| Not quite accurate, Yaakov. There have been many in Jewish history who have declared themselves or others have declare the Mosiach, ie. Shabbatia Zevi,and others but none of them are referred to by this term. The term is understood today to refer only to those Jews who believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah. Some of these believers identify with organised Christian churches, some form groups such as this in Ariel. The belief of some in the Chabad movement that the late Rebbe is the Moshiach does not in any way mean they can call themseoves Meshichim. Whne that term is udes today it refers only to those who accept Jesus of Nazareth as the messiah. The term "Christian" was used far before the 4th century in Antioch, and the split between the Jewish and gentile branches of the Church probably occured after the Second Jewish Revolt in 136CE, with small Jewish Christian communities hanging on for a few generations after that. |
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