How many supposed messiahs came before jesus. Were they somewhat successful in making a following?

Answer 1

People should open their minds to the concept that it only makes logical sense that God would send more than one "messiah" such that there is always at least one on the planet at all times. Why only send one ... 2,000 years ago? What about the souls before Jesus and since? Do we not all deserve to have a living messiah to bring us the word of God?

Answer 2

Well, I can say that is the only question Christianity could never answer for me. Why did God send Jesus 2,000 years ago, and wouldn't send anyone to us now? And what about the souls before Jesus?

There *HAS* to be more than one messenger from God. I respect Jesus for his mission and fulfilling that mission of bringing God's message to the people of that time, but have a hard time believing he is the ONLY messiah and the ONLY way back to God.

Answer 3

At the time of Jesus, there were several hundreds of people who were quite similar in garb, language skills, and in preaching to the multitudes. In fact, the round up of them was what actually got Jesus caught.

Anyway, the religion was dying out, in the face of some 300 gods and goddesses, until 320 AD, when the Caeser needed some great state religion to be mandated for the Roman Empire to come together as a single nation.

The Nicene Council was one desperate emporer, and oodles of scribes, re-writing the Bible, so as to create a state religion. It worked. Some 21 books were removed, as were all the voices of women, except for Ruth.

Patriarchal society was once again forcibly instilled upon all peoples at the family level.


The resulting destruction of all temples and statutes to the other religions left a void fo Christianity to fill.

Answer 4

There were thousands. Religious films never give a true depiction of what Biblical times were really like. The people were confused, they didn't have the faintest idea as to what was going on. They thought that if you go to close to the edge of the Earth, you fall off. There were self proclaimed prophets and messiahs standing on practically every corner who claimed to know the answers.

Answer 5

Here's a quote from the religious council of Jesus' day answering your question:

Acts 5:34-39
34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."


So, apparently, a bunch.

Answer 6

There was Bar Kochba {the son of a star} who was reputed to be a great Jewish soldier who ALMOST got rid of the Romans in Israel. He had a following but not enough because the Romans killed him as they killed Jesus. His revolt than went nowhere, He {BarKochba} never said he was the messiah but the people said he was

Answer 7

Jesus was the only Messiah ever

Answer 8

1. Chrishna of Hindostan.
2. Budha Sakia of India.
3. Salivahana of Bermuda.
4. Zulis, or Zhule, also Osiris and Orus, of Egypt.
5. Odin of the Scaudinavians.
6. Crite of Chaldea.
7. Zoroaster and Mithra of Persia.
8. Baal and Taut, "the only Begotten of God," of Phenicia.
9. Indra of Thibet.
10. Bali of Afghanistan.
11. Jao of Nepaul.
12. Wittoba of the Bilingonese.
13. Thammuz of Syria.
14. Atys of Phrygia.
15. Xaniolxis of Thrace.
16. Zoar of the Bonzes.
17. Adad of Assyria.
18. Deva Tat, and Sammonocadam of Siam.
19. Alcides of Thebes.
20. Mikado of the Sintoos.
21. Beddru of Japan.
22. Hesus or Eros, and Bremrillah, of the Druids.
23. Thor, son of Odin, of the Gauls.
24. Cadmus of Greece.
25. Hil and Feta of the Mandaites.
26. Gentaut and Quexalcote of Mexico.
27. Universal Monarch of the Sibyls.
28. Ischy of the Island of Formosa.
29. Divine Teacher of Plato.
30. Holy One of Xaca.
31. Fohi and Tien of China.
32. Adonis, son of the virgin Io of Greece.
33. IxiOn and Quirinus of Rome.
34. Prometheus of Caucasus.
35. Mohamud, or Mahomet, of Arabia.

This is a pretty comprehensive list of the worlds various "messiahs"..

If you look closely at the list, many of the men on it were eventually recognized as gods. I'd say thats about as successful as you can get in the messiah business. There are others, such as Simon Magus and Apollonius of Tyana who were also very successful saviors, but did not achieve "god" status as Jesus Christ eventually did in the 3rd century.

However, in point of fact, Jesus was NOT the only one to be crucified and resurrected. He was simply the last of 16 "saviors" who were born of virgins, crucified, and returned to life.

Quexalcote of Mexico, Chris of Chaldea, Quirinus of Rome, Prometheus of Caucasus, Osiris of Egypt, Atys of Phrygia, and "Mithra the Mediator" of Persia, and Apollonius of Tyana all rose from the dead 3 days after their confirmed deaths. However, these men were resurrected publicly, and were seen by many people, not just by those interested in their teachings. Unlike Jesus, they were written about by secular writers at the time of the events.

Christs resurrection was not chronicled by secular authors for almost 100 years. In fact, Pliny, Tacitus, nor Josephus, who are considered to be the best chroniclers of the life of Christ, make any mention of Jesus being miraculously returned from the dead... It is something that only the disciples and other "interested parties" speak of.

-SD-

Answer 9

When one reads what Moses writes about who is a prophet, then it becomes easier to find them through scripture.

Deut 18
15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him."

18 "I [God] will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you [Moses], and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him."

These two verses set the standard of what to look for in a prophet of God.

Those who have fulfilled these requirements: men like Moses, Noah, the Malki Tzedik, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.

Just about every prophet mentioned in scripture follows Moses' description of a Messiah. And Moses - he had the greatest following - the entire nation of Israel!!

Answer 10

Jesus was the only one to return from the grave. What does that say about the others. It is not entirely a matter of faith alone.