Testimonies of The Messiah From Old Testament Period Writings
And Dead Sea Scroll Material
Compiled
By Glen W. Chapman 1996
"I have heard, my son Seth, that the Messiah [is] coming from heaven and [will be] born of a virgin, working miracles and performing signs and great deeds, walking on the waves of the sea as upon boards of wood, rebuking the winds and [they are] silenced, beckoning to the waves and [they are] stilled; also opening [the eyes of]' the blind and cleansing the lepers, and causing the deaf to hear. And the mute speak. And [he shall cast out evil spirits, and drive out demons, and restore the dead to life, and raise the buried from the midst of their graves.
Concerning this the Messiah spoke to me in paradise when I picked the fruit in which death [was] hiding. And he said to me: 'Adam. do not fear. You wanted to be a god; I will make you [one]. However, not right now, but after a period of many years. I am delivering up your body to the maggot and to the worm to eat, and your bones to the worm'."
Testament of Adam
"Furthermore, in that place I saw the fountain of righteousness, which does not become depleted and is surrounded completely by numerous fountains of wisdom. All the thirsty ones drink (of the water) and become filled with wisdom. (Then) their dwelling places become with the holy, righteous, and elect ones. At that hour, that Son of Man was given a name, in the presence of the Lord of the Spirits, the Before-Time; even before the creation of the sun and the moon, before the creation of the stars, he was given a name in the presence of the Lord of the Spirits. He will become a staff for the righteous ones in order that they may lean on him and not fall. He is the light of the Gentiles and he will become the hope of those who are sick in their hearts. All those who dwell upon the earth shall fall and worship before him; they shall glorify, bless, and sing the name of the Lord of the Spirits. For this purpose he became the Chosen One; he was concealed in the presence of (the Lord of the Spirits) prior to the creation of the world, and for eternity. And he has revealed the wisdom of the Lord of the Spirits to the righteous and the holy ones, for he has preserved the portion of the righteous because they have hated and despised this world of oppression (together with) all its ways of life and its habits in the name of the Lord of the Spirits; and because they will be saved in his name and it is his good pleasure that they have life. In those days, the kings of the earth and the mighty landowners shall be humiliated on account of the deeds of their hands. Therefore, on the day of their misery and weariness, they will not be able to save themselves. I shall deliver them into the hands of my elect ones like grass in the fire and like lead in the water, so they shall burn before the face of the holy ones and sink before their sight, and no place will be found for them. On the day of their weariness, there shall be an obstacle on the earth and they shall fall on their faces; and they shall not rise up (again), nor anyone (be found) who will take them with his hands and raise them up. For they have denied the Lord of the Spirits and his Messiah. Blessed be the name of the Lord of the Spirits!"
1 Enoch 48:1-9
"3. On that day my Elect One shall sit on the throne of glory and will try their works, and their places of rest shall be innumerable. And their souls will grow strong within them when they see my elect ones, and those who have called upon my glorious Name.
4. Then will I make my Elect One to dwell among them. 'And I will transform the heaven and make it an eternal blessing and light, (5) and I will transform the earth and make it a blessing. I will make my chosen ones dwell upon it; but sinners and evildoers shall not set foot thereon. (6) For I have provided and satisfied my righteous ones with peace, and have made them to dwell in my presence.
I Enoch XLV.
"When the years have been fulfilled, then will come upon the earth the most beloved King (Christ, the Son of God, to revive the body of Adam and with him to revive the bodies of the dead. He himself. the Son of God, when he comes, will be baptized in the River of Jordan, and when he hath come out of the water of Jordan, then he will anoint from the oil of mercy all that believe in him. And the oil of mercy shall be for generation to generation for those who are ready to be born again of water and the Holy Spirit to life eternal. Then the most beloved Son of God, Christ, descending on earth shall lead thy father Adam to paradise to the tree of mercy.''
The Books of Adam and Eve 42: 2-5
"And in those days the earth shall also give back what has been entrusted to it, and *Sheol shall give back that which it has received, and hell shall give back what it owes.
And He shall choose the righteous and holy from among them, for the day has drawn near for them to be saved.
"And the Elect One shall sit on his throne in those days, and his mouth shall pour out all the secrets of wisdom and counsel, for the Lord of Spirits has given them to him and has glorified him.
"In those days the mountains shall leap like rams, and the hills also shall skip like lambs satisfied with milk, and the faces of the angels in heaven will be alight with joy. (5) For in those days the Elect One shall arise, and the earth shall rejoice and the righteous shall dwell upon it, and the elect shall walk thereon ."
I Enoch LI
"The lofty mountains shall be shaken, they shall fall and be dissolved. The high hills shall be brought low: they shall flow down, melting like wax held close to a flame of fire.
And the earth shall be torn asunder, and all things on the earth shall perish; and judgment shall come upon all men.
But He will make peace with the righteous, and for the elect there will be safety and peace: His mercy shall be upon them.
"For He is coming with His myriads, even His holy ones, to execute judgment against all men, and He will destroy all the ungodly.
He will convict all flesh concerning all their ungodly deeds which they have done impiously, and of the hard words which they have spoken, and concerning all things which impious sinners have uttered against Him.
I Enoch 1.
"And God sent from his presence a bright fire that consumed their offering...Then came the word of God to him; 'Oh Adam as thou hast shed this blood ,so will I shed my blood when I become flesh of thy seed, and will die and as thou didst build an alter so shall I make an alter for thee upon the earth and as thou didst offer this blood upon it so will I offer my blood upon the alter of the earth ,and as thou didst sue for forgiveness through that blood ,so also will I make my blood forgiveness of sins, and blot out transgression in it "
Book of Adam And Eve 24: 2-5
"And if thou sayest 'Give me of the water of life to drink and live' ; It cannot be this day but on the day that I shall descend into Hades and break the gates.
Then will I in mercy save thy soul and the souls of the righteous ,to give them rest in my Garden . And that shall be when the end of the world is come .The water of life that thou seeketh but will be given thee on the day that I shed my blood upon thy head. For my blood shall be the water of life unto thee ,at that time ,and not to thee alone ,but to all those of thy seed who shall believe in me ; that it be unto them for rest forever"
Book of Adam and Eve 42:1-8
" And this sign, O Adam will happen to me at my coming upon the earth ;Satan will raise up a people to put me to death and they will lay me in a rock ,and seal a large stone upon me ,and I shall remain within that rock three days .But on the third day I shall rise again and it shall be salvation to thee Adam ,and to thy seed who believe in me."
Book of Adam and Eve 49: 8-9
"And it shall come to pass; in those days that the elect arid the holy ones shall descend from thc high heavens , and become one with the children of men."
I Enoch 39:1
"Again said God unto Adam 'All this misery
that thou hast been made to take upon the because of thy transgression
Will not free from the hand of Satan, but I will when I come down
from heaven, and become flesh of thy seed and take upon me the
infirmities from which thou suffereth ... And I who am without
years shall be subject to the reckoning of years of time, I shall
be reckoned as one of the sons of men, in order to save thee."
Adam And Eve 14: 3-5
Gizeh 1:9: "And behold! He cometh with the myriads
of His holy ones, to exercise judgment upon all, and to destroy
all the ungodly; And to convict all flesh of all the works of
their ungodliness which they have ungodly committed, and of all
the hard things ungodly sinners have spoken against them."
"And I saw Messiah, son of Joseph, and his generation and their works and their doings that they will do against the nations of the world. And I saw Messiah, son of David, and his generation, and all the fights and wars, and their works and their doings that they will do with Israel both for good and evil. And I saw all the fights and wars that Gog and Magog will fight in the days of Messiah, and all the Holy One, blessed be He. will do with them in the time to come."
3 Enoch 45:5
1 Enoch 45:4. " Then will I cause Mine Elect One to dwell among them . . . 5. and I will transform the earth and make it a blessing; and I will cause Mine elect ones to dwell on it . . . to dwell before me.
51:15. And the earth shall rejoice, and the righteous
shall dwell upon it, and the elect shall walk thereon.
18." As I was looking I saw also a lofty throne. Its appearance was like crystal, and its wheels like the shining sun; and I saw cherubim. (19) From beneath the throne proceeded rivers of flanung fire, and I was unable to look at it.
20. On it was seated the Great Glory. His garments were like the sun, more brilliant and whiter than any snow. (21) No angel was able to enter this house and see His face because of the splendor and glory, nor was any earthly being able to see Him.
22. The flaming fire encircled Him, and a great fire guarded Him, and no one could approach it. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him whose every word was a deed. (23) And the holy angels who were near Him did not withdraw at night nor depart from Him."
I Enoch XIV
"And I will send witnesses unto them, that
I may witness against them, but they will not hear, and will slay
the witnesses also, and they will persecute those who seek the
law, and they will abrogate and change everything so as to work
evil before My eyes. And I will hide My face from these, and I
will deliver them into the hand of the Gentiles for captivity,
and for a prey, and for devouring, and I will remove them from
the midst of the land, and I will scatter them amongst the Gentiles.
And they will forget all My law and all My commandments and all
My judgments . . . and after this . . . when they seek me with
all their heart and with al1 their soul... I will build My sanctuary
in their midst, and I will dwell with them, and I will be their
God and they shall be my people in truth and righteousness . .
. and Zion and Jerusalem shall be holy.* Book of Jubilees
Apocalypse of Abraham
And He [God] said to me [Abraham]: "What is desired in thine heart I will tell thee, because thou hast sought to see the ten plagues which I have prepared for the heathen, and have prepared beforehand at the passing over of the twelfth hour of the earth [i.e, the last hour of the present age]. Hear what I divulge to thee, so shall it come to pass: the first [is] great distress; the second' conflagration of many cities; the third, destruction and pestilence of animals; the fourth, hunger of the whole world and of its people; the fifth, destruction among its rulers, [and] destruction by earth" quake and the sword; the sixth, multiplication of hail and snow; the seventh, the wild beasts will be their grave; the eighth, hunger and pestilence will alternate with their destruction; the ninth, punishment by the sword and flight in distress; the tenth, thunder and voices and destructive earthquake.
"Then I will sound the trumpet out of the air,
and will send mine Elect One [i.e. the Messiah], having in him
all my power, one measure [of each of my attributes]; and this
one shall summon my despised people from the nations, and I will
burn with fire those who have insulted them and who have ruled
over them in this Age."
Gizeh 1:3."
[This is] about the Elect . . . receive my parable about them;
and my Great Holy One will come out of his dwelling-place, 4.
and the God of the Age [aeon] shall walk upon the earth, even
upon Mount Zion . . . and he will appear in the power of his might
from the heaven of heavens."
"And then His kingdom shall appear throughout His creation, and then Satan shall be no more. and sorrow shall depart with him. . . for the Heavenly One will arise from His royal throne, and He will go forth from His holy habitation with indignation and wrath on account of His Son. And the earth shall tremble: to its confines shall it be shaken; and the high mountains shall be made low and the hills shall be shaken and fall. And the horns of the sun shall be broken and he shall be turned into darkness; and the moon shall not give her light, and be turned wholly into blood."
Testament of Moses
*When the Anointed comes, he [shall] come as in the form of a dove, while the garland of doves surrounds [encircles] him, while he goes upon the clouds of Heaven, and while the sign of the Cross moves along before him, while the whole World will see it like the shining Sun from the region of Sun-rise even to the region of Sunset.... He [the Son of Offense] shall go away with them from Heaven, he shall go upon the Sea and . . . the rivers, as upon the dry [places], he will let the lame go [cause tbe lame to walk], he will cause the deaf to hear, he will cause the dumb to speak, he will make the blind to see, the lepers he will cleanse and the sick he shall heal.. . "
Apocalypse of Elijah 13: 15, 15: 14
" Moses as thou hast seen the reward which is prepared for the just in the future world so also the days to come shalt thou see the rebuilding of the temple and the advent of the Messiah and shalt behold the beauty of the Lord and shall meditate in his Temple"
Ascension of Moses (Jewish Encyclopedia Vol.
1: p. 679)
" Then the Messiah will appear from heaven accompanied by hosts of angels ,and engage in a series of battles and to destroy the adversary of the Messiah, the Anti-Christ ,who before the advent of the Messiah shall subdue the world and Persecute Israel"
Apocalypse of Elijah (Jewish
Encyclopedia Vol. 1: p. 682)
"On that Day there cometh out of
Heaven the Saviour the king, together with all the Holv Ones and
He bums the Earth and bringeth to an end upon it, the Thousand
Years when the Sinful ruled upon the Earth He will create a new
Heaven and a new Earth. No Devil is among them. He will be King
with the Holy Saints the while he goeth up and goeth down, while
they are together with the Angels for all Time, the while they
are with the Anointed for a Thousand Years" Apocalypse
Of Elijah 25: 8-19
"And now, my children obey Levi and Judah and be not lifted up against these two. tribes, for from them shalt arise unto you the salvation of God.
For the Lord shall raise up from Levi as it were a High Priest, and from Judah as it were
a King, God and man He shall save all the Gentiles and the race of Israel.
Therefore I give you these commands that ye may
also may command your children , that they may observe them
throughout the generations". TESTAMENT OF SIMION
"And He said to me: Levi, I have given thee the blessings of the priesthood until I come and sojourn in the midst of Israel, Therefore, my children, I have learnt that at the end of the ages you will transgress against the Lord, stretching out hands to wickedness against, Him; and to all the gentiles shall ye become a scorn.
For our father Israel is pure from the transgressions of the chief priests [who shall lay their hands upon the Saviour of the world ].
And ye shall be puffed up because of your priesthood, lifting yourselves up against men and not only so, but also against the commands of God.
Therefore the temple, which the Lord shall choose, shall be laid waste through your
uncleanness , and ye shall be captives throughout all nations.
And ye shall be an abomination unto them, and ye shall receive reproach and everlasting shame from the righteous judgment of Cod.
And a man who renewth the law in the power of the Most High, ye shall call a deceiver; and at last ye shall rush upon him to slay him, not knowing his dignity. taking innocent blood through wickedness upon you heads..
And behold I am clear from your ungodliness and transgression which ye shall commit in the end of the ages against the. Saviour of the world. Christ acting godlessly and deceiving Israel and stirring up against it great evils from the Lord.
And ye. shall be scattered as captives among the Gentiles and shall be for a reproach and for a curse there.
And in his priesthood the Gentiles shall be multiplied
in the knowledge upon the earth, and enlightened through the grace
of the Lord" TESTAMENT OF LEVI
"And after these things shall a star arise to you from Jacob In peace,
And a man shall arise from my seed, like the sun of righteousness
walking with the sons of men in meekness and righteousness;
And no sin shall be found in him.
And the heavens shall be open unto him, to pour out the spirit, even the blessing of the Holy Father; and he shall pour out the spirit of grace upon you. and ye shall be unto Him sons of truth, and ye shall walk in his commandments first and last.
Then shall the scepter of my kingdom shine forth, and from your root shall arise a stem; and from it shall grow a rod of righteousness to the Gentiles, to judge and to save all that call upon the Lord."
THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAH
"And I saw that from Judah was born a virgin wearing a linen garment, and from her was born a lamb, without spot; and on his left hand there was as it were a lion; and all the beasts rushed against him, and the lamb overcame them, and destroyed them and trod them under foot.
And because of him the angels and men rejoiced, and all the land. And these things shall come to pass in their season, in the last days.
Do ye therefore, my children, observe the commandments
of the Lord, and honor Levi and Judah; for from them shall arise
unto you the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world,
one who saveth all the Gentiles and Israel." THE TESTAMENT
OF JOSEPH
"And there shall arise in the latter days one beloved of the Lord, of the tribe of Judah and Levi, a doer of His good pleasure in his mouth, with new knowledge enlightening the Gentiles.
Until the consummation of the age shall he be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all.
And he shall be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, and he shall be a chosen one of God for ever.
And He shall enter into, the first temple, and there shall the Lord be treated with outrage, and He shall be lifted up upon a tree.
And the veil of the temple shall be rent and the Spirit of God shall pass on to the Gentiles as fire poured forth.
And He shall ascend from Hades and shall pass from earth into heaven.
TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN
"And so when ye return to the Lord ye shall obtain mercy and He shall bring you into His sanctuary, and He shall give you peace.
And the saints shall rest in Eden, and in the New Jerusalem shall the righteous rejoice, and it shall he unto the glory of God for ever.
And no longer shall Jerusalem endure desolation, nor Israel be led captive, for the Lord shall be in the midst of it [living amongst men]' and the Holy One of Israel shall reign over it in humility and in poverty: And His name shall be in every place in Israel, and among the Gentiles.
And the things which ye have heard from your father, do ye also impart to your children that the Saviour of the Gentiles may receive you; for he is true and long-suffering."
THE TESTAMENT OF DAN
"And he answered and said to me:
'You also will be preserved until that time, namely until that sign which the Most High will bring about before the inhabitants of the earth at the end of days. This then will be the sign: When horror seizes the inhabitants of earth, and they fall unto many tribulations and further, they fall into great torments. And it will happen that they will say in their thoughts because of their great tribulations, 'The Mighty One does not anymore remember the earth; It will happen when they lose hope, that the time will awake.
"And it will happen after these things when the time of the appearance of the Anointed One has been fulfilled and he returns with glory, that then all who sleep in hope of him will rise. And it will happen at that time that those treasuries will be opened in which the number of the souls of the righteous were kept, and they will go out and the multitudes of the souls will appear together, in one assemblage, of one mind. And the first ones will enjoy themselves and the last ones will not be sad. ·For they know that the time has come of which it is said that it is the end of times. But the souls of the wicked will the more waste away when they shall see all these things. For they know that their torment has come and that their perditions have arrived."
2 Baruch
"Therefore I say to you, O nations that hear and understand, 'Await your shepherd; he will give you everlasting rest, because he who will come at the end of the age is close at hand. Be ready for the rewards of the kingdom, because the eternal light will shine upon you forevermore. Flee from the shadow of this age, receive the joy of your glory; I publicly call on my Savior to witness. Receive what the Lord has entrusted to you and be joyful, giving thanks to him who has called you to heavenly kingdoms. Rise and stand, and see at the feast of the Lord the number of those who have been sealed. Those who have departed from the shadow of this age have received glorious garments from the Lord. Take again your full number, O Zion, and conclude the list of your people who are clothed in white, who have fulfilled the law of the Lord. The number of your children whom you desired is full; Beseech the Lords Power that your people who have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.
"Now concerning the signs: Behold. the days are coming when those who dwell on earth shall be seized with great terror, and the way of truth shall be hidden and the land shall be barren of faith. ·And unrighteousness shall be increased beyond what you yourself see, and beyond what you heard of formerly. And the land which you now see ruling shall be waste and untrodden and men shall see it desolate. But if the Most High grants that you live, you shall see it thrown into confusion after the third period;
"and the sun shall suddenly shine forth at night and the moon during the day. Blood shall drip from wood and the stone shall utter its voice; the peoples shall be troubled, and the stars shall fall.
"For behold, the time will come, when the signs which I have foretold to you will come to pass; the city which now is not seen shall appear. and the land which now is hidden shall be disclosed. And everyone who has been delivered from the evils that I have foretold shall see my wonders. For my son the Messiah shall be revealed with those who are with him.
·And the earth shall give up those who are asleep in it; and the chambers shall give up the souls which have been committed to them And the Most High shall be revealed upon the seat of judgment.
4 Ezra
7:26. "Behold, the time shall come,
that these tokens which I have told thee shall come to pass, and the bride shall appear, and she coming forth shall be seen, that now is withdrawn from the earth
27. And whosoever is delivered from the foresaid evils will see my wonders.
28. For my son Jesus shall be revealed with those that be with him, ...
32. And the earth shall restore those that are asleep in her, and so shall the dust those that dwell in silence, and the secret places shall deliver those souls that were committed unto then.
33. And the most High shall appear upon the seat of judgment, and misery shall pass. away. and the long suffering shall have an end. ...
AND He answered me, saying :
'The most High hath made this world for many, but
the world to come for few. There be many created. but few shall
be saved. " II Ezdras
The Story of Daniel (A Persian Jewish apocalypse)
"Elijah of blessed memory will come and give good tidings to Israel, to those who will be alive and to the dead. He will rebuild the Temple of the Lord, and Egypt w ill be made desolate, and thc Temple will stand firmly established.
Messiah ben David, Elijah, and Zerubbabel, peace
be upon him, will ascend the Mount of Olives. And Messiah will
command Elijah to blow the shofar. The light of the six days of
Creation will return and will be seen, the light of the moon will
be like the light of the sun, and God will send full healing to
all the sick of Israel. The second blast which Elijah will blow
will make the dead rise. They will rise from the dust and each
man will recognize his fellow man. [and so will] husband and wife,
father and son, brother and brother. All will come to the Messiah
from the four corners of the earth, from east and from west, from
north and from south. The Children of Israel will fly on the wings
of eagles and come to the Messiah. A pillar of fire will come
forth from the Temple and will be a portent to all those who see
it, [proving] that just now the Temple has been completed, so
that they will know and be convinced. At the third blast which
he will blow, the Shekhina will appear. At the fourth blast, the
mountains will become a plain and fall silent before the whole
earth"
Ladder of Jacob
7:1,2. "And as for the angels you saw descending and ascending the ladder, in the last years there will be a man from the Most High, and he will desire to join the
3. upper (things) with the lower. And before his coming your sons and daughters
4. will tell about him and your young men will have visions about him. Such will
5,6. be the signs at the time of his coming: A tree cut with an ax will bleed; three
7. month-old babes will speak understanding; a baby in the womb of his mother
8,9. will speak of his way; a youth will be like an old man. And then the expected one
will come , whose path will not be noticed by anyone.
10,11 "Then the earth will be glorified, receiving heavenly glory. What was above
12,13. will be below also. And from your seed will bloom a root of kings; it will
14. emerge and overthrow the power of evil. And he himself will be the Savior for every land and rest for those who toil, and a cloud shading the whole world from
15,16. the burning heat. For otherwise the uncontrolled will not be controlled. If he
17. does not come, the lower (things) cannot be joined with the upper. At his coming the idols of brass, stone, and any sort of carving will give voice for three days.
18. They will give wise men news of him and let them know what will be on earth
19. By a star, those who wish to see on earth him whom the angels do not see above
20. will find the way to him. Then the Almighty will be on earth in body, and,
21. embraced by corporeal arms, he will restore human matter. And he will revive
22. Eve, who died by the fruit of the tree. Then the deceit of the impious will be
23. exposed and all the idols will fall face down. For they will be put to shame by a dignitary. For because (they were) lying by means of hallucinations, henceforth
25. they will not be able to rule or to prophesy. Honor will be taken from them and they will remain without glory.
26. "For he who comes will take power and might and will give- Abraham the
27. truth which he previously told him. Everything sharp he will make dull, and the
28. rough will be smooth. And he will cast all the iniquitous into the depths of the
29,30. sea.
Psalms of Solomon
17
See.- Lord, and raise up for them their king, the son of David, to rule over your servant Israel in the time known to you, O God.
Undergird him with the strength to destroy the unrighteous rulers to purge Jerusalem from gentiles who trample her to destruction; in wisdom and in righteousness, to drive out the sinners from the inheritance;
At his warning the nations will flee from his presence; and he will condemn sinners by the thoughts of their hearts.
He will gather a holy people whom he will lead in righteousness,
and he will judge the tribes of the people that have been made holy by the Lord their God.
He will not tolerate unrighteousness (even) to pause among them. and any person who knows wickedness shall not live with them.
For he shall know them that they are all children of their God
He will distribute them upon the land according to their tribe;
the alien and the foreigner will no longer live near them..
He will judge peoples and nations in the wisdom of his righteousness.
Pause.
And he will have gentile nations serving him under his yoke, and he will glorify the Lord in (a place) prominent (above) the whole earth.
And he will purge Jerusalem (and make it) holy as it was even from the beginning,
(for) nations to come from the ends of the earth to see his glory, to bring as gifts her children who had been driven out,
and to see the glory of the Lord with which God has glorified her.
And he will be a righteous king over them, taught by Cod.
There will be no unrighteousness among them in his days, for all shall be holy, and their king shall be the Lord Messiah.
He shall be compassionate to all the nations (who) reverently (stand) before him. He will strike the earth With the word of his mouth forever; he will bless the Lord's people with wisdom and happiness. And he himself (will be) free from sin, (in order}to rule a great people He will expose officials and drive out sinners by the strength of his word. And h will not weaken in his days, (reIying) upon his God, for God made him powerful in toe holy spirit and wise in the counsel of understanding. with strength and righteousness And the blessing of the Lord will be with him in strength, and he will not weaken; his hope (will be) in the Lord. then who will succeed against him, mighty in his actions and strong in the fear of God? Faithfully and righteously shepherding the Lord's flock, he will not let any of them stumble in their pasture. He will lead them all in holiness and there will be no arrogance among them, that any should be oppressed. this is the beauty of the king of Israel which God knew, lo raise him over the house of Israel to discipline it.
His words will.
His words will be as the words of the holy ones, among sanctified peoples. "
A Psalm of Solomon About The Lord Messiah
O Lord, your mercy is upon the works of your hands forever.
(You show) your goodness to Israel with a rich gift.
Your eyes (are) watching over them and none of them will be in need.
Your ears listen to the hopeful prayer of the poor,
Your compassionate judgments (are) over the whole world, and your love is for the descendants of Abraham, an Israelite.
Your discipline for us (is) as (for) a firstborn son. an only child
to divert the perceptive person from unintentional sins.
May God cleanse Israel for the day of mercy in blessing for the appointed day when his Messiah will reign
Blessed are those born in those days to see the good things of the Lord which he will do for the coming generation
(which will be) under the rod of discipline of the Lord Messiah,' in the fear of his God, to wisdom of spirit,
and of righteousness and of strength
to direct people in righteous acts, in the fear of God, to set them all in the fear of the Lord
A good generation (living) in the fear of God in the days of mercy
Pause.
Our God is great and glorious living in the highest (heavens),
who arranges the stars into orbits (to mark ) time of the hours from day to day.
and they have not deviated from their course,
which he appointed them.
Odes of Solomon
Ode 7
And the Most High shall be known in His Saints, to announce to those that have songs of the coming of the Lord
That they may go forth to meet Him, and may sing to Him with joy and with the harp of many tones.
The seers shall come before Him and they shall be seen before Him
And they shall praise the Lord for His love: because He is near and beholdeth.
And hatred shall be taken from the earth, and along with jealousy it shall be drowned:
For ignorance hath been destroyed, because the knowledge of the Lord hath arrived.
They who make songs shall sing the grace of the Lord
Most High;
Ode 19.
Behold, O Lord, and raise up unto them their king, the son of David,
At the time in the which Thou seest, O God, that he may reign over Israel Thy servant.
And gird him with strength, that he may shatter unrighteous rulers
And that he may purge Jerusalem from nations that trample her down to destruction.
Wisely, righteously he shall thrust out sinners from the inheritance
He shall destroy the pride of the sinner as a potter's vessel.
With a rod of iron he shall break in pieces all their substance,
He shall destroy the godless nations with the word of his mouth;
At his rebuke nations shall flee before him,
And he shall reprove sinners for the thoughts of their heart.
The Spirit opened the womb of the Virgin and she received conception and brought forth and the Virgin became a Mother with many mercies;
And she travailed and brought forth a Son without incurring pain;
And because she was not sufficiently prepared, and she had not sought a midwife (for He brought her to bear) she brought forth, as if she were a man, of her own will;
And she brought Him forth openly, and acquired Him with great dignity,
And loved Him in His swaddling clothes and guarded
Him kindly, and showed Him in Majesty. Hallelujah.
Ode 41
And he shall gather together a holy people whom He shall lead in righteousness,
And he shall judge the tribes of the people that has been sanctified by the Lord his God.
And he shall not suffer unrighteousness to lodge any more in their midst,
Nor shall there dwell with them any man that knoweth wlckedness
For he shall know them, that they are all sons of their God.
And he shall purge Jerusalem, making it holy as of old:
So that nations shall come from the ends of the earth to see his glory,
Bringing as gifts her sons who had fainted.
And to see the glory of the Lord, wherewith God hath glorified her.
And he shall be a righteous king taught of God, over them,
And there shall be no unrighteousness in his days in their midst
For all shall be holy and their king the anointed of the Lord.
His words shall be like the words of the holy ones in the midst of the sanctified peoples.
blessed be they that shall be in those days,
In that they shall see the good fortune of Israel which God shall bring to pass in the gathering together of the tribes.
May the Lord hasten His mercy Upon Israel!
May He deliver us from the uncleanness of unholy enemies!
The Lord Himself is our king forever and ever.
And His Word is with us in all our way
The Saviour who makes alive and does not reject our souls;
The man who was humbled, and exalted by His own righteousness
The Son of The Most High appeared in the perfection
of His Father;
And light dawned from the Word that was beforetime in Him;
The, Messiah is truly one; and He was known before the foundation of the world,
That He might save souls forever by the truth of His name: A new song arises from those who love Him.
Hallelujah
The dove fluttered over the head
of the Lord Messiah, Because He was her head.
And she sang over Him And her voice was heard.
Ode 24:1-2
The Messiah in truth is one
And He was known before the foundations of the world
That He might give life to persons for ever by the
truth of His name.
Ode 8: 8-19
Hear the word of truth, and receive the knowledge of the Most High.
Your flesh may not understand that Which I am about to you nor your garment that which I am about to declare to you.
Keep my mystery, you who are kept by it; keep my faith, you who are kept by it.
And understand my knowledge, you who know me in truth, love me with affection, you who love;
For I turn not my face from my own, because I know them.
And before they had existed, I recognized them; and imprinted a seal on their faces.
I fashioned their members and my own breasts I prepared for them, that they might drink: my holy milk and live by it.
I am pleased by them, and am not ashamed by them.
For my work are they, and the power of my thoughts.
Therefore who can stand against my work? Or who is not subject to them?
I willed and fashioned mind and heart; and they are my own. And upon my right hand I have set my elect ones.
And my righteousness goes before them; and they will not be deprived of my name; for it is with them..
Ode 10: 4-6
I took courage and became strong and captured the world, and it became mine for the glory of the Most High and of God my Father.
And the gentiles who had been scattered were gathered together but I was not defiled by my love (for them), because they had praised me in high places..
And the traces of light were set upon their heart, and they walked according to my life and were saved, and they became my people for ever and ever.
Hallelujah.
Ode 12: 1-13
He has filled me with words of truth, that I may proclaim him.
And like the flowing of waters, truth flows from my mouth, and my lip declare his Fruits.
And he has caused his knowledge to abound in me, because the mouth of the Lord is the true word, and the door of his light.
And the Most High has given him to his generations, (which are) the interpreters of his beauty, and the narrators of his glory, and the confessors of his thought, and the preachers of his mind, and the teachers of his works.
For the subtlety of the Word is inexpressible, and like his expression so also is his swiftness and his acuteness; for limitless is his path.
He never falls but remains standing, and one cannot know his descent or his way.
For as his work is, so is his expectation for he is the light and dawning of thought.
And by him the generations spoke to one other and those that were silent acquired speech
And from him came love and harmony and they spoke one to another whatever; was theirs.
And they were stimulated by the Word. and knew him who made them, because they were in harmony.
For the mouth of the Most High spoke to them, and his exposition was swift through him.
For the dwelling place of the Word is man, and his truth is love.
Blessed are they who by means of Him have recognized
everything have known the Lord in His truth
Hallelujah
Ode 42: 1-20
"! extended my hands and approached my Lord because the stretching out of my hands is his sign.
And my extension is the common cross that was lifted up on the way of the Righteous One.
Christ Speaks
"And I became useless to those who knew me [not] because I shall hide myself from those who possessed me not.
And I will be with those who love me.
All my persecutors have died, and they who trusted in me sought me, because I am living.
Then I arose and am with them, and will speak by their mouths.
For they have rejected those who persecute them; and I threw over them the yoke of my love.
Like the arm of the bridegroom over the bride, so is my yoke over those who know me.
And as the bridal feast is spread out by the bridal pair's home, so is my love by those who believe in me.
I was not rejected although I was considered to be so, and I did not perish although they thought it of me.
Sheol saw me and was shattered and Death ejected me and many with me.
I have been vinegar and bitterness to it, and I went down with it as far as its depth.
Then the feet and the head it released, because it was not able to endure my face.
And I made a congregation of living among his dead; and I spoke with them by living lips; in order that my word may not fail.
And those who had died ran toward me; and they cried out and said, ''Son of God, have pity on us.
"And deal with us according to your kindness, and bring us out from the chains of darkness.
'And open for us the door by which we may go forth to you, for we perceive that our death does not approach you.
'May we also be saved with you. because you are our Savior.'
Then I heard their voice, and placed their faith in my heart.
And I placed my name upon their head. because they
are free and they are mine. "
The Ascension of Isaiah
6:15 " And the vision which the holy Isaiah saw was not from this
world but from the world which is hidden from the flesh.
8:25-26 " And the angel who conducted me comprehended what I thought and said: 'If in this light thou dost rejoice, how much more wilt thou rejoice when in the seventh heaven thou seest the light where the Heavenly Father and His only begotten Son are, from whence I have been sent, who is to be called "Son" in this world. But not yet manifested, He shall be in the corruptible world.
And the garments, and the thrones, and the crowns which are laid up for the righteous for those who trust in that Lord who will descend in your form. For the light which is there is great and wonderful."
9:5-18 " And He who sanctioned thee, is my Lord God, the Lord Christ, who will be called `Jesus', in the world, but His name thou canst not hear till thou hast ascended out of thy body.
And he raised me up into the seventh heaven, and I saw there a wonderful light and angels innumerable.
And there I saw Enoch and all who were with him, stript of the garment of' flesh, and I saw them in their garments of the upper world, and they were like angels, standing there in great glory.
But they sat not on their thrones, nor were their crowns of glory on them.
And I asked the angel who was with me: 'How is it that they have received the garments, but have not the thrones and the crowns?'
And he said unto me: 'Crowns and thrones of glory they do not receive, till the Beloved will descend in the form in which you will see Him descend into the world in the last days, the Lord, who will be called Christ.
Nevertheless they see and know whose will be thrones and crowns when He has descended and been made in your form, and they Will think that He is flesh and is a man.
And the god of that world will stretch forth his hand against the Son, and they will crucify Him on a tree, and will slay him, not knowing who He is.
And thus His descent, as you will see, will be hidden even from the heavens, so that it will not be known who He is.
And when He hath plundered the angel of death, He will arise on the third day, and he will remain in the world.
And then many of the righteous will ascend with Him, whose spirits receive their garments when the Lord Christ ascend and they ascend with Him.
Then indeed they will receive their garments and thrones and crowns, when He has ascended into the heaven . "
24. And I saw there many garments laid up, and many thrones and many crowns.
25. And I said to the angel: 'Whose are these garments and thrones and crowns?'
26. And he said unto me: 'These garments many from that world will receive, believing in the words of that One, who shall be named as I told thee, and they will observe those things, and believe in them, and believe in His cross: for them are these laid up.'
27. And I saw a certain One standing, whose glory surpassed that of all, and His glory was great and wonderful.
28. And after I had seen Him, all the righteous whom I had seen and also the angels whom I had seen came to Him. I myself also gave praise with them, and my giving of praise was as theirs.
29. And then all the angels drew nigh and worshipped and gave praise.
33. And whilst he was still speaking, I saw another Glorious One who was like Him, and the righteous drew nigh and worshipped and praised
34. And thereupon the angels drew near and worshipped Him.
35. And I saw the Lord and the second angel, and they were standing.
36. And the second whom I saw was on the left of my Lord. And I asked: 'Who is this?' and he said unto me: 'Worship Him, for He is the angel of the Holy Spirit, who speaketh in thee and the rest of the righteous.'
39. And my Lord drew nigh to me and the angel of the Spirit, and He said: 'See how it is given to thee to see God, and on thy account, power is given to the angel who is with thee.'
40. And I saw how my Lord and the angel of the Spirit worshipped, and they both together praised God.
41. And thereupon all the righteous drew near and worshipped.
42. And the angels drew near and worshipped, and all the angels praised."
.
10:7. " And I heard the voice of the Most High, the Father of my Lord, saying to my Lord Christ who will be called Jesus:
'Go forth and descend through all the heavens, and thou wilt descend to the firmament and that world: to the angel in Sheol [spirit prison] thou wilt descend, but to the Realm of Punishment thou wilt not go.
14: And afterwards when thou hast died and risen, Thou wilt ascend to Thy place. And Thou wilt not be transformed in each heaven, but in glory wilt Thou ascend and sit on My right hand.
15. And thereupon the princes and powers of the world will Worship Thee.'
16. These commands I heard the Great Glory giving
to my Lord. "
11:1-2 "'Understand, Isaiah son of Amoz; for for this purpose have I been sent from God.'
And I indeed saw a woman of the family of David the prophet named Mary, a Virgin' and she was espoused to a man named Joseph, a carpenter, and he also was of the seed and family of the righteous David of Bethlehem Judah.
13. Some said: 'The Virgin Mary hath borne a child, before she was married two months.'
17. And I beheld that in Nazareth He sucked the breast as a babe and as is customary in order that He might not be recognized.
18. And when He had grown up He worked great signs and wonders in the land of Israel and of Jerusalem.
19. And after this the adversary envied Him and roused the children of Israel against Him, they not knowing who He was, and they delivered Him to the king, and crucified Him, and He descended to the angel of spirit prison.
20. In Jerusalem indeed I saw Him being crucified on a tree.
21. And likewise after the third day rise again and remain days.
22. And the angel who conducted me said: 'Understand, Isaiah': and I saw when He sent out the Twelve Apostles and ascended.
23. And I saw Him, and He was in the firmament, but He had not changed Himself into their form, and all the angels of the firmament saw Him and they worshipped
The Sibylline Oracles
Introduction
The Sibylline Oracles were written by unknown writers in the preChristian Era. They are thought to be Jewish. They were collected by the Romans about 85 BC and their writings were often consulted to determine the future course of events. Augustus and Claudius consulted the Sibyl especially. The Emperor Claudius made a study of their prophecy of the coming Messiah among the Jews and coments about it in his writings .
Josephus in Antiquities of the Jews chapter 4 refers to the Sibylline Oracle as being. ancient and a source of historical knowledge.
Several of the Apostolic Fathers of the first and second centuries used those Sibylline Oracles and quoted from them as evidence that Jesus was the Christ and fulfilled these predictions that had been made long before he was born.
Book VII
"God himself has made known to me all these things to my mind and he will accomplish all that is spoken by my mouth ,For he said to me : 'For I alone am God, and another God there is none .The beginning and the End I know, I who made heaven and earth. They seek Oracles of my image, wrought from wood; they honor it wilh prayers and in holy ritual forsaking me their Creator... Man is in my image and is possessed of right reason ... I may one day give thee immortal fruits, and thou shalt have life eternal and life unfading when I bring all men to proof by fire. For I shall melt all things, and separate them into purity, Heaven I shall roll up and I shall raise up the dead destroying fate and deaths sting, and later shall I come in Judgment, judgment, judging the lives of men."
Book 6
A hymn to Christ
"I speak from my heart of the great famous
son of the Immortal to whom the Most High, his begetter, gave
a throne to possess before he was born. He will show ways to men;
he will show heavenly paths. He will teach all with wise words.
He will come to judgment and persuade a disobedient people, boasting
praiseworthy descent from the Heavenly Father. He will walk the
waves; he will undo the sickness of men; He will raise the dead.
He will repel many woes. From one wallet men will have surfeit
of bread when the house of David brings forth a shoot. In his
hand are the whole world and earth and heaven and sea. It will
come to pass when earth rejoices in the hope of a child. For you
alone, land of Sodom, evil afflictions are in store. For with
your hostile mind you did not perceive your God when he came before
mortal eyes. But you crowned him with a crown from the thornbush,
and you mixed terrible gall for insult and drink. That will cause
great afflictions for you."
Book 7
" ..wretched one, you did not recognize your God, whom once Jordan washed in its streams, 'and the spirit flew like a dove. He, before either earth or starry heaven, was sovereign Word, with the Father and Holy Spirit.
He put on flesh but quickly flew to his Father's
home. Great heaven established three towers for him in which the
noble mothers of God now live."
Book 8
A poem on Christ
"Moses prefigured him, stretching out his holy arms, conquering Amalek by faith so that the people might know that he is elect and precious with God his Father, the staff of David and the stone he promised. ;The one who has believed in him will have eternal life. For he will come to creation not in glory, but as a man, pitiable, without honor or form, so that he might give hope to the pitiable.... , He will come to creation bearing a corresponding copy to the holy virgin, illuminating by water, at the same time through the hands of elders, doing all with a word, healing every disease. He will stop the winds with a word. He will calm the raging sea by walking on it with feet of peace and with faith. From five loaves and a fish of the sea he will satisfy five thousand men in the desert, and taking all the leftover fragments, He will fill twelve baskets for the hope of the people.
He will call on the souls of the blessed; he will love the wretched.
Who saves the dead and cures every disease. Later he will come into the hands of lawless and faithless men, and they will give blows to God with unholy hands and poisonous spittings with polluted mouths. when he will stretch out his back and give it to the whips Beaten he will be silent, lest anyone recognize who he is, whose son, and whence he came, so that he may speak to the dead; and he will wear the crown of thorns. For, made of thorns, the crown of chosen men is an eternal delight. They will stab his sides with a reed on account of their law
For by winds shaken by another wind the inclinations
of the soul are turned from wrath and change. But when all these
things of which I have spoken are fulfilled, then for him every
law will be dissolved which from the beginning was given in teachings
to men, on account of a disobedient people. He will stretch out
his hands and measure the entire world. They gave him gall for
food and vinegar to drink. They will show forth this table of
inhospitality. . The veil of the Temple will be rent, and in midday
there will be dark monstrous night for three hours. for no longer
with secret law and temple must one serve the phantoms of the
world. That which had been hidden was again made manifest when
the eternal sovereign came down to earth. He will come to Hades
announcing hope for all the holy ones, the end of ages and last
day, and he will complete the fate of death when he has slept
the third day. And then, returning from the dead, he will come
to light, first of the resurrection, showing a beginning to the
elect, having washed off their former vices with the waters of
an immortal spring, so that, born from above, they may no longer
serve the lawless customs of the world. First, then, the Lord
was seen clearly by his own, incarnate as he was before, and he
will show in hands and feet four marks fixed in his own limbs,
east and west and south and north. For so many kingdoms of the
world will accomplish the unlawful blameworthy action as our archetype.
Rejoice, holy daughter Sion, who have suffered much. Your king
himself comes in, mounted on a foal. appearing gentle to all so
that he may lift our yoke of slavery, hard to bear, which lies
on our neck and undo the godless ordinances and constraining bonds.
Know that he is your God, as he is son of God. Honor him and keep
him in your heart and love him from your soul and bear his name.
Set aside the former (customs) and wash from his blood, for he
is not propitiated by your laments or prayers. Since he is imperishable
he pays no attention to perishable sacrifices. except when intelligent
mouths bring forth a hymn. Know who he is, and then you will see
the begetter. "
The Incarnation
"In the last times he changed the earth and,
coming late as a new light, he rose from the womb of the Virgin
Mary. Coming from heaven, he put on a mortal form. First, then
Gabriel was revealed in his strong and holy person. O Second,
the archangel also addressed the maiden in speech: "Receive
God, Virgin, in your immaculate bosom." Thus speaking, he
breathed in the grace of God, even to one who was always a maiden.
Fear and, at the same time, wonder seized her as she listened.
She stood trembling. Her mind fluttered while her heart was shaken
by the unfamiliar things she heard. But again she rejoiced, and
her heart was healed by the voice. The maiden laughed and reddened
her cheek, rejoicing with joy and enchanted in heart with awe.
Courage also came over her. A word flew to her womb. In time it
was made flesh and came to life in the womb, and was fashioned
in mortal form and became a boy by virgin birth. For this is a
great wonder to men, but nothing is a great wonder for God the
Father and God the Son. The joyful earth fluttered to the child
at its birth. The heavenly throne laughed and the world rejoiced.
A wondrous, new-shining star was venerated by Magi. The newborn
child was revealed in a manger to those who obey God: cowherds
and goatherds and shepherds of sheep. And Bethlehem was said to
be the divinely named homeland of the Word."
Book 5
The advent of a savior figure
"For a blessed man came from the expanses of heaven
with a scepter in his hands which God gave him, and he gained sway over all things well, and gave back the wealth to all the good, which previous men had taken. He destroyed every city from its foundations with much fire and burned nations of mortals who were formerly evildoers.
And the city which God desired, this he made more
brilliant than stars and sun and moon, and he provided ornament
and made a holy temple, exceedingly beautiful in its fair shrine,
and he fashioned a great and immense tower over many stadia
touching even the clouds and visible to all, so that all faithful
and all righteous people could see the glory of eternal God, a
form desired. East and West sang out the glory of God. For terrible
things no longer happen to wretched mortals, no adulteries or
illicit love of boys, no murder, or din of battle, but competition
is fair among all. It is the last time of holy people when God,
who thunders on high, founder of the greatest temple, accomplishes
these things. "
Book 1
"He will mount on clouds and journey to the house of heaven leaving to the world the account of the gospel. Named after him, a new shoot will sprout from the nations, of those who follow the law of the Great One But also after these things there will be wise leaders. and then there will be thereafter cessation of prophets.
Then when the Hebrews reap the bad harvest, a Roman
king will ravage much gold and silver. Thereafter there will be
other kingdoms continuously, as kingdoms perish, and they will
afflict mortals. But there will be a great fall for those men
when they launch on unjust haughtiness. But when the temple of
Solomon falls in the illustrious land cast down by men of barbarian
speech with bronze breastplates, the Hebrews will be driven from
their land wandering, being slaughtered, they will mix much darnel
in their wheat There will be evil strife for all men; and the
cities, violated in turn, will weep for each other on receiving
the wrath of the great God in their bosom, since they committed
an evil deed. "
Book 2
Judgment
"The earth will sweat when there will he a sign
of judgment. A king will come from Heaven who is to judge all
flesh and the whole world forever when he comes. Both faithful
and faithless men will see God the Most High with the holy ones
at the end of time. He will judge the souls of flesh-bearing men
on the tribunal when the whole world becomes barren land and thorns.
Men will throw away, Idols and all wealth. Fire will burn up land,
heaven ,and sea pursuing the hunt, and will break tbe gates of
the confines of 'Hades. Then all the flesh of the dead, of the
holy ones, will come to the free light. The fire will torture
the lawless forever. Whatever one did secretly, he will then say
everything, for God will open dark breasts with lights.. A lament
will rise from all and gnashing of teeth, the light of the sun
will be eclipsed and the troupes of stars. He will roll up heaven.
The light of the moon will perish. He will elevate ravines, and
destroy, the heights of hills. No longer will mournful height
appear among men. Mountains will be equal to plains, and all the
sea."
Rewards of the Righteous
"But as for the others, as many as were concerned
with justice and noble deeds, and piety and most righteous thoughts,
angels will lift them through the blazing river and bring them
to light and to life without care, in which is the immortal path
of the great God and three springs of wine, honey, and rnilk The
earth will belong equally to all, undivided by walls or fences.
It will then bear more abundant fruits spontaneously. Lives will
be in common and wealth will have no division. For there will
be no poor man there, no rich, and no tyrant, no slave. Further,
no one will be either great or small anymore. No kings, no leaders.
All will be on a par together. No longer will anyone say at all
"night has come" or "tomorrow" Or it happened
yesterday," or worry about many days. No spring no summer,
no winter, no autumn.".
Resurrection of the dead
"Then the heavenly one will give souls and breath and voice to the dead and bones fastened with all kinds of joinings... flesh and sinews and veins and skin about the flesh, and the former hairs. Bodies of humans, made solid in heavenly manner
breath and set in motion, will be raised on a single
day"
Zohar
"For in those days, knowledge, wisdom and truth
will increase.... Because the king who will arise from the seed
of David will possess more wisdom than Solomon, and will be a
great prophet, approaching Moses our teacher, He will teach the
whole of the Jewish people and instruct them in the way of God;
and all nations will come to hear him."(Hilchot Teshuva ix:2)
V. II, 212a. Suffering of The Messiah.
"The Messiah, on his part, enters a certain
Hall in the Garden of Eden, called the Hall of the Afflicted.
There he calls for all the diseases and pains and sufferings of
Israel, bidding them settle on himself, which they do. And were
it not that he thus eases the burden from Israel, taking it on
himself, no one could endure the sufferings meted out to Israel
on account of their neglect of the Torah. So Scripture says, "
Surely our diseases did he bear," etc. (Isa. LIII, 4)....
For indeed, beyond number are the chastisements awaiting every
man daily for the neglect of the Torah, all of which descended
into the world at the time when the Torah was given. As long as
Israel were in the Holy Land, by means of the Temple service and
sacrifices they averted all evil diseases and afflictions from
the world. Now it is the Messiah who is the means of averting
them from mankind until the time when a man quits this world and
receives his punishment."
Zohar 1:119a
..." When sixty years will have passed beyond the bolt of the threshold of the sixth millennium,
God of heaven will turn with remembrance to the daughter
uf Jacob [the people of Israel]. And from that time [there will
pass] another six years.... In the sixty-sixth, King Messiah will
reveal himself in the Land of Galilee, and a star on the east
side will swallow seven stars from the north side. And a flame
of dark fire will be suspended in heaven for sixty days, and wars
will be stirred up in the world toward the north side, and two
kings will fall in those wars. And all the peoples will join together
against the daughter of Jacob in order to drive her from the world
. . . And then the Guf [the heavenly chamber that contains the
unborn souls] will be emptied of all the souls that seek to be
renewed.... In the seventy-third, all the kings of the world will
gather in the great city of Rome, and the Holy One, blessed be
He, will shower them with fire and hailstones and rocks, and they
will perish from the world, except for those kings who will not
[yet] have arrived there, and they will return to wage other wars.
And from that time on King Messiah will be revealed in the whole
world, and around him will assemble many nations and many armies
from all the ends of the world, and all the Children of Israel
will gather in all their places, until the count of those years
will reach a hundred.... And the Children of Ishmael [the Arabs]
will at that time arise with all the nations of the world to go
forth against Jerusalem.... Happy will be all those who will remain
in the world at the end of the sixth millennium to enter into
[the millennium of] the Sabbath."
Dead Sea Scroll Material
4Q285 (The Pierced Messiah)
1. [ ] Isaiah the Prophet [ ]
2 [ ] The Scepter shall go forth from the Root of Jessie [ ]
3.[ ] the Branch d David and they shall be Judged { }
4. And they put to death the leader of the community
the Branch of David 5. [ ] with piercings, and the High Priest
shall order [ ]
4QPsDan
"[He] shall be great upon the earth, [O King! All shall] make [peace], and all shall serve [him. He shall be called the son on the [G]reat [God], and by his name shall he be named. He shall be hailed the Son of God, and they shall call him Son of the Most High . . ., and his kingdom will be a kingdom forever."
1QSa 2:14-20
" Then shall come the Messiah of Israel, and
before him shall sit the heads of the thousands of Israel, each
according to his standing in their camps and musterings. And all
the clan heads of the Community, together with the wise of the
holy Community, shall sit before them, each according to his degree
of honor. And when they shall assemble for the common table, to
eat and to drink the wine, and when the common table shall be
set and wine poured for drinking, no one shall reach out his hand
to the first loaf of bread, nor the first cup of wine, before
the priest; for he shall bless the first bread and the wine and
extend his hand over the bread first. Then the Messiah of Israel
shall extend his hand. . . "
4Q436
Fragment 2 Column 2 "(1) Bless the Lord, O my soul, because of all His wonders forever. Blessed be His name, for He saved the soul of the Poor One (Ebion ). (2) He has not despised the Meek ('And), nor has he forgotten the distress of the Downtrodden . (On the contrary), He opened His eyes to the Downtrodden, and, inclining His ears, hearkened to (3) the cry of orphans. In His abundant Mercy He comforted the Meek, and opened their eyes to behold His ways, and their ears, to hear (4) His teaching. And He circumcised the foreskin of their hearts, and saved them because of his Grace, and He directed their foot to the Way. . He judged them In the abundance of His Mercy. The Judgments of His eye were to test them. In the greatness of His Mercy, He brought them (from) among the Gentiles; from the hands of (8) Man He saved them. He did not judge them in the multitude of the nations, nor scatter them among the Peoples. (Rather), He hid them in the shadow of His wings, (9) and made the dark places Light before them, and the crooked places straight, and He revealed to them abundant Peace and Truth. He made (10) their Spirit by measure, and meted out their words by weight, causing them to sing like flutes. He gave them a heart of rejoicing, and they walked in the Way of His heart." 'He fashioned (3) the works of Heaven and earth, and they met, and His Glory filled . . . their [Tr]uth (4) will make atonement. Goodness will multiply, and the Goodness of the ... will comfort them.... to eat (5) its fruit and its Goodness. (6) Like a man whose mother comforts him, so will He comfort them in Jerusalem . . . Like a bridegroom over the bride, over her (7) . . . and He will put . . . and He will lift u]p His Throne forever and ever. And His Glory . . . and all the Gentiles (8) . . . and there will be . . . desire (9) . . . forever the radiance of . . . I shall bless (10) [the
Name] . . . blessed be the Name of the Most High . . . (11) . . . Your Piety (or 'Grace') upon him (12) . . . for the sake of the Torah You established (13). . . the book of Your Laws . . ."
4Q215
"And some among them shall be purified to become
the Elect of Righteousness . . . (3) for the sake of His
Pious [On]es. For the era of Evil has been completed, and all
sinfulness will pas[s away]; (4) the time of Righteousness has
come, and the earth will be full of Knowledge and praise of God.
F[or] (5) rhe era of peace has come, and the laws of Truth and
the testimony of Righteousness, to teach [all mankind] (6) the
Ways of God and the mightiness of His works; [they shall be instructed
until all Eternity. All cr[eation] (7) will bless Him, and every
man will bow down before Him in worship, and their he[arts will
be] as one. For He [prepared] (8) their actions before ever they
were created, and [measured out] the service of Righteousness
as their portion (9) in their generations. For the rule of Goodness
(Righteousness) has come, and He has raised up the Throne of the
[Messiah.] (10) And Wisdom will increase greatly. Insight and
understanding will be confirmed by the works of [His] Holiness
. . ."
4Q541
Column 4 (1) ". . . his Wisdom [will be great.] He will make atonement for all the children of his generation. He will be sent to all the sons of (2) his [generation]. His word shall be as the word of Heaven and his teaching shall be according to the will of God. His eternal sun shall burn brilliantly. (3)The fire shall be kindled in all the corners of the earth. Upon the Darkness it will shine. Then the Darkness will pass away (4) [from] the earth and the deep Darkness from the dry land. They will speak many words against him. There will be many (5) [lie]s. They will invent stories about him. They will say shameful things about him. He will overthrow his evil generation (6) and there will be [great wrath]. When he arises there will be Lying and violence, and the people will wander astray [in] his days and be confounded."
4Q246
" [Peoples will make war,] and battles shall multiply
among the nations, (6) [until the King of the people of God arises. He will become the King of Syria and [E]gypt. (7) [All the peoples will serve him,] and he shall become [gre]at upon the earth. (8) [. . . All w]ill make [peace,] and all will serve (9) [him.] He will be called [son of the Gr]eat [God;] by His Name he shall be designated.
Column 2 (1) He will be called the son of God; they
will call him son of the Most High. Like the shooting stars (2)
that you saw, thus will be their Kingdom. They will rule for a
given period of year[s] upon (3) the earth, and crush everyone.
People will crush people, and nation ('will crush) nation, (4)
until the people of God arises and causes everyone to rest from
the sword. (5) His Kingdom will be an Eternal Kingdom, and he
will be Righteous in all his Ways. He [will jud]ge (6) the earth
in Righteousness, and everyone will make peace. The sword shall
cease from the earth, (7) and every nation will bow down to him.
As for the Great God, with His help (8) he will make war, and
He will give all the peoples into his power; all of them (9) He
will throw down before him. His rule will be an Eternal rule,
and all the boundaries . . ."
4Q521
. . . The heavens and the earth will hearken to His Messiah,
The sea-and all that is in them. He will not turn aside from the commandment of Holy Ones.
Take courage, all you who seek the Lord, in His work.
Will you not thus find the Lord, all you who bear hope in your hearts?
Surely the Lord will seek out the pious, and will call the righteous by name.
Over the poor will His spirit hover; faithful ones will He restore by His might.
He will honor pious ones on the throne of the eternal kingdom,
Release the captives, make the blind to see, raise up those bent low.
Forever will I cling to Him against the powerful, and trust in His loving kindness,
And His goodness (will be) forever His holy Messiah will not be slow in coming.
As for the wonders that have not (henceforth) been, the Lord will do (them), when he (i.e., the Messiah) comes;
Then will he heal the sick and resurrect the dead; to the oppressed will he announce glad tidings,
. . . he will lead the holy ones, he will shepherd
them. . . "
Josephus (Ant. 18: 63-64)
"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man,
if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who wrought
surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the
truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He
was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men
of the highest standing amongst us, had condemned him to be crucified,
those who had in the first place come to love him did not give
up their affection for him. On the third day he appeared to them
restored to life, for the prophets of God had prophesied these
and countless other marvelous things about him. And the tribe
of the Christians, so called after him, has still to this day
not disappeared."
Philo
1.... " But if there be any as yet unfit to be called a son of God, let him press to take his place under God's firstborn, the Word who holds the eldership among the angels, their ruler as it were. And many names are his, for he is called " the Beginning " and " the Name of God " and His " Word " and " the Man after His image ", and " He that sees ", that is, Israel.... For if we have not yet become fit to be thought sons of God, yet we may be sons of His invisible image, the most holy Word. For the Word is the eldest-born image af God." . . . (The Confusion of Tongues, 146, 147).
2.... " Let us leave these merely particular buildings and contemplate that greatest of houses or cities, this universe. We shall see that its cause is God by whom it has come into being, its material the four elements from which it was compounded, its instrument the Word of God through which it was framed, and the cause of the building is the goodness of the architect (Demiurgos)." (De Cherubim, 127.)
3.... " Bezalel means then, ' in the shadow of God '; but God'a shadow is His Word which He made use of like an instrument, and so made the world. But this shadow and what we may describe as the representation is the archetype for further creation. For juat as Gad is the pattern of the image to which the title of shadow has just been given, even so the Image became the pattern of other beings." . . . (Allegorical Interpretations, III, 96.)
4.... " But let Melchizedek instead of water
offer wine and give to souls strong drink that they may be seized
by a divine intoxication more sober than sobriety itself. For
he is a priest, even Logos, having as his portion Him that is,
and all his thoughts of God are high and vast and sublime; for
he is Priest of the Most High (Genesis XIV,18 - not that there
is any other not Most High, for God being one is ' in heaven above
and on earth beneath, and there is none beside Him ' (Deuteronomy
IV, 39); but to conceive of God not in low earth-bound ways but
in lofty terms such as transcend all other greatness and all else
that is free from matter, calls up in us a picture of the most
High." (Ib. III, 79, 82.)
Isaiah 53
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from
him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he
was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace
was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned
every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not
his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and
who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the
land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he
stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with
the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither
was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath
put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for
sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the
pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.