Question: What do Donald Trump and Cyrus the Great have in common?
Answer: According to the Jews they are both the Lord’s anointed.
Rabbi Berger[1] believes that President Trump’s election has already begun this process. The rabbi noted that Donald Trump’s name in Hebrew (דונלד טראמפ) in gematria (numerology based on Hebrew letters) equals 424 – which is the same numerical value of the phrase, “Moshiach (Messiah) from the House of David (משיח בן דוד).”
“But Donald Trump is not righteous enough or knowledgeable in Bible to actually be the Messiah,” Rabbi Berger noted.[2] “Trump’s connection to the Messiah is that he will play a role in one of the major functions of the Messiah. He will pave the way for building the Third Temple.”
“Trump will not personally merit building the Temple,” he continued. “Like Cyrus, he will pave the way for men who will begin the construction, and when the time is right, the Third Temple will descend from heaven.”
Of course, our commentary on Daniel makes it clear that the “Lord’s anointed” in Isa 45 is a reference to Hezekiah (the suffering servant) NOT TO CYRUS. There was a Jewish exilic faction that pushed an agenda for an early restoration and they deliberately interpreted the “workman” (karash) of the Lord as Koresh (Cyrus). The same strategy is being used 2,000 years later, namely; pointing out to a foreign ruler that they have been chosen to fulfil prophecy and restore Jewish fortunes.
In the end Cyrus did very little (as most scholars acknowledge). It was during the reign of Darius the Great (21 years later cf. Dan 10.) that the temple was restored.[3]
[1] Read more at https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/104682/ancient-jewish-sources-indicate-trump-will-pave-way-for-third-temple-prominent-rabbi/#8G25lPRwvkbujVCX.99
[2] Perhaps the Rabbi should also have mentioned that the “Donald” is not from the tribe of David, that he is a gentile and a Catholic to boot! I suppose beggars can’t be choosers.
[3] Trump has already done more than Cyrus did….at least he has restored the US embassy to Jerusalem!