Listening recently to the great Bible teacher, Les Feldick, on his television program that first aired sometime in the early 2000s, I heard him telling of when he and his wife visited Israel. The visit was in the mid 1990s, I think.
Les said that they were at a restaurant and a young, Jewish man approached them at their table. They were obviously visiting Americans, and the man, as I take it, wanted to quiz them a bit about the reason for their visit to his country.
Feldick said he learned through the introduction that the young man was a product of Yeshiva, the study institution for Jewish boys.
Their conversation somehow got around to the Jewish view of the Messiah and how each viewed who this person would be and what he would do—his role on behalf of Israel.
Les first explained that his view—as a Christian—is that the Messiah had already visited Israel. He was God’s Son, and would come again to institute the Millennial Kingdom, etc.
The Jewish man said, during their cordial conversation, that they didn’t believe Jesus had been their Messiah, and that the Jewish studies taught that Mashiach—the Messiah—will be a superhuman person, but not deity.
This brought to my thinking the visit Adolf Hitler reported at one point while he was Germany’s infamous Führer. Hitler said he was suddenly confronted by a being while sitting in his office. The visitor was a profoundly commanding figure that assured him, Hitler, that he would be the savior of Germany; he would restore Germany and its people to greatness.
Hitler described the personage as “Überman,” a man that transcended mere mortal men. The being was a superman, of sort, der Führer implied.
This reported visitation was brought to mind when remembering other research I’m doing for a novel I’m tentatively giving the title MESSIAH.
This is what the young Jewish man mentioned above was taught:
The mashiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as “mashiach ben David” (mashiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2–5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.
It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the mashiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person’s lifetime, then that person will be the mashiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the mashiach, then that person is not the mashiach. (Blogs by David M. Levy, May 2020, Copyright 5758-5780 (1998–2020), Tracey R Rich)
Hitler’s own, twisted vision of the super race (Aryan) was based largely on the demonically inspired writings of German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.
In Der Wille zur Macht (“The Will to Power”), Nietzsche declares:
A daring and ruling race is building itself up…. The aim should be to prepare a transvaluation of values for this new man, —most highly gifted in intellect and will. This man—and the elite around him will become the “lords of the earth.”
Nietzsche’s concept of the coming “Übermensch” (superman) demonstrates Satan’s power to delude, deceive, and blind the human race to truth. Israel is no exception.
Because of the nation’s rejection of their Messiah, the Lord allowed them to become blinded by Satan for the time being—blinded to truth regarding who Jesus Christ is and what He truly means to Israel’s future. This is what Paul says about the matter:
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. (Romans 11:25)
Mankind, as well as God’s chosen nation, the Jewish people, continues to long for someone—some system—to save them from some unknown fate they instinctively and fearfully sense is just beyond the immediate horizon. The Antichrist they will accept, Jesus has foretold. Him, Jesus, they rejected. The price will be paid for that rejection by the whole world of rebels because of their unbelief.
Thankfully, a remnant of Israel will be supernaturally saved, preserved to inherit the millennial kingdom. So will a remnant of Gentiles. All will then thrive under the King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.
God’s Word promises that this phoney superman whom many will accept will be destroyed with the breath of the Saviour’s mouth while He breaks through the black clouds of evil at the time of Armageddon. He will speak the words that will end the ages-long wickedness of earth’s history. Again, I believe those words might well be the same as the Lord spoke that stormy day on the Sea of Galilee: “Peace, be still.”