Messiah

Derived from the Hebrew 'meshiach', which means 'consecrated person' or 'anointed one'.

In the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), the Messiah was an anticipated 'anointed one': a king of Israel and military leader who would lead the Jewish people to independence from foreign oppression and occupation.

In Christianity, the title is used to refer to Yeshua of Nazareth: Jesus Christ; considered the Son of God and second personality of the Trinity.

Since Christ, many have claimed to be the Messiah who has come back to earth.

• Bahaullah: founded the Baha'i faith. Bahaullah is the promised one of all religions who returned in 1844.
• Mother Ann Lee: 1787, the Shakers.
• Reverend Sun Myung Moon: founded the Unification church. He came to finish the task that Jesus failed.
• Father Divine: 1914, Universal Peace Mission Movement.
• Marshall Applewhite: Heaven's Gate Cult, in which 37 commited suicide on March 26, 1997.
• Jim Jones: The People's Temple; he murdered his followers.

Many faiths believe in the return of a messianic figure who will save the world and establish their religion, as shown in the table below. Both the forces of Good and evil are preparing the world for a supernatural appearance.