There are many kinds of Messianic expectations. The ideas represented here hardly even scratch the surface of this momentous subject.
I find it kind of sadly ironic that the well-oiled Third Reich propaganda machine used the so-called Protocols of the Elders of Zion published in Russia in 1903 to such an extent accusing the Jewish people for seeking world domination - and in the same time Adolf Hitler made himself quite an effort to become the sole ruler of the world.
Yetr, it is true that Jews as a people do wait for a world class King.
The wish for the promised King, Messiah (Mashiach), is alive and well in the hearts of many Jews. In Israel - and also in Brooklyn - one can see posters of that elderly gentleman, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the revered Lubawitcher rebbe, greeting crowds gently and with the text Messiah or Welcome Messiah. If I understand right the feeling among his ardent followers is that he was a really close call and anyway on of the greatest teacher of Torah.
There is a long line of candidates since the days of the Assyrian conquest and before when the God of Israel promised a just and righteous king from the house of David. Was Hezekiah the promised king? What about the just king Josiah killed by Pharaoh Neco in the plane of Megiddo?
During the Roman period expectations of Messiah were high for a King who would free the people of Israel from the hated occupation and build the House of Israel. New Testament tells about one such candidate and mentions others. The great historian of this time, Josephus, tells about this as well.
Dead Sea Scrolls are giving us a detailed view of one group waiting the promised King to free the people of Israel from the Kittim.
That Jesus from Nazareth was utterly rejected by the religious and political leadership at the time. Another candidate, Shimon Bar Kokhba, was warmly accepted by the great rabbi Akiva - the star of Jacob is rising! (Num 24:17). This was met by Roman force and with utterly destructive consequences to the Jewish people leading to expulsion from Jerusalem and the beginning of the long diaspora.
False candidates have come and gone. In the Medieval Europe news spread about the arrival of the Messiah in the Ottoman empire, Sabbatai Zevi, but the news turned out to be bitterly wrong.
The long wait goes on!
Of course, some say that Messiah will not come and does not even bother to make a phone call, but the pessimists are wrong. hashana birushalaim, beshana haba im melekh mosiach!
King of Peace
There may be many different variations of Messianic expectations from ultraorthodox teachings to most liberal opinions. Ultimately all the expectations are based on the Holy Scriptures and the wonderful words of ancient prophecies speaking in the name of the God of Israel.
The image that rises from the Scriptures is bright, brilliant and beautiful.
Jewish people are waiting for their King to bring peace to the world and the people "will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks". (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3).
Maybe there are still those who are ready for a holy war like the people in the Dead Sea scrolls describes the War between the children of Light and Darkness.
Major Jewish criticism against the claim that the man of Galilee, Jesus, would be the promised King is that there really is no peace in the world after him and that his followers have been pretty aggressive in the history of the world.
Forcing the law
Hassidic believers and others may hope that Mashiach will force all the world to follow the Laws of Moses. This is their concept of a religion where things must be done and those who break the law must be punished by the society, the King.
For the King of Israel to bring light unto the nations by force would indeed require world domination. This should include a central government in control of global court system that implements the commandments of Torah and mitzvot as interprated by the learned rabbies. The King should also have an efficient law enforcement system where those breaking the Shabbath and other laws are punished accoring to the rulings.
Comparison to Sharia law
King of Israel who establishes a rabbinically ruled world, kind of maximum theocracy, with forceful enforcement of Mosaic law is a vision of some belieivers. It is conceptually perhaps not so far from the Islamic dream of world domination. The ultimate purpose of the conquest of the true religion is to spread the light of Islam as a blessing to mankind. But it includes forcing all people upon Earth to live under the religious laws of sharia and their interpretations. As we know, many Muslims are so dedicated to the will of God that they gladly sacrifice even their lives to reach the situation where Allah is ruling the entire world through His obedient and willing servants.
Messiah restores the kingdom of Israel
Many Christian followers of Jesus of Nazareth expect Him to return back to Jerusalem as promised to the men of Galilee as written in the New Testament Acts of Apostles:
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
Acts 1:9-12 KJV
Not all Jews are comfortable with the apocalyptic Messianic expectations of American Christians who are truly ardent political and practical supporters of the State of Israel. These visions about the future of the world include the conversion of all Jews to believing in Jesus.
Not irrelevant!
Nobody can say that the King of Israel is irrelevant. Because of His earthly political connotations also counter-terrorism experts in various countries around the world know the subject thoroughly. These are very powerful ideas when people are not just sitting and waiting but turn them into political activity. Things reach headlines of modern news when people feel compelled and invited to become active participants in the preparations for the coming fo the King.
Maranatha!
Que sera, sera, whatever will be will be ...
We shall see.
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