The Messiah is the Messiah...: definition, importance

In modern society, the word "Messiah" is firmly associated with the Second coming of Christ and the revelation of Antichrist, and follows the Apocalypse and the last judgment.

To create a complete picture of the definition of this concept requires to look at the definition of the Messiah from the perspectives of several world religions.

The Messiah is a Teacher in Judaism

According to the dictionary of the Russian language D. N. Ushakov, the meaning of the word "Messiah" - a Savior, according to the theory of Judaism and of Christian churches, sent to Earth by God to cleanse her from sin, and the word itself comes from the Hebrew "massiah" (literally - the anointed, the Greek translation of Christ).

In ancient times anointing with oil was subjected to all the kings, ascending to the throne. According to Judaism, the Messiah is a descendant of king David. It should be noted that the Tanach calls the word "madrasah" all the kings of Judah and Israel, priests, biblical patriarchs, the nation of Israel, some of the prophets, and the Persian king Cyrus because of his special merits to the Jewish people.

The Concept of the Messiah ushered in Judaism the prophets of Ancient Israel. The main criterion of this parish is considered Isaiah's prophecy indicate that the Messiah will appear to the world in the age of social and ethnic changes. In the era of the Messiah will end the war, come the General well-being on Earth, and people will turn their attention to spirituality and service to God and the Jewish people will live by the laws of the Torah.

According to the teachings of the Midrash - oral Torah - to draw the parallel between the first coming of the "first Redeemer" Moses and "second Redeemer" the Messiah that allows us to speak about the origin of the Messianic idea in ancient times.

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The Messiah in Islam

In Islam, the Mahdi - the Messiah - this is the last successor of the prophet Muhammad, who will appear in the world before the end of the world. In the Quran the Messiah is not mentioned, but he is widely known in the hadith of Muhammad, originally identifying themselves with the prophet ISA (Jesus), who will Herald the approach of kymata - the day of judgment.

In ancient times, the Mahdi was seen in the way of the future ruler who will restore the original purity of Islam. Therefore, the Messianic idea has always been inspired by Muslim religious and social movements.

We should say that due to certain dogmatic circumstances especially acive the belief in Mahdi was received in Shiite Islam, where it merged with the belief in the return of the "hidden Imam".

Based on the teachings of the Messiah in Christianity

According to the new dictionary of Russian language under the editorship of T. F. Ephraim, the Messiah is:

• The epithet of the name of Jesus Christ as Savior from sins and the Savior of all mankind;
• The expected deliverer of the Jewish nation from the prophecies.

In the Christian world, the belief in the coming of the Messiah as Christ's return to Earth was the most widely spread. Thus in the Orthodox Church there is a common opinion that the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth, which will be sent to the people again to God to pass judgment.

It is Worth noting that in European folklore, which are woven numerous currents of Christianity and local pagan traditions, there are common standardized image of Christ that in the beginning of his coming to enter Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus himself is very cautious about the use of the word "Messiah ", therefore, virtually eliminated the options of self-Declaration.

An anti-Messiah-in the Russian national consciousness

In the Russian Orthodox religious tradition is also a widely spread belief that in contrast to the Messiah on Earth must be born of his complete opposite. Moreover, if beliefs regarding Christ are fixed to the biblical legend about the unknown day of his appearing, the Dark Messiah - Trishka, Antichristos - expected believers of almost every age. To this day, some Orthodox are of the opinion that both of these phenomena if not occurred in modern times, that will happen in the near future.

In the minds of the layman the Messiah Dark Messiah appear extremely charismatic personalities. They are also credited with the ability to deliver the feeling of love to the surrounding world and people, feel them as evil, and some other quality.

In some cases is a combination of the images of Dark Messiah and Lucifer angel Lucifer, the most beautiful of God's creatures, was overthrown in hell for pride.

Analogue of this concept in Hinduism

What is the Messiah in the Hindu religious tradition? This concept is directly related to the notion of Teacher and Savior, and seems to be the embodiment on Earth of the ten avatars of the God Vishnu.

The Avatar does not have to be represented in the human body. In previous incarnations of Vishnu was a fish, turtle, boar, poluchelovekom-polulvom, dwarf-Brahman, Brahman Paraśurāma, Rāma, the legendary king of Ayodhya, a shepherd Krishna and Buddha. The last phenomenon is the tenth avatar of Vishnu to the Earth the believers wait at the end of Kali-Yuga, the era of human passions and the worst of human expressions.

According to the teachings of Kalki, the final avatar of Vishnu will descend to Earth on a horse, endowed with the shining sword and the eight human talents. Itdestroy the unjust and greedy kings, will restore justice, and restore the minds of the living people in the world, "making them clear as crystal". It is assumed that all parageusia the end of Kali-Yuga people will move into an era of Crete, the age of Purity, and live according to his laws.

Teacher of Buddhism

Also In Buddhism there is a concept similar to Christian and Judaic Messiah and having the features of cyclical stay in the mortal world.

Strictly speaking, according to the Buddhist religious provisions, there are countless Buddhas as beings, comprehended the truth, and every effect of them on the planet - no more than a link in the endless chain of the universe. Thus, each Buddha is an intermediary in the achievement of world knowledge between people and God. To the concept of Buddha similar in nature, but alien to the functions of the bodhisattva “being striving for awakening” and made the decision to take on the role of the Teacher in the process of reaching people world the truth. The motivation for this action is the willingness of the bodhisattva to save all sentient beings from suffering and release from samsara - the endless cycle of reincarnation.

Therefore, the Buddhist Messiah is Bodhisattva Maitreya, whose prophetic appearance in the end of Satya-Yuga is recognized by all schools of Buddhism. His name literally means “Lord, named Compassion”. He was the coming Teacher of mankind, will give the New Doctrine itself will be a carrier of Buddha's Teachings. People will break the network of passions, learn to be in a trance and will lead a chaste and righteous life.

One of the phenomena heralding the coming of Maitreya, will be the reduction of areas of the oceans that the Bodhisattva was easy to cross.

The Phenomenon of the false Messiah for the 20th century

In history there are many phenomena of the false Messiah, made by people with the purpose of enrichment or glory and influence. It is worth noting that often these people have great hopes. Christ himself repeatedly warned his followers about false Messiahs phenomena.

In modern psychiatry there is also a definition of "Jerusalem syndrome", or "Messianic syndrome" applicable to mentally ill people who consider themselves the prophets of the gods and teachers of mankind.

Among the most famous false Messiahs of the 20th century stand out Grigory Grabovoy, a scandal with which has boomed in "the resurrection of the Beslan children"; Jim Jones, founder of the Church of "Peoples Temple" and provoked the mass murder of its adherents in 1978; moon Dream Myung, the South Korean Creator of the sect of the "Church Association"; Marina Tsvigun, who identified himself as the Virgin Mary, Christ, created in 1980, the sect named after himself and declared himself "Messiah of the age of Aquarius and the mother of the World".

The Theme of the Messiah in the arts

A Great contribution to the culture introduced George Frederick Handel, "Messiah" which is now the most recognizable oratorio in the world. A beautiful piece consists of three parts, a few scenes in each. Despite the hardships that were experienced in 1741 Handel, "Messiah" was written in just 24 days.

Another famous work dedicated to the Messiah, is Opera "Jesus Christ superstar" Andrew Webber, written in 1970.

The Earthly life of the Messiah Jesus also devoted to the many paintings of artists from different historical periods.

The Messiah in the modern culture the European countries and America

The Image of the Messiah reflected in various areas of world culture. For example, one example of the use of the image of the Messiah as a living guide is its inclusion in their surrealist works by an American writer Richard Bach. "Pocket guide Messiah" is a book Oracle, which at any moment can tell strazhduyuschih necessary decision or to explain the existing situations.

The Theme of "Antimissile" is also reflected in the cultural and masoom perception, giving rise to the choice of a great number of computer games. One such game is Dark Messiah of Might and Magic: Elements ("Dark Messiah of might and magic: elements"), having a gripping story in search of the artifact and of the struggle of the main character and his teacher from the demons of the Apocalypse. The main character is a knight of Light, which should pierce arrow heart black magician Dark Messi, finally defeating the army of Dark Forces.