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 The Belief of Israel Devout
Jewish people believed for centuries that the ultimate Anointed One,
the Messiah, the King would come to Israel and deliver the nation from her
enemies. See, for example, the prophecies of Isaiah (Isa. 2:1-4; 9:6-7;
11:1-10); see the promise made to Mary (Luke 1:31-33); see also the
prophecy of Zacharias, father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:67-71).
What these faithful sons and daughters of Israel did not understand at all was that the Messiah’s coming would occur in two stages. He would come the first time to be the Suffering Savior of Israel and of the world (Isaiah 53; 1 John 4:14). He would come the second time to be the Conquering Sovereign of Israel and the world (Psalm 2:7-9; Zechariah 14:9, 16-19; Rev. 19:11-20:15). |
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