Christians will say that Jesus completed God's plan.
Muslims will say that Muhammad is the 'Seal of the Prophets'.
That's how both of them explain why there was a time when God was regularly speaking to people - but that that time has passed. I've never really heard the Jewish explanation and I'm curious about why it is.
Also, who is the last prophet recognised by Jews?
2006-08-17 03:45:26 · 9 answers · asked by XYZ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Prophesy in the Torah (your Old Testament) was similar to politicians of today. Politicians predict consequences -- occasionally with succes. The only prophets included in the Torah are those prophets whose prophesy was right. Prophets who predicted things that never materialized were not included in the Torah. Prophesy was not meant to be about hundreds or thousands of years down the road! Prophesy was about society of the day. They believed the end was near (literally) because of the oppression of the Romans. That's why the Essenes (people of the Dead Sea Scrolls) separated themselves from others -- to await their destruction.
Jews do NOT see Jesus as a prophet! Jesus is a non-entity in Judaism!
There have been no prophets since the destruction of the 2nd Temple (70 CE), but there have ALWAYS been many, many leaders claiming to be the messiah -- both before and after Jesus! They have had many followers who revered their teachings, but when the false messiah died and there was no "peace on earth" it was obvious he was not THE messiah.
Chasidic Jews followed a leader (Baal Shem Tov) whom they believed to be the messiah (18th century). Because there was no peace on earth when he died, they know he wasn't THE messiah, but they continue to revere his teachings.
2006-08-17 04:12:36 · answer #1 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow. Well, just study at what you would probably term to be the Old Testament, and thumb through the Kaballah and a few other judaic texts. The thing is, Jews see Jesus as just another prophet of the times. There were a great many during that time frame, and a lot were known for producing miracles. Since that time, have there been any jewish prohets? Not really sure about that. the last major prophet according to the text below would have been Daniel, in about 605 BC. However, if we're to define a prophet as a mystic who could prophesize, then there have been plenty since Daniel.
In the Conservative Judaic faith, many believe this "Son of God" hasn't come yet. In the general Reform version of the faith, many believe in a messianic time, where we're all able to tell quite a bit about the coming future and we're all sharing in the knowledge and love and caring we have for each other. In other parts of the religion, I'm not so sure.
Remember - when you're dealing with religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism, do not assume that one prophet speaks for all, and all within that religion for all time. It certainly doesn't, not even in Christianity, for why else would you have Saints for example.
2006-08-17 04:02:01 · answer #2 · answered by amphetameme 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As quant said, no new prophets existed after the destruction of the second temple.
There is a talmudic legend that when the desire for idolatry was destroyed so was prophecy (related to a balance of powers).
I'm not sure who the last prophet was. I should mention that there were lots of prophets who weren't written down in the torah (which only included prophecies which applied to all jews and were relevant for all time).
oh, and jesus was certainly not a prophet according to jews. I mean, he's not even seen as a good person to us.
cheerio
2006-08-17 05:38:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Simply put prophecy can only exist under certain conditions that no longer exist.
Prophecy was removed from the world after the destruction of the First Temple. Those prophets who are mentioned after that were alive at the time of the destruction.
2006-08-17 03:52:09 · answer #4 · answered by Quantrill 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe Jewish people have many prophets after Moses... Elijah is long long after for example... interestingly Jesus named the greatest prophet up to His day and... envelop please ... it was a man who did no miricals... John the Baptist
an interesting question... and can I add several other aspects to our original question
clearly Moses promised a prophet who God would raise up who would not speak as in a terrifying burning mountain but whoever doesnt listen to him will be destroyed.. how is that taken
clearly Job promised that 'your sons and daughters will porphesy' when God 'pours out His spirit' how is that taken
2006-08-17 03:52:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
We have hopefully moved on intellectually from biblical times which is why there are no more prophets as people have wised up to the fact that anybody saying they are being spoken to by god are either shysters trying to get money out of gullible people or just plain insane.
2006-08-17 03:52:48 · answer #6 · answered by sharon m 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
because we don't deserve them anymore. our last prophet was:
according to Chassidim, the Baal Shem Tov. According to Lubavitch: The Rebbe (R' Menachem Mendel Schneerson).
2006-08-17 04:37:36 · answer #7 · answered by thedownlow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not Jewish, a Muslim. But Jewish people say that Moses (PBUH) is the last prophet.
2006-08-17 03:51:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Haven't they caused enough confusion already?
2006-08-17 03:52:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋