(ii) God, the world and history

 

From their Scriptures, the Jews believed that God had not only created the world but continued to uphold it and guide the course of mankind history. Increasingly, as they continued to be ruled by Gentiles, i worshippers, who were ignorant of the one God, the Jews looked God to intervene dramatically in the world, to bring the present world order to an end, before establishing a new order of things. The coming of God's Messiah was eagerly awaited although there were different interpretations of what he would be like and what he would do. S thought of a military leader; others thought of a priestly figure, or even a supernatural figure who comes from heaven. It was widely belie that the Messiah would manifest himself to God's people from Temple.