Question:
Christianity has always tried to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. However, the Messiah comes in “the last days” – not 2,000 years go.
The Messiah really has many titles, including “Elijah” and the “herald of God” who was promised to come in “the last days.”
Elijah is the herald of God, not of Jesus. Elijah; the “one like Moses”, the “chosen one,” “Israel”, etc – becomes the “Messiah” to the Jews and “light” to the Gentiles as recorded in Isaiah 11. It will be God’s Kingdom, not Jesus’.
Answer:
From the force of Bible evidence, we have to disagree completely with your stance.
The Bible leaves no question that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. The title “Christ” means “the anointed, i.e., the Messiah” (Strong’s Analytical Concordance), a term derived from the practice of consecrating a priest by anointing with oil.
What did the Apostles believe? We have the testimony of Simon Peter, “We have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (John 6:69). When some question arose as to Jesus’ true identity, we read that some said that He was John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah or “one of the prophets.” Jesus asked His disciples directly, ” ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ “ (Matt. 16:15-16).
On another occasion, when Jesus had stilled the waves and rebuked His disciples for their lack of faith, the disciples responded, “and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’ “ (Matt. 14:33).
Not only the Apostles but other believers confirmed this fact. At the time of Lazarus’ death, Martha said to Jesus, “believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27)–and even before He had raised her brother from the dead. John the Baptist said of himself that he was “not the Christ,” but that one was to come after him who would indeed be the Messiah (John 1:30), and who was willing to testify “that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34). The apostle John records that his purpose in writing his gospel was “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31).
Jesus came as the Messiah, the Christ nearly 2,000 years ago; but the greatest emphasis of the Bible is on His second coming. The prophets of Israel clearly forecast two comings of Christ, not only one in “the last days.” For example, the words of the prophet Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given,” and immediately the Prophet telescopes many centuries to say in the next phrase “and the government shall be upon his shoulder… Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end” (Isa. 9:6-7). The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled. The child was born, but the government is not yet upon His shoulders; however it will be, when He returns the second time. This return was the promise of the angels at the time of His ascension: “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
The book of Hebrews clearly specifies two comings: “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time” (Heb. 9:28).
Many of the prophecies of Christ include mention of both His first and His second coming; others mention only His more important second coming. But both were needful in the plan, and should not be overlooked. Christ came the first time to show us the perfect Example of the life that pleases God, at the same time qualifying Himself for the great work God had prepared for Him. He came the first time learning “obedience by the things which he suffered” (Heb. 5:8), learning to “refuse the evil and choose the good” (Isa. 7:15). He is coming again the second time as King, Conqueror, and Eternal Sovereign of this earth. When Pilate at the time of His trial questioned Him, “Art thou a king?” Jesus testified, “Certainly I am a king. This is why I was born, this is why I came into the world, to bear testimony to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37, Moffatt).
Your statement that “It will be God’s Kingdom not Jesus'” seems irrelevant. The Bible frequently uses the term “Kingdom of God” to refer to the Kingdom over which Christ will rule (see Matt. 6: 33; Mark 1:14; Matt. 19: 24; Mark 10: 23. But also Matt. 13:41; Matt. 16:28; Matt. 12:26; John 18:36, which clearly ascribe the Kingdom to Christ).
When Christ returns, the entire earth will come under the dominion of Christ, who is God’s authorized King.
You say also that “Elijah is the herald of God, not of Jesus.” We know of no passage in the Bible which says that the Messiah was called “Elijah” or “the herald of God.” Nor do we read anywhere that Elijah was to be the “herald of God, not of Jesus.” Elijah the prophet will be the herald to come before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5), i.e., His second advent. All the prophecies for the last days focus upon the second advent of Christ, who will be “Emmanuel, God with us” (Matt. 1:23), but not the Eternal Creator.
Your statement that “Israel… becomes the ‘Messiah’ to the Jews and ‘Light’ to the Gentiles, as recorded in Isaiah 11,” is not factual. Isaiah 11 prophesies of a person, not a nation. “There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the lord shall rest upon him” (vs. 1-2), and the Prophet goes on to describe the outstanding qualifications of this great ruler-to-be. He would be “of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:…and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins” (vs. 3-5). The final result will be that “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (v. 9).
We see no reason to apply these prophecies to the nation of Israel, or any one other than the promised Messiah. They clearly describe the victorious reign of Christ when He returns as King of the whole earth. This same righteous reign is described in numerous places in the Bible (see Isa. 32:17-18; Ps. 72:6-8; Dan. 7:27; Zech. 14:1-9; Rev. 19:11-16, etc).