In the Hebrew tongue, the language of the Bible, the word Mashiach simply means “anointed one.” It specifies a person chosen by HaShem to complete a specific task of deliverance of the Jewish people — Israel.
The Bible also not only speaks of a mashiach but of The Mashiach — one who will come in the Aharit Hayamim (End of Days) to purposefully accomplish seven specific things on HaShem’s final To Do List concerning Israel and the rest of the world. We know from the Torah that The Mashiach will arrive in the End of Days as foretold in Numbers 24:14 —
“And now, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you...what this people will do to your people at the end of days.”
Down through the centuries there have been many mashiachs that have been called to deliver Israel but The Mashiach has yet to arrive on the scene.
These other mashiachs were not all Jews. One in particular was a non-Jew. His name was Cyrus, the King of Persia whom Isaiah, in his prophecy concerning Cyrus by name refers to him as a mashiach — an anointed one, given the honor of allowing the Jews in Babylonian captivity after 70 years to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple [SEE: Isaiah 45:1]. Most mashiachs down through the ages have, however, been Jewish.
The High Priest, or Kohen Gadol is a mashiach; as was King David and those who followed in the Davidic lineage — both the good rulers and the evil ones. The title of an anointed one does not presuppose one who is righteous but one anointed to deliver. Many of the kings in the Davidic line who ruled after him were anointed but failed in their task due mainly to their unholy and idolatrous behavior. They were however anointed for the task — a mashiach.
But, who is The Mashiach? What will he do and what will he be like in both character and action?
First it is important to realize that The Mashiach will be a fully human being born of a human Jewish father and Jewish mother within the lineage of King David of the Tribe of Judah.
The very first clear indication of this is found in Genesis 49:10 — “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet; So that tribute shall come to him And the homage of peoples be his.”
The Mashiach's primary task will include the following:
[1] The Mashiach will be a Jewish prophet on the order of Moshe. Full of wisdom and insight with the spirit of prophecy and a teacher of the Torah:
“Adonai Eloheynu will raise up to you a prophet from the midst of you, of your brothers, like me; to him you shall listen.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
[2] The Mashiach will return Israel and the entire world back to HaShem and His Torah:
"Adonai will be King over all the earth; on that day Adonai will be One and His Name One." (Zechariah 14:9)
[3] He will restore the Davidic Lineage of Kingship to Israel, centered in the City of David in Jerusalem:
"My servant David will be king over them; they will all have one shepherd; they will also follow My ordinances and observe My laws" (Ezekiel 37:24)
[4] Like King Solomon before him, The Mashiach will oversee the rebuilding of the Third and final Temple in Jerusalem and restore the sacrificial system as outlined in the Torah:
“He will purify the children of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, to become bearers of an offering to Adonai in righteousness" (Malachi 3:3)
[5] All Jews living outside of Israel will be brought back into the Land of Promise and the boundaries of Israel promised to Avraham will be fully established, increasing the landmass to its original covenantal intent:
"Therefore, behold, the days come, says Adonai, that they shall no more say: ‘As Adonai lives, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt’; but: ‘As Adonai lives, that brought up and that led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries wherever I had driven them’; and they shall dwell in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:7-8)
"For, look, the days come, says Adonai, that I will turn the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, says Adonai; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it." (Jeremiah 30:3)
[6] The judges and counselors established in the Torah will be returned and this Sanhedrin will judge in righteousness:
“I will restore your magistrates as of old, And your counselors as of days past. After that you shall be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City.” (Isaiah 1:26)
[7] Finally, he will establish peace between Israel and all its neighbors and will lead the entire world in peace and the faithful worship of HaShem:
"The wolf will dwell with the lamb; the leopard will lie down with the kid; the calf, the young lion, and the fatling together, will be led by a young child. The cow will graze with the bear; their young will lie down together; the lion will eat straw like the ox" (Isaiah 11:6-7)
"Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither will they practice war any more" (Isaiah 2:4)
The Mashiach will not be a god, nor half god and half man, nor fully god and fully man. He will be a human being, live out his mortal life and will be succeeded by an anointed human heir.
To date no person yet anointed for the purpose of deliverance and not one past or present individual claiming to be The Mashiach has accomplished all these tasks. Therefore, we still await his coming with great anticipation.
