(September 17, 2015 at 1:07 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Odd that the jews have a different take on that, isn't it? It is, after all, their book.
The bible belongs to all who follow Christ, the fulfillment of the old testament. If the old testament wasn't already fulfilled, I wonder why the Jews have not any added any books to it in the last 2,500 years. Also, why have they stopped following the old testament law?
Quote: Before the time of the mashiach, there shall be war and suffering (Ezekiel 38:16)
No brainer.
Quote:The mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11-12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4-5). He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:10; 42:1). He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18). He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15).
The verses about returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple were fulfilled upon the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile. Jesus's kingdom fulfills most of the verses you cited. The "last days" are normally referred to by christians as the time after Jesus until he returns on the "last day".
Quote: What About Jesus?
Jews do not believe that Jesus was the mashiach. Assuming that he existed, and assuming that the Christian scriptures are accurate in describing him (both matters that are debatable), he simply did not fulfill the mission of the mashiach as it is described in the biblical passages cited above. Jesus did not do any of the things that the scriptures said the messiah would do.
On the contrary, another Jew born about a century later came far closer to fulfilling the messianic ideal than Jesus did. His name was Shimeon ben Kosiba, known as Bar Kokhba (son of a star), and he was a charismatic, brilliant, but brutal warlord. Rabbi Akiba, one of the greatest scholars in Jewish history, believed that Bar Kokhba was the mashiach. Bar Kokhba fought a war against the Roman Empire, catching the Tenth Legion by surprise and retaking Jerusalem. He resumed sacrifices at the site of the Temple and made plans to rebuild the Temple. He established a provisional government and began to issue coins in its name. This is what the Jewish people were looking for in a mashiach; Jesus clearly does not fit into this mold. Ultimately, however, the Roman Empire crushed his revolt and killed Bar Kokhba. After his death, all acknowledged that he was not the mashiach.
Jews aren't the only ones who interpret scripture differently. Christians also differ in their interpretations.
