Here are the criteria for identifying the true Messiah expected by the Jews:
1. Gathering of the Israelites: The Messiah must gather all Israelites back to the land of Israel.
- Citation: Isaiah 43:5-6: "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back! Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.'"
2. Universal Peace: The Messiah must bring universal peace.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:1-5: "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.'"
3. Fulfillment of Prophecies: The Messiah must fulfill all messianic prophecies described in the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:3: "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.'"
4. Universal Knowledge of God: The Messiah must promote a universal knowledge of God.
- Citation: Zechariah 14:9: "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—'The Lord is one,' and His name one."
5. Establishment of the Kingdom of God: The Messiah must establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:2: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it."
6. No Death and Resurrection: The Messiah should not die and resurrect.
- Citation: While there is no specific citation mentioned, the idea is that the Hebrew tradition does not foresee the Messiah dying and returning, contrasting with the Christian narrative about Jesus.
7. Action and Leadership: The Messiah must be an active leader who guides the people of Israel and the nations toward God.
- Citation: Isaiah 11:1-2: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."
1. Gathering of the Israelites: The Messiah must gather all Israelites back to the land of Israel.
- Citation: Isaiah 43:5-6: "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back! Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.'"
2. Universal Peace: The Messiah must bring universal peace.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:1-5: "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.'"
3. Fulfillment of Prophecies: The Messiah must fulfill all messianic prophecies described in the Hebrew Scriptures.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:3: "Many people shall come and say, 'Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.'"
4. Universal Knowledge of God: The Messiah must promote a universal knowledge of God.
- Citation: Zechariah 14:9: "And the Lord shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be—'The Lord is one,' and His name one."
5. Establishment of the Kingdom of God: The Messiah must establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
- Citation: Isaiah 2:2: "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it."
6. No Death and Resurrection: The Messiah should not die and resurrect.
- Citation: While there is no specific citation mentioned, the idea is that the Hebrew tradition does not foresee the Messiah dying and returning, contrasting with the Christian narrative about Jesus.
7. Action and Leadership: The Messiah must be an active leader who guides the people of Israel and the nations toward God.
- Citation: Isaiah 11:1-2: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."