posted on Apr, 27 2007 @ 02:18 PM
. . .
In affirming the Baptist and his teachings, Jesus indicated that what the Baptist said was true. The truth the Baptist taught – the same truth Jesus
Himself affirmed – is embedded in a mistranslation of the third verse of Matthew 11. In turn, the mistranslation led to misinterpretation. This is a
typical example: “The question probably expresses a doubt of the Baptist that Jesus is the one who is to come (cf Malachi 3:1) because his mission
has not been one of fiery judgment as John had expected (Matthew 3).”. (New American Bible (NAB) footnote for Matthew 11:3 as published by the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.) By correcting the translation, the truth that had been suppressed ought to be become apparent.
The King James Version of Matthew 11:3 reads, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another [heteros]?”.
I propose that a proper translation ought to read, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for The Other [heteros]?”.
What is the difference in meaning between the two renderings? The sense of the King James Version supports the traditional view that the Baptist
suffered doubt. But as already shown, this view is counter to the Jesus’ own statement about the Baptist’s steadfastness.
My translation, on the other hand, is faithful to its context. John the Baptist retains his faith.
In addition, my rendering makes sense of Jesus’ statement in verse 11: “Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John
the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”.
The implication of verse 11, when it is compared to verse 3, is that “The Other”, who is given the additional title “The Least [or Lesser] in
the Kingdom”, is the sole person among those “born of women” greater than John the Baptist. Given the high standing assigned to him by Jesus,
only a messianic figure could be greater than John the Baptist.
There seems to be a deeper, supernatural purpose for this lapse in translation and its subsequent misinterpretation. After all, how could a vital
teaching be so readily lost?
Our question appears to have been anticipated by Jesus in verses 25 and 26: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of
heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed
good in thy sight”. The secret of a second messiah was hidden as part of God’s redemptive plan. The truth would be disclosed to the unorthodox
when the time was due.
What did the Baptist understand about the messianic claims he attributed to Jesus?
The answer is clear in Matthew 3:
[1] In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight.
[4] And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
[5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
[6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come?
[8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
[9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children
unto Abraham.
[10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
[11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
[12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with
unquenchable fire.
It is certain that John the Baptist expected the mission of Jesus to be one of fiery judgment. In Matthew 11, Jesus pointed to His own ministry as
evidence He came not to judge, but to save. This was the task appointed to Him. To “The Other” messiah would be committed the formidable task of
judgment.
There is no evidence that John the Baptist ever doubted that Jesus was a messiah. However, the Baptist must have sorrowfully realized there was no
hope in expecting Jesus to rescue him from prison, or even, to save him from a certain earthly death. Jesus said content is he who is not offended in
Him. Matthew 11:6. Although the Baptist’s death would create a scandal that tested the faith of early Christians, the tragedy would occasion a
desirable effect. The half-hearted would depart. They would otherwise impede the progress of the early church. The Baptist did not die destitute.
Shortly thereafter, Jesus honored the martyrdom of the Baptist when He Himself offered His own blood as water to the seed.
In summary, we have reviewed what the Baptist understood about messianic claims and their relationship to the Kingdom of God.
We have discovered how a proper application of Matthew 11 resolves a number of puzzling questions, including, firstly, whether John the Baptist
suffered a lapse in faith, and secondly, whether the Baptist, a man classified as the greatest man that ever lived, could then rightly be inferior to
the One with the mysterious identity of “The Least in the Kingdom”. As defined by its context, only a messianic figure could be greater than John
the Baptist. Jesus uses the term “Least” as a hidden reference to the Second Christ.
In conclusion, the twin testimonies of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ support belief in two messiahs.
I have spent thousands of hours studying the Bible and its prophecies. I am almost finished writing Dark Messiah: The Coming of the Antichrist. This
book identifies the Antichrist according to the biblical standards of “signs and wonders”. My research has led me to a number of shocking
conclusions. For example, as shown here, the Bible teaches the advent of two messiahs. The Antichrist is the second of these two. The character and
work of the Antichrist Messiah has been mistaken by the various Antichrist traditions as part of a last grand scheme to test the faith of the faithful
in each of the world’s three monotheistic religions.
Contrary to all orthodoxy, I am boldly calling for the Coming of the Antichrist as the solution to our world’s foremost problems.
The foregoing is excerpted from this forthcoming publication.
Feel welcome to post your questions.