Transcript False Messiahs through time

False Messiahs through time
Note: this is only a sampling,
there are many more that are not
included in this list.
2nd Century: Bar Kokhba

Shimon Bar-Kosba was the leader of the
Jewish revolt from 132 to 135. He was a
strict military leader who won many battles
against Rome. He was hailed by Rabbi Akiva
as the Messiah. He was meticulous in his
observance of Jewish laws, holidays, and
tithing. The Jewish people pinned their
hopes for regaining independence from Rome
on him. He was given the name “Bar
Kokhba” (son of a star) in reference to
Numbers 24.17. He died in the massive battle
of Bethar and the surviving Jews were exiled
until 1948.
5th Century: Moses of Crete
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The Talmud had expected, based on some
calculations that the Messiah would come in
440 or 471. At this time there were a
number of invasions of the Roman Empire
and a man named Moses of Crete claimed to
be the Messiah. He said he would lead the
people dry-shod through the sea back to
Israel. His followers left their possessions
and followed him. He commanded them to
cast themselves into the sea at which point
some drowned and some were rescued.
Moses either died or fled.
12th Century: David Alroy

David Alroy of Kurdiston declared
himself to be the Messiah in 1160. He
gathered a following of many burdened
and over taxed Jews and opposed the
Muslim government. His revolt failed
and he is said to have been
assassinated by his father-in-law while
sleeping. The result was a heavy
oppression on the Jews and more taxes.
17th Century: Sabbetai Zevi
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Sabbetai Zevi was a Spanish-Jew from Smyrna, Turkey,
born in 1626. He was educated in the Talmud and the
Torah and wandered into Jewish mysticism. In 1648 he
proclaimed himself the Messiah and pronounced the
name of God in front of his Jewish community. He was
promptly excommunicated from Smyrna for blasphemy
and went to Cairo and gathered a group of followers
around himself. He married a prostitute, named Sarah in
an attempt to parallel other Jewish figures, like Hosea.
In 1666 he sailed to Constantinople where he said he
would be given the throne by the sultan. Instead he was
arrested and told to either do a miracle to vindicate his
claims or convert to Islam. Sabbetai converted.
20th Century: Lubavitcher Rebbe
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Lubavitcher Rebbe was a chasidic Jew who
preached in the Crown Heights section of
Brooklyn, NY. He believed the messianic age
was imminent because of the collapse of
communism, the gulf war of the 90s and the
move toward nuclear disarmament. At his death
in 1992 many of his followers proclaimed belief
that he would return as Messiah. They are
dedicated to spreading Judaism in the meantime
through acts of kindness.
More 20th Century
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20th century: Klaus Kinski, Jim Jones,
Bhagwan Rajneesh, Michael Travesser,
Matayoshi Jesus, Marshall Applewhite,
Hogen Fukunaga, Suma Ching Hai, Maria
Devi Christos, Sergei Torop, Grigory
Grabovoy, and David Koresh.