Christ in the Three Abrahamic Faiths

There have been several Messiahs, all kings of Israel (this is why the Messiah needs to BE a king of Israel, you can't annoint someone who's not a king).

So the hebrew word is Moshiach. David was one, Saul was one, Solomen was one, etc...

By the way, David fought goliath before he was actually king.

Saul! That was his name (talut)!

Do they have to be a king ruling over Israel? Or just any Jewish King?

format_quote Originally Posted by Ansar Al-'Adl

Do they have to be a king ruling over Israel? Or just any Jewish King?

They have to be a Jewish king (or a direct decendant of a Jewish king).

This is why the christians spread their ideas about how Jesus was the king of Israel and the decendant of David, even though the geneologies they have in the NT are flawed and could not result in a moshiach.

format_quote Originally Posted by mule

Are there people today that are direct decendants?

There are many righteous Jews today who are direct decendants of king David.

For example, the lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson (Zt"l) was a proven direct decendant (which is why many Chabad chassidim thought him to be the moshiach in addition to his great Jewish qualities). Several other Rebbes are, there are probbly many Jews who also are that do not know. Those few who do know were usually amazingly able to retain their birth line papers, even in spite of constant oppression.

format_quote Originally Posted by mule

And did you think he was moshiach? Do you have any thoughts about who the moshiach is?

When he was alive, he was certainly a righteous man, and had the potential to be Moshiach, just as all living Jews who are good and are decended from David have the potential to be Moshiach, but when he died, so ended his running for the position.

How will you recognize the mosiach? Is there only one? Or is it a position that certain individuals may qualify for?

format_quote Originally Posted by Ansar Al-'Adl

How will you recognize the mosiach?

He will be recognized by that which he accomplishes.

Is there only one?

There can only be The One! Actually, the moshiach we speak of will be only one who will revolutionize the world into fulfilling the phrophetic criteria of for the Moshaich to restore Israel to it's former glory, but in doing so, he will reestablish the line of kings as well, resulting in many more annointed ones.

Or is it a position that certain individuals may qualify for?

Only certain individuals who fulfill the criteria as stated before, such as "The Moshiach will be a man of this world, an observant Jew with “fear of G-d”" (Isaiah 11:2).

format_quote Originally Posted by SpaceFalcon2001

He will be recognized by that which he accomplishes.

That's interesting. So in a sense, the Messiah will only be recognized after he's done his messiah-job. So does this mean that he won't have that his followers will never be sure that he is the messiah until he's done? I'm puzzled as to how this works.

Only certain individuals who fulfill the criteria as stated before, such as "The Moshiach will be a man of this world, an observant Jew with “fear of G-d”" (Isaiah 11:2).

I think i didn't make my question clear. Has the messiah already been decreed by God? Has God decreed who it shall be? Or is it a matter open to the Jewish community to 'elect' a Messiah based on who is doing the best work for Israel?

format_quote Originally Posted by Ansar Al-Haq

That's interesting. So in a sense, the Messiah will only be recognized after he's done his messiah-job. So does this mean that he won't have that his followers will never be sure that he is the messiah until he's done? I'm puzzled as to how this works.

There are MANY criteria as to who is Moshiach. We will only know 100% once he completes the job, but that does not mean he will not gain a following. If he does the easiest parts of the prophecy, no one takes notice, if he fulfills more and more prophesized requirements, people may begin to think he is Moshiach (as with Bar Kokhba, or the lubavitcher Rebbe (Z"l)), but he could complete 99% of the prophecies, and although it would look extremely likely that that man was Moshaich, failing that one remaining percent (i.e. dying before completion of his mission) will tell us that he is not truly Moshiach.

I think i didn't make my question clear. Has the messiah already been decreed by God? Has God decreed who it shall be?

Oh most certainly, otherwise, what would be the point of the prophecies? They are there to let us know when HaShem's Moshiach has arrived so that we should not doubt the true Moshiach.

Ok that's what I thought. It just wasn't clear at points.

format_quote Originally Posted by mule

How much time are you giving messiah to fullfill every prophesy?

His lifetime, as I said, when he dies, he is dead, and you can't fulfill any more commandments when you are dead.

format_quote Originally Posted by mule

How well can you read hebrew?

As well as most here can read Arabic, is there something you want me to translate?

oh, I have something for you to translate, SpaceFalcon!

What is "Servant of God" in hebrew?

and
What is "Son of God" in hebrew?

[QUOTE=Ansar Al-Haq]

What is "Servant of God" in hebrew?

Usually the name is Abidel for servant of God.

What is "Son of God" in hebrew?

Ben-El would be son of God. When the plural is issued, as in Beni, this refers to a group of people. Jews are Benei Yisrael, people of Israel.

format_quote Originally Posted by mule

That is not exactly true. In Daniel it talks about the annointed one being cut off.

The true Moshiach can't be cut off, by the way cut off doesn't mean death nessicarily. Daniel speaks of a false prophet arising who would confuse many and he would be cut off.