Kept alive in the heart of the Jewish nation down through the centuries has been the burning passion for Messiah's advent. Not all the nation has thus ardently watched for Him, but never has it lacked a yearning remnant that did watch. "I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah," cried Maimonides in medieval times, "and though he tarry, I will wait daily for his coming." Many Jews continue to echo this fervent cry.

References occur in ancient rabbinical writings which reveal that some sages once believed that Messiah must be God and that He must suffer before He could reign in triumph. And even in Hassidim (a Jewish sect of mystic piety) the truth of a suffering Messiah lingers. The Hassidim declare that many suffering Messiahs of the line of Joseph (one in each generation) will precede the triumphant Messiah of the line of David. Rabbi Shlomo Kartiner once said, "Let Messiah, the Son of David, come. I am ready to be his precursor, the suffering Messiah, son of Joseph." But the suffering mentioned is not a vicarious suffering for the people's sins but a suffering merely to hasten national deliverance.

Many are the fancies on which religious Jewry feeds concerning the Messiah. Glimmers of Bible truth appear in some of them, making the fictional overlay all the more distressing. That Israel will be the regnant nation when Messiah comes we see from abundant Scriptures; but an ancient respected rabbi adds his own color to prophecy when he declares, 'When Messiah comes the world will be divided into twelve nations, and a tribe will be put over each."

Scripture also asserts most clearly that Messiah will reign in Jerusalem, that He will regather His people and that He will celebrate the return with jubilance (Isaiah 2:2-3; 11:1 1 -15; 27:13; 65:18,19). But superstition twists the truth as follows: "Messiah sits fettered at one of the gates of Rome awaiting the Great Day when he shall sound on the ram's horn the call of redemption and the call to Israel to their native land." Jewish boys for many generations have longed to be the one to free Messiah.

In many Jewish traditions concerning the Messiah, the Scriptural truth is preserved more strongly than in others. Especially is this true concerning the days preceding His coming. 'Wars, devastation and destruction will precede his arrival. Great kingdoms will crumble and rulers will tremble. Israel will have to overcome monstrous hazards and horrendous conspiracies. The redemption will be preceded by lancinating pains like those of a woman in childbirth."

The first-century Rabbi Eliezer stated boldly, "The Messiah will never come until the Jewish people repent." 'What if they do not repent?" asked an interlocutor. "The Lord will raise them up a king worse than Haman," he answered, "and then they will repent."

Repent! Herein lies the answer for the Jewish people. But the Messiah they long for has become a "Saul" Messiah- head and shoulders above the rest, a super leader who will promise them national dominance. He will not demand repentance. He will speak only of power. Alas! Through His prophets the Lord already

has warned them as He warned them through Samuel long ago, "This will be the behavior of the king that shall reign over you ... and you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves" (I Samuel 8:1 1 - 18). And because of their persistent unbelief He will grant to them the false messiah, the king whom they will have chosen

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Where are the Jews today like Daniel who will weep, fast and plead to God for mercy because of the sin of their people? Weep much they do for the lost glory of their temple and of their nation, but few weep as Daniel did that the people will repent.

But surely, all must cry to God on behalf of Israel. Can we allow the Jews blindly to grope in darkness? Can one let them plunge into the arms of a false messiah? Will they choose a king worse than Haman to their everlasting loss? God forbid! The true Messiah has already come. Search the Holy Scriptures and see that Jesus Christ fulfills all Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. He will return to fulfill the remaining prophecies concerning Him!