Perhaps you’ve heard: The Christ has come. I don’t mean Jesus. I mean, recently, people have been buzzing about a man they claim meets the modern-day Jews’ criteria for the long-expected “Messiah.” His name is Rav Shlomo Yehuda. He’s a thirty-four-year-old Jewish man that made headlines not long ago after he visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He’s been giving a few speeches and kissing a few babies since then, and though no official Israeli outlet has pegged him as such, there are many who are ready to say this guy is The Guy. Reports are even circulating that he has performed five miracles.
Obviously, I’m a hair skeptical.
First of all…
Would the Messiah really need reading glasses? Maybe. I dunno. Feels off.
Second, if his adherents are correct then, obviously, every page of the New Testament is wrong, and everything we know about the New Covenant is wrong, too, which means everything we know about the Old Testament prophesies regarding the New Covenant is wrong. After all, Jews today reject the idea that the Messiah will usher in a radical change in the way “God’s people” worship Him. Their vision of the Messiah is an earthly ruler that will restore the Kingdom of Israel back to prominence.
In that case, I suppose the proof will have to be in the pudding: If this Rav Shlomo Yehuda really is the Messiah, then he will have to convince the Muslims (that co-occupy the so-called territory of the Messiah’s Israel) to hit the road. If he can pull that off it’ll be at least a near-miracle!
Third, I say again, there is no official Israeli outlet calling this guy the Messiah. His reputation is being inflated by certain segments of so-called Christendom that are pegging him as an “anti-Christ” or “false Messiah.” Who is Rav Shlomo Yehuda, really? He’s a Rabbi. He’s a prodigy of sorts, in that he has much, if not all, of the Jewish Bible memorized. In that regard, he’s an impressive guy. But, at the end of the day, he’s just a guy that’s been given a lot of undue attention by a bunch of people who do not understand the New Testament, much less the Old.
There are some in so-called Christendom that are obsessed with looking for signs pointing to the return of Jesus. They think one of these signs will be a rise of pretend-Christs that lure people away from their faith. Naturally, they have latched on to this Rav Shlomo Yehuda as a prime candidate. In fact, despite what the song Jesus is Coming Soon alleges, there are no “signs” to look for that, when they have “come to pass” you will know you’re “nearing the end at last.” That’s a grossly unbiblical idea. Jesus IS coming, that much is sure, but whether or not He’s coming “soon” is up to Him, and is not connected with any signs to watch for. Any New Testament references to such (including Jesus’ words recorded in Matthew 24) were, instead, meant to signify the destruction of Jerusalem, which was fulfilled in the year AD70.
As for Rav Shlomo Yehuda, he might be a guy with delusions of grandeur (there’s one video online that shows him allowing people to kiss his hand in veneration), but that just means he’s merely someone with aspirations that are bigger than his britches. In that case he’s no different than many others. If he should start calling himself the Messiah then I’ll write a follow-up and label him a blasphemer.
And yes, I’m aware of the apparent irony of that statement, due to the fact that Jesus of Nazareth was also a Man who called Himself the Messiah and was condemned for blasphemy. The difference is Jesus rose from the literal dead, proving His claims were true!
If Rav Shlomo Yehuda can do that then I’ll change my mind about him.
~ Matthew