Does the Jewish Messiah Come Only to Save Jews?
Judaism is one of the religions that is intertwined with the concept of messianism and the future of the world in several ways. The most important reason for this is the deviant beliefs of a group of Jews known as Zionists, who have played a key role in the new world order. The beliefs and actions of Zionist Jews are all aimed at changing world relations for the advent of the Jewish savior, who is called the Messiah or Mashiach, as well as the seizure of global power and sovereignty. What they believe and do is among the most important global movements and actions necessary to be familiar with.
Muslims believe that Zionist Jews are among the tyrants of the earth who will be destroyed by the righteous at the End Times. As the Supreme Leader of Iran said, “The Palestinian issue is the mysterious key to the advent of Imam Mahdi,”[1] and before him, the founder of the Islamic Republic introduced the need for enmity towards Zionists and efforts to destroy Zionism as one of the goals of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, which aims to prepare the ground for the advent.[2]
In this article, we intend to examine the concept of the Jewish Messiah and the view of Zionist Judaism on this issue, and to review the beliefs of Jews about the savior and the End Times
Jewish Worldview and History
Judaism is one of the Abrahamic religions and is considered the seventh most populous religion in the world today, with its adherents living primarily in the occupied territories and the United States. Unlike other Abrahamic religions, converting to Judaism is very difficult and almost impossible according to Jewish beliefs. In this sense, Judaism is one of the most closed religions in the world. The reason for this is that Jews consider themselves a superior race and nation and attribute their superiority to their Jewish blood. As a result, even if a person follows the path necessary to convert to Judaism according to the rules of the Talmud, their conversion is still questioned.
The prophet of the Jewish religion is Moses (PBUH). He was one of the five Ulu’l-Azm prophets (Arch-Prophets) who were given a book and the religious law, and he is known in Islam as kalim-ul-lah (the one who spoke to Allah). Prophet Moses (PBUH) had a very difficult prophetic period among the Jews. Many verses of the Quran mention the difficulties and persecution that the Jews inflicted upon him. In general, the Quran has the most references to Jews among all divine religions. Some of these references relate to the history of this religion, and some to the persecution and characteristics of the Jews of Hejaz. One of the most important things that the Quran attributes to Jewish scholars is the distortion of the book of God. Of course, the traces of this distortion and arbitrary interpretation can be seen in the Talmud. The Talmud is a holy book for Jews. This book is the religious interpretations made by Jewish scholars and rabbis, and they derived these interpretations from the teachings of Prophet Moses (PBUH). Many Jews regard these interpretations as binding and authoritative, since, in their view, these interpretations are the oral laws of Judaism.
The history of distortion and change of religious laws among Jews is not limited to this issue and has a much wider scope.
Zionist Judaism
Zionism, the belief in the right of Jews to return to the Promised Land, is rooted in Jewish supremacist beliefs. Jews often view themselves as the chosen people of God and the rightful inheritors of the earth. This leads them to believe that they are superior to other people on earth. In extreme strains of Zionist Judaism, non-Jews are not considered human beings but rather as human-like animals in service to Jews. This racist belief justifies all the crimes of Zionist Jews.
Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, was the first to propose the theory of return to the Promised Land and establishing a holy land. While Herzl laid the foundation for Zionism, the beliefs behind it have deep roots among Jewish people. This has led many Jews to accept Zionist ideas. The greatest ideal of Zionists is to re-establish the Jewish state and revive the kingdom of David and Solomon (PBUT). All their political and social occasions are based on this ideal. As a result, all Zionist activities are interpreted as activities for the coming of the Jewish Messiah. This is because they believe it is only after the coming of the Jewish Messiah that the past glory and greatness will return to Jews and they will become the rulers of the earth.
But how much does the Jewish Messiah mentioned in the Old Testament correspond to the Zionist Jewish Messiah?
Who Is the Jewish Messiah?
Zionist Jews have an intra-religious interpretation of the Jewish Messiah. According to this interpretation, he will come only for the sake of the Jewish race to restore the promised kingdom to them. However, the characteristics of the Messiah in the Old Testament are contrary to this belief. The many prophecies in the Old Testament about the end-time Messiah, in all parts of the Psalms, give good news of the coming of the Jewish Messiah, the victory of the righteous, and the formation of a one-world government. Since they do not believe in Jesus Christ (PBUH), their Messiah has naturally not yet arrived.
“The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace.”[3]
“For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.”[4]
“For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”[5]
“May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound, until the moon is no more.”[6]
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his.”[7]
“And He will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth and slay the wicked with the breath of His lips. Righteousness will be the belt around His hips, and faithfulness the sash around His waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat.”[8]
In general, we encounter verses in the Old Testament about the Jewish Messiah that can refer to three different saviors: Jesus Christ (PBUH), Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and Imam Mahdi (AJ).
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.”[9]
And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing! As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He shall father twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.”[10]
“At that time, Michael will arise, … and a time of trouble will come.”[11]
However, Jews did not accept the prophethood of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and as a result, they are still waiting for the advent of the promised Mashiach, trying to prepare the ground for his coming.
[1]. “It is a mysterious key that will open the doors of deliverance to the Muslim Ummah.” (The inaugural ceremony of the 3rd International Conference on the Quds, April 25, 2015).
[2]. Imam Khomeini’s speech to the commanders and personnel of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, June 11, 1982.
[3]. Psalm 29:11
[4]. Psalms 37:9-11
[5]. Psalm 37:28-29
[6]. Psalm 72:7
[7]. Genesis 49:10
[8]. Isaiah 11:3-6
[9]. Deuteronomy 18:18-22
[10]. Genesis 17 to 20
[11]. Daniel 12:1
