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Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim's Assertion:
In Judaism Moshiach is clearly defined, and it is essential that we learn these definitions.
According to the Rambam (Maimonides), the prophesy of Bilam (Bamidbar 24: 17,18) implies that there will be two Moshiachs! King David was the first, and one of his direct descendents will be the last, i.e., Moshiach ben Dovid. In other words, the Moshiach will be someone like king David.
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The Netzarim Response:
But what does Scripture say? Do you believe man's word over G-d's?
Why is it that you blatantly ignore G-d, yet are without question, willing to believe the word of some rabbis with limited, human mindsets, who wrote the Mishna (the first part of the Talmud; a collection of early oral interpretations of the scriptures that was compiled about AD 200)?
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He (Rambam ) is more specific in the second to the last chapter of his Mishna Torah (Chapt. 11:4)
"If there arises a King from the family of David who constantly learns Torah and works in the commandments like Dovid his forefather, according to the written and oral Torah, tries to make all the Jews to be observant, strengthens the edifice of Judaism and fights the battles of G-d. Behold he is considered Moshiach (and you should follow him as Rabbi Akiva did with Bar Kocchva –as Mimonides explains in the previous law). If he succeeds in all this and builds the Holy Temple in its place and gathers the dispersed Jews, behold, this is certainly Moshiach and he will transform all mankind to serve G-d together. As it says "then I will transform the nations to call the name of G-d with a clear speech and serve Him together."
From this we can learn even more about the identity of Moshiach: (For the sake of space and to prevent repetitiveness, the list of the yeshiva's Messiah qualifications has been posted in The Refiner's Fire response, below....)
...As we mentioned in the first section, the arrival of Moshiach is in our hands. The great leaders of Judaism through the generations taught that the more genuinely we wait for Moshiach, the earlier he will arrive. It seems that G-d set up the world in a way that He is especially sensitive to our desires, prayers and good deeds for the immediate arrival of Moshiach....
...In fact, G-d has made it easier for us, and given us a perfect example in our generation of a human being with all the above qualities so we know exactly what type of person to impatiently wait for.
That man is the Lubavitcher Rebbe.......
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The Netzarim Response:
The term "moshiach" literally means "the anointed one," and refers to the ancient practice of anointing kings with oil when they took the throne. The word "messiah" was used 39 times in the tanach. But G-d'S "Messiah", was:
- the Son He promised to send us (Isaiah Isaiah 9:6-7).
- to be G-d within a man (Zechariah 12:10-11);
- to die before the 2nd Temple was destroyed (Daniel 9:24-27);
- to bring salvation to the world (Isaiah 59:16-20);
- to perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6);
- and to be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:10) to name just a few.
Did Rabbi Schneerson fulfill ANY of the above?
However, YESHUA fulfilled ALL of these, and MORE! He also made it quite clear where he stood on the question of the Oral Law - see Matthew 12, 15 and 23 for example. The "tradition" of the Pharisees tends to "nullify the word of G-d...." The rabbis had their people so "bound up" with interpretations and ideas about what the Scriptures might have meant; and Yeshua, speaking with G-d's authority, reprimanded them for it because it had become virtually impossible to follow all the various rules and regulations.
Does this mean that Yeshua hated the Torah? Of course not! He realized that Torah is G-d's Divine Instruction in Righteousness and that without it, man would never know the definition of sin. Torah is a GOOD thing! Without Torah, we would have no blueprint for moral, holy living. But simply being obedient to Torah does not atone for our sins; YHWH always required a sin sacrifice. Yeshua martyred Himself for us, and thus became that sacrifice! As he told us in Matthew 5, He did not come to abolish Torah; on the contrary, He established/confirmed it and became the LIVING Torah:
Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen has happened.
There are at least 48 "Dead-On Prophecies" about Yeshua in the "Old Covenant" that were fulfilled in the New Covenant! He has even fulfilled the first four Biblical Feasts!
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To determine what the Mashiyach should be and do according to Scripture, we must look beyond Tradition to the Sacred Scriptures themselves. What matters is not what the rabbis said, but what G-d commanded and what His Scripture says.
For example, check out what Isaiah said:
- 42:6, 49:8 - He will be a Covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles
- 53:2, 52:14 - Messiah will have no physical appeal, many will be appalled at him (Isaiah 52:14)
- 53:3-5. - he will be despised and rejected, unappreciated, a man of sorrows
It is often claimed that there is no need of an intercessor in Judaism, but Isaiah says:
- 53:6 - Messiah would carry away our iniquities.
- 53:8. - he would die childless for the transgressions of Israel
- 53:12 - he would pour out his life unto death to intercede for transgressors
- 53:10 - His life would be a guilt offering
If the Messiah is yet to come, the Messiah is yet to be rejected and to die! And yet,
- 53:11 -- he would be raised from the dead.
This is exactly what we have in Yeshua: a rejected Messiah who died and rose again.
Does the Bible claim or suggest that Messiah must be divine? Isn't he just a man?
See Isaiah 59:17, 63:5, 43:11, 49:26. G-d himself provides salvation, as only he is able. No ordinary man is up to the task. G-d wasn't born as a man, He caused His "Son" to be born as a human with a divine qnoma/nature to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH in order to fulfill the Messianic prophecies and bring about the salvation of Israel and the world!
Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.
Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."
Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.
So, while His death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! God isn't just in the business of "saving" people; as Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come! If "Jesus abolished Torah at the cross" then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?
YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do:
Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.
Yeshua Himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not His own!
John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. Aramaic English New Testament)
[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!
Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and to do everything His Father commanded. He tore down the fences of man's legalism. Neither He nor His Apostles ever advocated against Torah!
John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world. 48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak. (Aramaic English New Testament)
[1] Y'shua does not bring a new Faith, but reveals the original Faith of YHWH the Father.
[2] Y'shua proclaims that he came to give life, then he declares that His father's Commands are eternal life! The Father's "Commands" are instruction in righteousness; this is Torah which contains Commandments, Judgments, Testimony and Witness regarding the Kingdom of Elohim. Those who enter into Covenant with Mashiyach are entering into Covenant with his Father YHWH; therefore, it is evil - an outright lie - to teach that Torah is done away with and replaced by a new theology!
[3] The Commands of YHWH bring eternal life. YHWH's "Commands" refers to all of His Commandments; these are one and the same as every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of Elohim. These are not Commands only between Y'shua and His Father but they are universal for all souls who will enter into the Malchut Elohim.
Y'shua speaks the Word of YHWH, not his own words; therefore, he conveys the revelation of YHWH according to the Ruach haKodesh without the baggage of man's religious tradition. Religion has a propensity to reinvent or interpret the Word of YHWH to make it "acceptable" to man's standards; whereas Mashiyach came not to please men, but to honor and bring Glory to his Father.
Yeshua was sent by the Father NOT to do His own will, but the Father's! So many seem to think He came to replace the Father and abolish Torah....Yet He came to restore man's relationship with YHWH and remind us to totally rely on YHWH for everything
Now what of those things they say Yeshua has not accomplished? Isn't Messiah supposed to bring about a new order of world peace and bring all Israel to the Promised Land to dwell in safety? Yes, undeniably the Bible is full of such predictions. We believe Yeshua will fulfill them all when he returns, but the other was necessary first. Clearly, if the Messiah is to be rejected and die and also to reign over New Jerusalem, the rejection must come first.
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Yeshua Himself said quite clearly why he was sent in the very familiar (but little understood) passage of John 3:16-18.
"For G-d so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that (for this reason) whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For G-d did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He who believes in him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of G-d".
Rabbi Schneerson, as a mere human being, did not and could not possibly have fulfilled all of these prophecies! Here are a few other Scriptures that can attest to that fact:
- Michah 5:2 tells us that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem: But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'judah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times. Was Schneerson born in Bethelem? No, he was born on April 18, 1902, in Nikolayev, a town in the southern Ukraine... Were his origins "far in the past, back in ancient times"? Hardly...
- Daniel 9:26, Malachi 3:1, and Psalm 118:25-26 say that the Messiah must appear while the Temple is still standing. That happened way before Schneerson's time. Furthermore, our bodies are now "the temple", and they ARE, in effect "standing" and will be standing when Yeshua returns to earth to defeat the antichrist....
- Proverbs 30:4 - Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what his his son's name? Surely you know! Does this sound like Rabbi Schneerson?
- Psalms 2: 1 Why are the nations in an uproar, the peoples grumbling in vain? 2 The earth's kings are taking positions, leaders conspiring together, against ADONAI and his anointed. 3 They cry, "Let's break their fetters! Let's throw off their chains!" 4 He who sits in heaven laughs; ADONAI looks at them in derision. 5 Then in his anger he rebukes them, terrifies them in his fury. 6 "I myself have installed my king on Tziyon, my holy mountain." 7 I will proclaim the decree: ADONAI said to me, 'You are my son; today I became your father....
According to the traditional Jews, in every generation a person is born with the potential to be the moshiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person's lifetime, then that person will be the moshiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach. It seems Rabbi Schneerson died before he completed his mission....
While the "Lubavitcher Rebbe" might have been a great and learned man, he is NOT the Messiah. He is dead. He has never risen, and it's very likely that he won't because he was a mere human being....
Yeshua, however, fulfilled ALL of these prophecies and qualifications - and more!
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Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim's Assertion:
Remember, the Moshiach will to bring the entire world to perfection. There will be no war, famine, strife, disease, ignorance etc. rather everyone will be interested ONLY in the truth and in using all their G-d given talents to serve the Creator. It sounds fantastic but it is the goal that mankind has been striving for for generations.
If you REALLY want to make it happen then here is your chance to do it! Here is the plan of the Rebbe. None of the following ideas are new. But even one of them, any one, can tip the scales for good. How much more so more than one.
First we must THINK properly about Moshiach.
This can only be accomplished by LEARNING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE on the subject. It is of utmost importance to realize that Moshiach is a PURELY JEWISH idea. So it may take some searching to find reliable material. Most Torah tape or book libraries, even those of institutions involved in outreach, surprisingly contain almost no material on Moshiach. For some reason till today Moshiach has not seemed relevant to most Jews.
One excellent source of course is Chabad literature beginning with the essays written by the Seven Chabad Rebbes especially the Previous Rebbe and the Rebbe himself much of which is translated into English. Ask your local Chabad house or contact one of the many Chabad sites on Internet for more information.
More advanced students can try learning on their own any of the books of Chassidut Chabad. The Rebbe suggested "Torah Ohr and Lekuti Torah" but in fact all the writings of the Chabad Rebbes are called "Torat HaMoshiach" lit. 'Teachings of Moshiach' and will give a true picture of the revelation of G-d that will accompany the redemption.
By learning about the redemption eventually each of us should be so knowledgeable and desirous of Moshiach that our lives will be permeated with the DESIRE and THOUGHT of bringing Moshiach.
Next, we must SPEAK properly about Moshiach:
It is necessary to speak to G-d; to pray to and even to DEMAND of G-d that He send Moshiach.
The Rebbe said that we should say; “Ad Masai” (How long do we have to wait!) and "We want Moshiach NOW" at every opportunity. Later he added that we should 'add life to the Moshiach' by declaring: "Long live the King!" Which was done by all the Chabad Chassidim in the Rebbe's presence up to 1994 and many still continue this practice.
Similarly we must ASK questions about Moshiach and, if possible, to TEACH others about Moshiach.
We must make Moshiach a POPULAR and POSITIVE Jewish idea that everyone is TALKING about.
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The Netzarim Response:
Can MAN really "bring" the Mashiyach by DOING certain things? Not according to Scripture! Before we go on, let's examine Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim's Messiah qualifications point for point:
First: He will be a human being. G-d put the whole world in the hands of man and Moshiach is no exception.
Yeshua was YHWH-Come-in-the-Flesh, who came to earth in the form of a man called YaHashua (Salvation) so that Man could identify and better understand the things of G-d. He came to teach us how to worship G-d and how to treat one another, and then He allowed Himself to become the Final Sin Sacrifice....
Second: He will be Jewish. Jews are the only ones that really have the ability to feel and be attached to the Creator. The Jews were chosen by G-d to purify the world and to transmit this feeling, as much as possible, to the nations as well (through the 7 Noachide commandments).
Yeshua was a tallit-wearing, Torah-keeping, feast and Sabbath-keeping, circumcised, bar mitzvah'd, kosher Jew, who taught in synagogues. Your statement about Jews being the ones who have the ability to feel and be attached to the Creator is false. There are many "spirit-filled" Messianic synagogues and churches that have been richly blessed by G-d, filled with people whose very lives have been changed because of their belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Granted, Christianity is off the mark concerning Torah, but there are many "spirit-filled" people in "the church" who truly love G-d. Let's pray they will all find their way to Torah!)
Regarding the Noachide Laws, there is nothing wrong with the laws themselves. They are laws which everyone should be keeping. These are laws that are found in the Bible (though not all together in the same place, nor are they listed as "Noachide"). The problem is with the purpose that was stated for these laws. The laws were given by the sages to non-Jews in order to allow non-Jews to have a place in the world to come. The problem with that is that no Jew or non-Jew will have a place in the world to come based on their keeping or not keeping these laws. Works has never gotten anyone into heaven.
Messianic Jews know that they are assured a place in heaven because of Yeshua's death on the cross as the final sin Sacrifice. "Walking in Torah" is a wonderful thing to do because G-d said so and we are blessed when we do it. But walking in Torah by itself does NOT give us eternal life once we die.
Third: He will be a king. Even before he is accepted and crowned, he will demonstrate incomparable qualities of leadership and decision-making like his forefather King David.
The Bible tells us: Yeshua is the King of the Jews - that's a racial King. (The inscription above His head on the cross read: This is the King of the Jews. [Luke 23:38]) He is the King of Israel - that is a national King. He is the King of righteousness, He is the King of ages, He is the King of the heavens, He is the King of glory, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Pharisees couldn't find any fault in Him, the witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree, Herod couldn't kill Him, death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him! He left the world, to oversee His Kingdom, and wants believers to rule and reign with Him at His second coming!
The Messianic Bureau International says the following of Yeshua:
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Messiah is the English transliteration of Mashiyach (or Moshiyach), the Hebrew word meaning "Anointed One." The Greek form of this meaning is Xristos, from where we get the English word Christ.
In the original Hebrew "Jesus Christ" is Yeshua haMashiyach and is interpreted as "Yah who is Salvation, the Anointed One." Yah is short for the Holy Name of YHVH, which itself means "He who was, who is, who is to come", thus "the Eternally Existent One." So, the full title of the Mashiyach is "The Eternally Existent Saving and Anointed One."
To be "anointed" in ancient Hebrew culture meant to be chosen as the rightful heir to authority, either as a priest or king or both. It was a rite of special consecration to have oil poured upon one's head from a ram's horn by a previously chosen servant of G-d. Several kings and priests of Israel received this rite, most notably King David, who was himself called "Mashiyach," an anointed one. It was prophesied that a son of his would one day come to rule perpetually. This son came to be known as the promised Mashiyach, who would rule the world from the throne of David.
The prophets said David's son would be more than a mere man (Micah 5:1,2) since He would rule forever. The record also shows that G-d Himself promised to come and rule the world from Israel (Zechariah 14), and that He alone was to be Israel's King. Thus, the prophets foretold that Mashiyach must be a kind of being that was unknown on the earth, both a son of David and G-d Himself.
The prophets also declare that Mashiyach had two great missions. First, He had to provide deliverance from sin on the earth. Second, He had to take up His royal throne on the earth.
In the first mission Mashiyach would have to be most notably a perfect man, since He would have to die as the sinless (spotless) sacrifice in substitution for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53). In the second mission Mashiyach would have to be most notably G-d Himself, since he would have to put all enemies of rigtheousness under His authority. Because of this duality of purpose many have stumbled over the concept of Mashiyach, and some have surmised that there must be two mashiyachs. They did not consider the event of the resurrection. The prophets tell us that Mashiyach would not remain dead, but would somehow rise again. It is after this resurrection that Mashiyach would rule.
The record shows that Yeshua of Natzeret Israel (cir. 6 BCE - 27 CE) fulfilled the first mission perfectly by dying as the spotless Lamb of G-d and then rising from the dead, as the feasts and prophets of Israel foretold He would. He did not come to start a new religion, but to bring all who would trust Him into personal covenant with G-d. There is a real experiencial new creation of the human spirit when one trusts with the whole heart that He is the Mashiyach and has taken our sins on Himself and has risen from the dead! This new creation of the human spirit works toward the eradication of sin in our lives, thus the fulfillment of the first mission.
After His resurrection Yeshua ascended back to Heaven, but before He did He promised to return in power and great glory to defend Israel against all the aggressing nations of the world. In that day He will again raise up the throne of His father, David. He will fulfill His second mission as Mashiach. Then, He will be revealed as the Eternally Existent One, G-d, YHVH Himself. All who trust Him and try to follow His Teaching (Torah) now will be saved; all who deny Him will be in danger of destruction at that time, since they have no blood covering their sins. However, He is the only judge and arbiter of who will be preserved. The judge of the earth will do rightly.
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Fourth: He will be a direct relative of King David.
Yeshua was! Please see Challenging Jewish Assertions; and Miscellaneous Responses.
Fifth: He will be a great Torah scholar. He will know ALL the Torah in all its aspects from the most simple, to the most complicated, and even to the most esoteric levels (Pshat, remez, drush, and sod). He will learn and teach Torah at every opportunity. In fact the Torah will provide him with his powers of leadership.
Yeshua TAUGHT Torah! The Bible tells us that even the rabbis were impressed (that is, of course, until they figured out that He knew more than they did, and told them they were NOT teaching G-d's Word properly because they were being "rabbinical".
Sixth: He will constantly try to spread the observance of all the Holy Commandments, according to the interpretations of the Talmudic sages to all the Jews in the world.
The Talmud (a written commentary on the oral law) provides insights into life, beliefs, and religious practices at the time of Yeshua. There is even evidence of Messiah in the Talmud at 30 CE! The Gospel accounts find parallels in the Talmud. Many of Yeshua's parables are echoed there. Not unexpectedly, the Gospels reflect a Jewish world and culture, and therefore the Talmud provides an indispensable background.
In Yeshua's time, the Mishnah nor the Gemara were fixed entities. His life on earth occurred almost contemporaneously with Shammai, Hillel, and Gamaliel and, speaking with the authority of NO OTHER RABBI, He added his own teachings to their precepts. For instance, The commandment "to love one's enemies" is Yeshua's alone; no one else in either the Tanakh or the Brit Chadashah Scriptures expresses it. He did not oppose the oral law, though He differed with some on certain details. The key to the conflict between him and some of the rabbis of his day revolved around Yeshua's uniqueness and authority as HaMashiach, and as the Second Moshe.
Seventh: He will try to strengthen Judaism and the entire Jewish nation according to the definitions of the Torah.
He DID strengthen Judaism in that He was the New Covenant of which G-d spoke in Jeremiah 31:31-34! He brought about Messianic Judaism - which afforded everyone the ability to gain eternal life - not via animal sacrifices, but through the blood of Messiah Himself.
Finally: He will declare war on every idea and force that weakens or endangers the Jewish people, as Mimonades puts it "He will fight the battles of G-d".
Exactly. This is a future prophecy, yet to be fulfilled. Jeremiah 23:3-6 contains a prophecy that indicates when the Messiah is to appear in the land of Israel. Jeremiah said that it would be after the exiled people of Israel return to their homeland. From a Messianic point of view, this is of special interest because Yeshua is supposed to appear twice. And this coincides with the fact that the people of Israel have been expelled from their homeland twice, and that they are currently in the process of returning after the second expulsion.
More than 2500 years ago, the Assyrians and Babylonians forced the people of Israel out of their homeland. Many returned during the centuries that followed and then Yeshua appeared about 2000 years ago and announced that he is the Messiah. Later, the people of Israel were again forced out of their land (by the Romans in 135 AD) and scattered to countries throughout the world.
But, during the past few centuries, millions of exiled Jews around the world have returned to their ancient homeland. And this is one of the reasons why Messianic believers say that the world is being prepared for the return of Yeshua HaMaschiah. Because, as Jeremiah had prophesied long ago, the Messiah is to appear after the people of Israel return to their land.
The phrase, in Jeremiah 23:5, "I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King," refers to the Messiah, and that he will be a king and a descendant of King David, who reigned over Israel about 3000 years ago. When Yeshua returns, he will establish a kingdom of peace and righteousness.
Please examine the OTHER Qualifications of Yeshua - which Rabbi Schneerson DID NOT and COULD NOT possess as a mere human being! For instance:
- Was Rabbi Schneerson conceived by a virgin, not by seed of man? (Yeshua was
born to Miriam [Mary], virgin bride of Joseph, as foretold in
Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 7:13-15, and Matthew 1:17-19.)
- Did Rabbi Schneerson enter Jerusalem in triumph, gentle, and
riding on a donkey? (According to Daniel, there would be 483
years between the decree to rebuild the wall and the city of
Jerusalem in troublesome times before Messiah would be cut off
for the sins of the people. Exactly 483 years after the
rebuilding of Jerusalem and its walls, Yeshua of Nazareth offered
himself to the nation of Israel. He rode into the city on a
donkey to the rejoicing of the people, just as the prophet
Zechariah had predicted: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to
you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a
donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey. See Zechariah 9:9.)
- Was Rabbi Schneerson rejected by His own people? (Most
Jews to this very day reject Yeshua as Messiah. They believe He
was just a good rabbi and prophet, and definitely NOT the
Messiah. See Daniel 9:24-26, Isaiah 53:1, 3, and Psalm
118:22.)
- Did Rabbi Schneerson minister mostly in Galilee. (Isaiah
9:1-2.)
- Was Rabbi Schneerson betrayed by a friend for 30 shekels of silver? (He was betrayed by Judas, one of his 12 disciples. See Zechariah 11:12-13, Psalm 41:9 and Matthew 26:47-50). Was he tried and condemned? (Isaiah 53:8.) Smitten and spat upon by His enemies? (Micah 5:1, Isaiah 50:6.) Mocked and taunted? (Psalm 22:7,8.) Given vinegar and gall to drink while hanging on a cross? (Psalm
69:21.) Die as an offering for sin? (Isaiah 53:5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12.)
- Was Was Rabbi Schneerson raised from the dead/resurrected? (Psalm 16:10, Mark 16:19-20; John 20:1-10; Matthew 28:11-1; John 20:19-23; Mark 16:14; and Mark 16:14-18. Yeshua actually prophesized His own persecution, death and
resurrection. He told His disciples that He would go into
Jerusalem where He was suffer at the hand of religious leaders
before being put to death. He also said that He would rise again
on the third day. See Matthew 16:21-26.)
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Yeshiva Ohr Tmimim's Assertion:
Finally here are things we can DO to bring Moshiach.
One thing is to learn, every day, the daily portions of CHumash (with Rashi), 'Tanya' and T'hillim (Psalms) (Nicknamed ChiTaT). Ask your local Chabad representative what this means....Another is to learn a portion of Rambam every day....(Some learn three chapters a day, some one a day, some even one law a day)....Another is to get involved in one or more (or all) of the Rebbe's Ten outreach projects:
Put Tfillin on other Jews; Mezuzas for other Jews; give Charity; teach and learn Torah; buy or provide holy books; encourage the lighting of Shabbos and Holiday candles and the observance of the holidays ; encourage the observance of family purity; encourage proper Jewish education for Children; encourage others to eat only Kosher food; encourage brotherly love; another project is to encourage non-Jews to observe the Seven Noachide Commandments.
More details about all the above can also be obtained at your local Chabad House or at one of the many Chabad internet sites. The Rebbe said that even if one person really wants Moshiach it will bring him earlier. The Rambam says that even one person can tilt the entire world to good; end all world suffering and fill the entire creation with goodness and love. That person can be you!
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The Netzarim Response:
And Scripture tells us to do these things where? These are MAN's "rabbinical" ideas; they are not from G-d.
Ephesians 2: 8 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but G-d's gift. 9 You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. 10 For we are of G-d's making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by G-d for us to do.
Luke 11:52 "Woe to you Torah experts! For you have taken away the key of knowledge! Not only did you yourselves not go in, you also have stopped those who were trying to enter!"
To the rabbis and students at Ohr Tmimim: Please understand that neither Yeshua nor Messianic believers are a threat to Jews or Judaism. As a matter of fact, we are trying to save it! We are commanded to do so in Hosea 5:15 and Matthew 23:37-39, which provide that the Messiah will not return until Jews repent for rejecting the Messiah, and then plead for his return.
Those who worship Yeshua are not worshipping a person or an "idol" - they are worshipping YHWH who sent a human Son filled with His divine qnoma who temporarily walked among man to show us who YHWH is and how to worship Him. YHWH appeared as burning bush in the Torah, and we don't worship the bush, do we? He appeared to the Jews in the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Nobody worshipped the pillars - they worshipped G-d! The same applies to Yeshua. He was simply YHWH-Come-in-the-Flesh in temporary human form - someone man could identify with and actually understand....
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