Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Armilus (the Mahdi), the false Messiah

ארמלגוס - Armi-what?  2. Who, what, where and when is Armilus / Armilgus?  3. Does anyone know?  The Armilus is virtually unknown to the vast majority of people, even those who are Jewish and consider themselves religious!  A handful of Bible scholars have looked up the word in various encyclopedias and then take the person for which it stands about as seriously as do the encyclopedias.  If you do not believe this, just ask a rabbi, or any person who professes to have a knowledge or interest in the Jewish religion, about Armilus ("the Jewish Anti-Messiah" or "the last evil king against Israel and the Messiah").  I am willing to bet that they either look completely bewildered, or look at you like you should be put in an asylum!  Many believe the Anti-Messiah or anti-Christ is a Christian concept, having nothing to do with Judaism.  This is not true!  The ancient rabbis wrote about him under the name of Armilus.  In this chapter we will quote rabbinical commentaries (such as certain Midrashim, Targums and selected writings of Bar Yohai) to illustrate this point. In The Jewish Encyclopedia, it is admitted that a "Jewish Antichrist," called Armilus in ancient Jewish legend/tradition, will come to wreak havoc on the Jews of Jerusalem just prior to the Messiah coming to destroy him and save them.  The Jewish Encyclopedia says:  "ARMILUS:  In later...