And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold;
I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice.
So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
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Come in and join the discussion.
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The scriptures of many religions speak of a coming leader who will consummate the fulfilment of the divine will on earth. He will manifest in his person the righteousness and compassion of God, and he will bring about the final defeat of evil, and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
The Hebrew title Messiah--'Christ' in Greek means "anointed one," that person who will be specially chosen by God for this mission and empowered to accomplish it. But while the term Messiah is specific to only a few religions, prophecies that a leader will come and accomplish such a mission are nearly universal. Religions call him by various names: Jews long for the promised Messiah; for Christians the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth, who has already come and ascended to heaven but will reappear (perhaps in a new guise) at his Second Coming. Muslims also expect the second advent of Jesus, who will come as a Muslim Imam, and among Shiite Muslims there are various expectations of a future Imam Mahdi. Buddhist sutras prophesy the coming of the Maitreya Buddha; Vaishnavite Hindu scriptures prophesy the future descent of an avatar named Kalki; Zoroastrian scriptures prophesy the coming of the Saoshyant; and some Confucian texts speak of a future True Man who will finally bring peace to the world by perfectly instituting the Way of Confucius.
Various prophecies of these future redeemers are gathered, by religion, in this section.
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"Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
1. Christianity. Revelation 22.20
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For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
"Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom,
to establish it, and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness,
from this time forth and for ever more.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
2. Judaism and Christianity. Isaiah 9.6-7
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I saw in the night visions,
and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man.
He came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion
and glory and kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away.
And his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.
3. Judaism and Christianity. Daniel 7.13-14
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Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and
the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the
powers of heaven will be shaken; then will appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the
Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; and he
will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
4. Christianity. Matthew 24.29-31
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Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.
5. Christianity. Revelation 19.11-16
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Rabbi Joshua ben Levi met Elijah at the mouth of the cave of Rabbi Simeon ben
Yohai. He asked Elijah, "When will the Messiah come?" Elijah replied, "Go and
ask him." "But where is he?" "At the gates of Rome." "And how shall I recognize
him?" "He sits among the wretched who are suffering from sores; all the others
uncover all their wounds, and then bind them all up again, but he uncovers and
binds up each one separately, for he thinks, 'Lest I should be summoned and be
detained.'"
Then Rabbi Joshua found him and said to him, "Peace be with you, my Master and Rabbi." The Messiah replied, "Peace be with you, son of Levi." He said, "When is the Master coming?" He replied, "Today."
Then Rabbi Joshua returned to Elijah, who said, "What did he say to you?" He replied, "Peace be with you, son of Levi." Elijah said, "Then he assured to you and your father a place in the world to come." The rabbi said, "He spoke falsely to me, for he said he would come today, and he has not come." Then Elijah said, "He meant 'today, if you hearken to His voice!" [Psalm 95.7]
6. Judaism. Talmud, Sanhedrin 98a
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In the time to come... the Patriarchs will say, "Ephraim, our righteous Messiah,
though we are your ancestors, you are greater than we. For you have borne the
sins of our children, and you have borne heavy punishments, such as neither the
former nor the latter generations have endured, and you became the laughter and
the mocking of all the nations for Israel's sake, and you sat in darkness, and
your eyes saw no light. And your skin shrank upon your bones, and your body
withered like a tree, and your eyes grew dark from fasting, and your strength
dried up like a potsherd, and all this befell you because of the sins of our
children. Is it your will that your children should enjoy the felicity which God
has destined to give them in abundance? Perhaps because of the pains which you
have endured in overflowing measure for their sakes, and because thou hast lain
fettered in prison, your mind is not at rest because of them?" Messiah will
reply, "Patriarchs, all that I have done, I have done only for your sakes and
for your children, and for your honour and theirs, so that they may enjoy the
felicity which God has destined for them in abundance." Then they reply, "May
your mind be appeased, for you have appeased the mind of your Creator and our
mind."
7. Judaism. Midrash, Pesikta Rabbati 162b-63a
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And [Jesus] shall be a Sign of the Hour [of Judgment]; therefore have no doubt about it, but follow Me: this is a straight way.
8. Islam. Qur'an 43.61
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The Messenger of Allah observed, "What will be your state when the Son of Mary
descends amongst you, and there will be an Imam amongst you? What would you do
when the son of Mary would descend and lead you?"
9. Islam. Hadith of Muslim
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The Apostle of Allah said, "Were there remaining but one day of the duration of
all time, God would send forth a man from the people of my house, who will fill
the earth with equity as it has been filled with oppression."
10. Islam. Hadith of Abu Dawud
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The Imam who will create a world state will make the ruling nations pay for
their crimes against society. He will bring succour to humanity. He will take
out the hidden wealth from the breast of the earth and will distribute it
equitably amongst the needy deserving. He will teach you simple living and high
thinking. He will make you understand that virtue is a state of character which
is always a mean between the two extremes, and which is based upon equity and
justice. He will revive the teaching of the Holy Qur'an and the traditions of
the Holy Prophet after the world has ignored them as dead letters....
He will protect and defend himself with resources of science and supreme knowledge. His control over these resources will be complete. He will know how supreme they are and how carefully they will have to be used. His mind will be free from desires of bringing harm and injury to humanity. Such a knowledge to him will be like the property which was wrongly possessed by others and for which he was waiting for the permission to repossess and use.
He, in the beginning, will be like a poor stranger unknown and uncared for, and Islam then will be in the hopeless and helpless plight of an exhausted camel who has laid down its head and is wagging its tail. With such a start he will establish an empire of God in this world. He will be the final demonstration and proof of God's merciful wish to acquaint man with the right ways of life.
11. Islam (Shiite). Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 141, 187
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He shall be the victorious Benefactor (Saoshyant) by name and World-renovator [Astavat-ereta] by name. He is Benefactor because he will benefit the entire physical world; he is World-renovator because he will establish the physical living existence indestructible. He will oppose the evil of the progeny of the biped and withstand the enmity produced by the faithful.
12. Zoroastrianism. Avesta, Farvardin Yast 13.129
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Whenever the Law declines and the purpose of life is forgotten, I manifest
myself on earth. I am born in every age to protect the good, to destroy evil,
and to re-establish the Law.
13. Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8
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When the practices taught by the Vedas and the institutes of law shall nearly have ceased, and the close of the Kali age shall be nigh, a portion of that divine being who exists of his own spiritual nature in the character of Brahma, and who is the beginning and the end, and who comprehends all things, shall descend upon the earth. He will be born as Kalki in the family of an eminent brahmin of Sambhala village, endowed with the eight superhuman faculties. By his irresistible might he will destroy all the barbarians and thieves, and all whose minds are devoted to iniquity. He will then re-establish righteousness upon earth; and the minds of those who live at the end of the Kali age shall be awakened, and shall be as pellucid as crystal. The men who are thus changed by virtue of that peculiar time shall be as the seeds of human beings, and shall give birth to a race who shall follow the laws of the Krita age, the Age of Purity. As it is said, "When the sun and moon, and the luner asterism Tishya, and the planet Jupiter, are in one mansion, the Krita age shall return."
14. Hinduism. Vishnu Purana 4.24
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Thus have I heard: At one time the Buddha was staying near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan monastery on the bank of the river Rohani. Then the venerable Sariputta questioned the Lord about the future Conquerer,
The Hero that shall follow you,
The Buddha--of what sort will he be?
I want to hear of him in full.
Let the Visioned One describe him.
When he heard the elder's speech the Lord spoke thus,
I will tell you, Sariputta;
listen to my speech.
In this auspicious aeon
Three leaders there have been:
Kakusandha, Konagamana,
and the leader Kassapa too.
I am now the perfect Buddha;
and there will be Maitreya too
before this same auspicious aeon
runs to the end of its years.
15. Buddhism. Anagata-vamsa
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In those days, brethren, there will arise in the world an Exalted One named
Metteya. He will be an Arahant, Fully Awakened, abounding in wisdom and
goodness, happy, with knowledge of the worlds, unsurpassed as a guide to mortals
willing to be led, a teacher for gods and men, an Exalted One, a Buddha, even as
I am now. He, by himself, will thoroughly know and see, as it were face to face,
this universe, with its worlds of the spirits, its Brahm-as and its M-aras, and
its world of recluses and brahmins, of princes and peoples, even as I now, by
myself, thoroughly know and see them. The Law, lovely in its origin, lovely in
its progress, lovely in its consummation, will he proclaim, both in the spirit
and in the letter; the higher life will he make known, in all its fullness and
in all its purity, even as I do now. He will be accompanied by a congregation of
some thousands of brethren, even as I am now accompanied by a congregation of
some hundreds of brethren.
16. Buddhism. Digha Nikaya iii.76, Chakkavatti Sihanada Suttanta
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Listen attentively with one heart. A man whose spirit shines brightly, a man whose mind is completely unified, a man whose virtue excels everyone--such a man will truly appear in this world. When he preaches precious laws, all the people will totally be satisfied as if the thirsty drink sweet drops of rain from heaven. And each and every one will attain the path of liberation from struggles.
17. Buddhism. Sutra of the Great Accomplishment of the Maitreya
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Miroku, the Great God, comes forth, endowed with the
great strength of the three in one--Fire, Water, Earth.
Miroku, the Great God, from of old has planted
heaven upon earth.
Miroku, the Great God, even as comes a thief,
has secretly been born below.
Leaving behind the highly exalted throne to bring
salvation, Miroku has been born below.
18. Sekai Kyusei Kyo. Inori-no-Shu
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Confucius said, "If a Kingly Man were to arise, within a single generation
Goodness would prevail."
19. Confucianism. Analects 13.12
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It is only the man with the most perfect divine moral nature who is able to
combine in himself quickness of apprehension, intelligence and
understanding--qualities necessary for the exercise of command, magnanimity,
generosity, benignity, and gentleness--qualities necessary for the exercise of
patience, originality, energy, strength of character, and
determination--qualities necessary for the exercise of endurance, piety, noble
seriousness, order, and regularity--qualities necessary for the exercise of
dignity, grace, method, subtlety, and penetration--qualities necessary for the
exercise of critical judgment.
Thus all-embracing and vast is the nature of such a man. Profound it is and inexhaustible, like a living spring of water, ever running out with life and vitality. All-embracing and vast, it is like Heaven. Profound and inexhaustible, it is like the abyss.
As soon as such a man shall make his appearance in the world, all people will reverence him. Whatever he says, all people will believe it. Whatever he does, all people will be pleased with it. Thus his fame and name will spread and fill all the civilized world, extending even to savage countries, wherever ships and carriages reach, wherever the labour and enterprise of man penetrate, wherever the heavens overshadow and the earth sustain, wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever frost and dew fall. All who have life and breath will honour and love him. Therefore we may say, "He is the equal of God."
It is only he in this world, who has realized his absolute self, that can order and adjust the great relations of human society, fix the fundamental principles of morality, and understand the laws of growth and reproduction of the universe.
Now, where does such a man derive his power and knowledge, except from himself? How simple and self-contained his true manhood! How unfathomable the depth of his mind! How infinitely grand and vast the moral height of his nature! Who can understand such a nature except he who is gifted with the most perfect intelligence and endowed with the highest divine qualities of character, and who has reached in his moral development the level of the gods?
20. Confucianism. Doctrine of the Mean 31-32
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