Christians assign messianic prophecies to the prophets that are not actually there in the text. For example, Isaiah 53 applies to Israel but Christians say it applies to the Messiah. The truth is that the only Messianic prophecies found in the prophets are as follows:
- He will bring world wide earthly peace.
- He will be a great warrior.
- He will be a descendant of David.
- He will be a just judge.
- He will bring all the Jews back to Eretz Yisrael (or this will proceed his coming).
- He will rule as a King (he will be David ha Melech) gaining sovereignty over the Land of Israel.
- He will bring all Jews back to Torah observance.
- He will reign during the Messianic era, when everyone will believe in God and no one will need to be taught right from wrong.
Well, taking it into Isaiah 53, many people believe it pertains to Jesus. Just as you explain things, other things can be explained, too.
So continuing this line of conversation, do you really believe peace will or can be achieved by Jews or the state of Israel? How close do you think all Jews are to peace? And of course another question you bring up particularly because of #5 is who really is a Jew? If you believe that literally true, it's gonna be a long time for all Jews to emigrate to Israel.
I know a Jew who married a woman who is not Jewish and she did not convert. They had a son who claims to be Jewish and was bar mitzvahed. (not sure about spelling.) So do you and all Jews even agree as to who is really a Jew?
And again and importantly -- it's been two thousand years since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. 2,000 years is a rather long time. (Tisha B'Av)
I agree with many of your points, and of course they require explanation.
The Messiah will bring world wide peace. #6, 7 is to be understood in light of the scriptures.
Yes, the Messiah is a great warrior and will ensure lasting peace.
Micah 4 assures His people about this.
"In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD
will be established as the chief of the mountains;
it will be raised above the hills,
and the peoples will stream to it.
2And many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us His ways,
so that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3Then He will judge between many peoples
and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide.
Then they will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation,
nor will they train anymore for war.
4And each man will sit under his own vine
and under his own fig tree,
with no one to frighten him.
For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
5Though each of the peoples
may walk in the name of his god,
yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
forever and ever."