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 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

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 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

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.