108 Year Old Rabbi Dies, Leaving Claim Jesus Is the Messiah

I was recently given an article, though it is from April 2007, whereby “one of Israel's most prominent rabbis” had apparently left a note proclaiming “Yehoshua, or Yeshua (Jesus), is the Messiah,” wishing it not to be read until one year after his death, at age 108.

---

Concerning the letter abbreviation of the Messiah’s name, He will lift the people and prove that his word and law are valid.

The Hebrew sentence (translated above in bold) with the hidden name of the Messiah reads: Yarim Ha’Am Veyokhiakh Shedvaro Vetorato Omdim

The initials spell the Hebrew name of Jesus, Yehoshua. Yehoshua and Yeshua are e‑ectively the same name, derived from the same Hebrew root of the word “salvation” as documented in Zechariah 6:11 and Ezra 3:2. ­The same priest writes in Ezra, “Yeshua son of Yozadak” while writing in Zechariah “Yehoshua son of Yohozadak.” ­The priest adds the holy abbreviation of God’s name, ho, in the father’s name Yozadak and in the name Yeshua.

---

There seems to be some debate over the authenticity of the writing, for obvious reasons, but it appears that there is more evidence which points to its credibility than to it being a fake.

It also appears that:
“A few months before Kaduri died at the age of 108, he surprised his followers when he told them that he met the Messiah. Kaduri gave a message in his synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, teaching how to recognize the Messiah. He also mentioned that the Messiah would appear to Israel after Ariel Sharon’s death. (The former prime minister is still in a coma after suffering a massive stroke more than a year ago.)

Other rabbis predict the same, including Rabbi Haim Cohen, kabbalist Nir Ben Artzi and the wife of Rabbi Haim Kneiveskzy.”

I assume we will find out if this is so, but further in the article it mentions an interesting thought of Kaduri, concerning the Messiah. The Jews do not accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah, nor the New Testament concerning Scripture, and it appears that this speaks more concerning the Antichrist than the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The claim here is that, “As leader, the Messiah will not hold any office, but will be among the people and use the media to communicate. His reign will be pure and without personal or political desire. During his dominion, only righteousness and truth will reign.”

Consider Scripture declares the Antichrist shall come in peaceably, assumingly bringing comfort and unity to the world.

It is also true that “It will be easier for non-religious people to follow the [m]essiah than for Orthodox people.” Simply because [1] the children of God (both Jew and Gentile believers) will have already been raptured, and [2] anyone left which the Spirit moves upon toward the Truth will deny the Antichrist the title of Messiah.

The further claim is, “The revelation of the Messiah will be fulfilled in two stages: First, he will actively confirm his position as Messiah without knowing himself that he is the Messiah. Then he will reveal himself to some Jews, not necessarily to wise Torah scholars. It can be even simple people. Only then he will reveal himself to the whole nation. ‑The people will wonder and say: ‘What, that’s the Messiah?’ Many have known his name but have not believed that he is the Messiah.”

It may be that the Antichrist does not know he is the Antichrist at first, as with Judas, but clearly after the first 3 ½ years, when Satan enters him, there will be no doubt. As he proclaims himself as God, peace shall turn into destruction. And most likely, “the wise Torah scholars” would see him as a fake, not having any true likeness to the Messiah of Scripture.

Interestingly, Scripture is clear as to the return of the Messiah (Christ), that He indeed knows who He is and will show Himself to both the Antichrist and the whole nation of Israel. For it is written:

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

I can’t help but find it interesting that a Rabbi would name Jesus as the Messiah, but equally interesting is his professed understanding and description of things to come, which appear to point more toward the Antichrist than the Scripture’s account of the return of Jesus Christ.

Here is a link to some interesting information concerning the book of Revelation, by Clarence Larkin [1919]. He also has a needed “companion” study on the book of Daniel, and some interesting Charts.