What would Jews expect if the Messiah came today?

[DavidFilmer]

I don’t know of a “Jewish Answers” forum, so I will pose my question here in hopes that somebody has some insight.

Jews, of course, do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. They have always prayed for the coming of the Messiah.

During the time of Jesus, many Jews expected the Messiah to restore the Kingdom of Israel (freeing them from Roman rule). At other times (the Czars, Nazis, etc) they expected the Messiah to relieve their persecutions.

But, these days, it seems the Jews have it better than they have had it since 400 BC. Israel is an autonomous nation again. Persecution (while still a problem) is at historic low levels (ironically, thanks in large measure to backlash that the Nazis created). And the future looks bright, provided the Muslim threat doesn’t get out of hand.

So I wonder… when modern Jews pray for the coming of the Messiah, what do they think this Coming would accomplish?

 

[AJTheMan]

[**"The moshiach will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The moshiach is often referred to as “moshiach ben David” (moshiach, son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5). He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.

It has been said that in every generation, a person is born with the potential to be the moshiach. If the time is right for the messianic age within that person’s lifetime, then that person will be the moshiach. But if that person dies before he completes the mission of the moshiach, then that person is not the moshiach." – JewFaq.com**](http://www.jewfaq.org/moshiach.htm)

A person who does this is the Jewish Messiah:

[**Most of the scriptural requirements concerning the Messiah, what he will do, and what will be done during his reign are located in the Book of Isaiah, although requirements are mentioned by other prophets as well.

* Isaiah 1:26: "And I will restore your judges as at first and your counsellors as in the beginning; afterwards you shall be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City." Some Jews interpret this to mean that the Sanhedrin will be re-established. (Isaiah 1:26)
* Once he is King, leaders of other nations will look to him for guidance. (Isaiah 2:4)
* The whole world will worship the One God of Israel (Isaiah 2:11-17)
* He will be descended from King David (Isaiah 11:1) via Solomon (1 Chronicles 22:8-10, 2 Chronicles 7:18)
* The Mashiach will be a man of this world, an observant Jew with "fear of God" (Isaiah 11:2)
* Evil and tyranny will not be able to stand before his leadership (Isaiah 11:4)
* Knowledge of God will fill the world (Isaiah 11:9)
* He will include and attract people from all cultures and nations (Isaiah 11:10)
* All Israelites will be returned to their homeland (Isaiah 11:12)
* Death will be swallowed up forever (Isaiah 25:8)
* There will be no more hunger or illness, and death will cease (Isaiah 25:8)
* All of the dead will rise again (Isaiah 26:19)
* The Jewish people will experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11)
* He will be a messenger of peace (Isaiah 52:7)
* Nations will recognize the wrongs they did to Israel (Isaiah 52:13-53:5)
* The peoples of the world will turn to the Jews for spiritual guidance (Zechariah 8:23)
* The ruined cities of Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 16:55)
* Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:9)
* The Temple will be rebuilt resuming many of the suspended mitzvot (Ezekiel 40)
* Jews will know the Torah without study (Jeremiah 31:33)[2]
* He will give you all the worthy desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4)
* He will take the barren land and make it abundant and fruitful (Isaiah 51:3, Amos 9:13-15, Ezekiel 36:29-30, Isaiah 11:6-9)**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Messiah#Historical_Views)