire would be burning in their hearts to restore what was lost. This is the Jewish cultures continual heart ache.
Do the Holy Scriptures of the Jewish people speak of the future vision of the Jewish people? Is that future vision the same as the one outlined by Jewish sages like Maimonides? Let us compare and see.
Do the Scriptures teach “all of the people of Israel will come back to Torah?”
First, one must ask, “just who is Israel today?” The Encyclopaedia Judaica Jerusalem, states under the heading of Anthropology, Physical: vol. 3, p.50, 1971;
“It is a common assumption, and one that sometimes seems ineradicable even in the face of evidence to the contrary, that the Jews of today constitute a race, a homogeneous entity easily recognizable.
From the preceding discussion of the origin and early history of the Jews, it should be clear that in the course of their formation as a people and a nation they had already assimilated a variety of racial strains from people moving into the general area they occupied. This had taken place by interbreeding and then by conversion to Judaism of a considerable number of communities… Thus, the diversity of the racial and genetic attributes of various Jewish colonies of today renders any unified racial classification of them a contradiction in terms. Despite this, many people readily accept the notion that they are a distinct race. This is probably reinforced by the fact that some Jews are recognizably different in appearance from the surrounding population. That many cannot be easily identified is overlooked and the stereotype for some is extended to all—a not uncommon phenomenon.”
Therefore, “all Israel” is not a “race of Jewish people”. Racially, they are so diverse, they can no longer be defined in this way. The large majority of Jewish people today (95%) are Khazarian (Russian) converts of Turk/Hun descent (Ashkenazim). The (Sephardim Orthodox Jews) come from Spain and Portugal.
Then, how is “all Israel” defined today? They must be defined “religiously” as any person from any country who has adopted the Judaic belief system.
In 1970, Israel passed a law stating “that a Jew is someone whose mother is a Jew,” regardless of the father’s background.
Therefore, to be more specific according to Maimonides, “All of the people who by faith, not race, who have become a follower of the Holy Jewish Scriptures will come (spiritually fulfill) their obedience to the Book of the Torah and the Prophets of Israel, thus bringing to the earth everlasting righteousness.”
The bigger question is How?
The Prophecy of the Prophet Daniel
Maimonides overlooked some very important issues he had to be keenly aware of yet failed to mention, namely, Daniel 9:24-27. When one studies the Holy Scriptures of G-d, we must be aware of things added by men, and even more discerning of things obviously subtracted, and strangely omitted in discussion.
“Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.
Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Moschiach/Messiah), the ruler comes, there will be seventy sevens, and sixty two sevens. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.
After the sixty two sevens, the Anointed One will be cut off (die), and will have nothing. The people of the ruler will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood. War will continue till the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to the sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation until the end that is decreed is poured out on them.” (Daniel 9:24-27).
The date of the “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” was the decree by Artaxerxes in 444 B.C. granting permission to the Jewish diaspora to return to Palestine and rebuild the city of Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 2:1-8).
The Hebrew word translated “weeks” in the Scripture, means “sevens” or “heptads”, and is used for years. (See Leviticus.25:8, also Genesis 29:27-28). In other words, the “seventy sevens” that are prophetically determined on Israel and on the holy city, are specific events can easily be historically dated.
Maimonides must have known this! Why else the deafening omission, and lofty condemnation of those who might know this verse and give a reasonable date for the coming of the Moschiach/Messiah from the Holy Scripture?
Therefore, after 483 lunar years, the approximate date of the Messiah’s coming was around AD 32 while the second temple was still standing!
Maimonides and Jesus of Nazareth
The original uncensored Venice text of 1574 (see Laws Concerning Mashiach,http://www.panix.com/~jjbaker/rmbmesia ) is interesting due to many factors.
First, it is one of the few Rabbinic works, for Maimonides clearly admits to the death, burial, and “resurrection of Jesus” as a true historical, Jewish fact, (though offering his own interpretation of the reason).
Second, Maimonides quotes from the Book of Daniel in an attempt to discredit Jesus of Nazareth as an option for fulfilling the place of Messiah/Mashiach. Therefore, he was very aware that Daniel specifically gave a detailed dating of the time the Messiah would come and also what he would do, he ignored it.
Third, it states in Daniel 9:26, that “The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood.” Josephus outlines how it was both the Jewish people inside the Temple, who set fire to their own sanctuary, and the Roman army of Titus in AD who were seen as sent as a Judgment by God on the nation, that brought an end to the age of true, orthodox Judaism. Therefore, how could Maimonides be ignorant of such a commonly known fact? Quoting the 1574 edition, he says of Jesus of Nazareth,
“If he (Jesus) did not succeed to this degree or he was killed, he surely is not the redeemer promised by the Torah. Rather, he should be considered as all other proper and legitimate kings of the Davidic dynasty who died. G-d only casued him to arise in order to test the multitude. As it is written [Daniel 11:35] “Some of the wise men will stumble, to purge, to refine, and to clarify, until the appointed time, for it is yet to come.”
Though not perfect, the Christians over the centuries tried to model their lives after the Jewish man, Jesus of Nazareth. They have spread the knowledge of the Torah over the entire earth in every age. Jesus of Nazareth has done what no other Jewish person in all history has done. His people have faithfully translated and taught the Torah to thousands of different languages amidst thousands of cultures. It says, “I will make the peoples pure of speech so that they will all call upon the Name of G-d and serve Him with one purpose.” [Zephaniah 3:9].
The question needs to be asked, “Was Daniel the Prophet wrong in placing the coming of the Messiah during the time of the Roman rule of Israel, and the destruction of the Temple in AD 70?” I think not. Maimonides was the one in error. If the Jewish Vision of the Future is in error about this matter, the question must be raised, what else have they been mistaken about?
Religious Zionism and the Rebuilding of the Temple
The concept of “Religious Zionism” is that one doesn’t just passively wait for the coming Redemption of the Messiah, but rather “hastens” the day by active efforts to bring it to pass. This is based on the assumed conclusion that Daniel the Prophet was wrong in saying that the Messiah would come in the first century, and that the Rabbi Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon) i.e. Rambam (1135-1204) was correct in his interpretation.
Hassidim, the more ultra Orthodox Jewish view, is reflected in the teachings of the Sage Rashi “…that the Temple will descend from heaven”, (kind of like a flying saucer), and supernaturally land in Jerusalem. The rebuilding of the Temple is a work of G-d and not fulfilled by the “arm of flesh” efforts of men.
It is the view of Maimonides, that “the Temple will not supernaturally appear, but will be built by the Messiah at his coming”, which is the most dominant view.
The present movements among some groups in Israel, both Jewish and Christian, feel the Messiah needs some help to get this done, so they desire to “hasten” the process by building a “temporary” 3rd Temple. They are making the temple utensils, the priestly garments, trying to procure a red heifer in order to have the needed ashes that constitutes a major halachic obstacle for a state of purity.
No human exists in the state of purity to handle its ashes so far, therefore, they now need to raise kohanim babies, of the tribe of Levi, in special halachically off limit zones!
Some interpret this 3rd Temple effort as the temporary building of a physical “false Temple for the AntiChrist” to make an appearance and rule the world. They believe that G-d indeed, will still establish the true Temple either supernaturally before or after the Messiah’s return.
Therefore, many popularized views exist today about how the 3rd Temple could be rebuilt. Yet according to the Old Testament book of Daniel, “a Temple existed at the time of the coming of the Messiah”. Since Judaism rejects any coming of a Messiah prior to the 2nd Temple’s destruction, they hope in a 3rd Temple. Presently, the Muslim “Dome of Omar” stands on the site of the Temple, and these matters create a serious undertow of political and religious turbulence.
How can these deep issues be resolved? Is it impossible? I believe they can be resolved because other solutions have been overlooked and unexplored. Let us seek G-d’s face and heart in a matter I wish you to seriously ponder.
Reassesment of the Jewish View of the Future:
Both Maimonides and Rashi, touch upon a very “overlooked” understanding of these matters. The problem before, as it is today has been that people wish to impress a very literal meaning to spiritual concepts, which are instead spoken allegorically and metaphorically. For example,
“The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat.” [Yeshayahu 11:6].
Maimonides says, “ …these words are an allegory and a riddle. They mean that Israel will dwell securely together with the wicked gentiles who are likened to wolves and leopards…” Similarly, other prophecies of this nature concerning Mashiach are analogies. In the Era of the Mashiach, everyone will realize what was implied by these metaphors and allusions.”
As proven earlier, the literal concept of “Jewish race” is a false idea regarding the people of Israel , therefore, could not a literal, physically “rebuilt” Temple, constitute another such “false” idea? Have we overlooked the concept of “rebuilding the Temple” in a spiritual, metaphorical way as the true, original understanding and solution to this matter? Let us come reason together!
I believe G-d never intended, nor now desires, a physical Temple to be rebuilt in Israel or anywhere else.
His Temple is spiritual discerned and rebuilt.
The Borders are spiritually expanded.
People are compelled by spiritual Truth/Love and not by force.
Priestly position is not by nepotistic endowment,
It’s spiritually given due to true, noble character.
An Era of Peace is possible if people learn how to admit they are wrong, give and receive forgiveness, seek true reconciliation,
and the Face of G-d.
(This concludes Part II of this III part article).
What do YOU think ?
Email PreteristArchive.com's Sole Developer and Curator, Todd Dennis
(todd @ preteristarchive.com)
Opened in 1996