How many people throughout history have claimed to be the Messiah?

M. Paulkovich notes almost a thousand:

"...Theudas

Judas of Galilee

Bar Kochba

A Christ-like Samaritan

Jesus, son of Sirach

Jesus, son of Schiach

12 named Minor Prophets

100 hidden by Obadiah

450 "prophets of Baal"

400 "prophets of the groves"

Simon of Peraea

= at least 969 "true christs" prior to Jesus"

False Messiahs

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Your argument is thoughtful and well researched. I think if Jesus were to return today and complete the prophecies in the way you mentioned, he would probably be rejected by the majority of the Christian churches. Jesus said he did not come to break the law, but to fulfill it. He did not agree that he was breaking the sabbath. He said the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath. He said it was always proper to do good on the sabbath. At his trial, Jesus admitted that he was the Messiah (Emanuele: God With Us), but he added that we could still expect the heroic Messiah in the future, who will usher in God's peace. Moses did not say the Messiah would submit to his authority. He said the Messiah would explain all things. I believe Jesus was and is the Messiah. Just as the Jews failed to recognize him at his first appearance as the Suffering Messiah, Christians may fail to recognize him in his second appearance as the heroic deliverer of Israel. Either way, it is clear from a Christian and Jewish perspective, that the current pressure to have Israel halt construction in the land God has given them, including Jerusalem, is contrary to the will of God.

Short answer. Many. Longer answer... It is important to begin by saying that for one who has already made up his or her mind that Jesus is not the Messiah, no amount of evidence will be convincing. But for those who are honest in asking, the evidence speaks for itself. When sincerely asked, this question is a good one. After all, there have been false Messiahs in Jewish history. Among the most prominent were Bar Kochba and Shabbetai Zevi. Bar Kochba led a revolt against Rome in the years 132-135 C.E.

During this revolt, one of the most famous figures in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed him to be "King Messiah." Unfortunately, Bar Kochba, Akiva and thousands of Jews were killed in 135 C.E. when the Romans stormed the stronghold of Betar. Shabbetai Zevi, on the other hand, was a self-proclaimed Messiah. Flourishing in 17th-century Europe, the movement spread among both the common people and the rabbis. But when Shabbetai Zevi was arrested in 1666 by the Sultan of Turkey, he converted to Islam rather than face death. We have been tragically wrong before, so it is not surprising that hard evidence should be sought for believing in Jesus.

The idea of a Messiah is one that is found throughout the Hebrew Bible. There, the Messiah's "I.D." is given to us. Imagine looking up a friend by first locating his country. That would not be enough information, so you would need to ascertain his city, street, and specific number on that street. It would also help if you had a phone number and knew the time at which he would be home.

Similarly, the Bible tells us the "I.D." of the Messiah. His ethnic background, place of birth, time frame of his arrival and other identifying characteristics are given. These "credentials" enable us to identify the Messiah, and to recognize imposters.

To understand this, one must realize that by the time of Jesus, the Messianic hope had become greatly politicized in the minds of the people. They were seeking deliverance from the tyranny of Rome. Although the Scripture spoke BOTH of the sufferings and of the victories of the Messiah, the victorious aspect had become uppermost in the minds of the common people because of the Roman domination. Sadly, this "lopsided" view of the Messiah has stuck with my Jewish people. Thus the hope of a political rather than a spiritual Messiah contributes to both the acceptance of people such as Bar Kochba, and the rejection of Jesus in his role as a Messiah.

This is not to say that all Jewish people rejected the claims of Jesus. Far from that being the case, all the first followers of Jesus were Jews. In fact, the rabbis of that time period and afterwards were well aware of the many Messianic prophecies which Believers claimed were fulfilled in Jesus. So for instance, although the Talmudic rabbis concurred that Isaiah 53 was a prediction of the Messiah, by medieval times the pressure from those who applied this prophecy to Jesus was so great that Rashi, that greatest medieval Biblical scholar, reinterpreted the chapter and said it referred to the nation of Israel. This interpretation is maintained today by many Jewish scholars, though it only dates back to the Middle Ages.

What, then, are some of the credentials of the Messiah? Only a FEW can be listed here. All of these passages were recognized by the early rabbis as referring to the Messiah:

Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:1

Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10

Messiah would present himself by riding on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9

Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22

Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:24-27

Messiah's life would match a particular description, including suffering, silence at his arrest and trial, death and burial in a rich man's tomb, and resurrection: Isaiah 52:13-53:12

In detail as to lineage, birthplace, time, and lifestyle, Jesus matched the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Scriptures. The record of this fulfillment is to be found in the pages of the New Covenant. But several other factors combine to further substantiate the Messiahship of Jesus. Too much to list here.

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Dr. Michael Brown has given definitive answers to virtually all of the arguments using Rabbinic (Talmudic) sources and a correct interpretation of scripture that even the ancient Rabbis agreed with! (Not that they believed in Yeshua, but Dr. Brown shows they understood certain passages as Messianic prophecies).

Read a great 5 VOLUME SET – ANSWERING JEWISH OBJECTIONS TO JESUS!

It will stop EVERY Jewish unbeliever’s misinterpretations and objections based upon the solid evidence of the Hebrew text. An amazing five volume set by Dr. Michael Brown (New York University, Ph.D., Near Eastern Languages)

All the pope's, it's written on their crown, or hat.