Eschatology, Messianism, and Politics in Contemporary Judaism:A Theological Approach for a better Understanding of the Middle East Conflict

Eschatology is not simply the doctrine of the “last things”, but a certain way of interpreting human history as a whole. In this sense, Jews and Christians share a view of history characterised by a dynamic of fulfilment. Nevertheless, the two religions differ with regard to the ultimate goal of history. While Christians await the return of the risen Christ, in Judaism the expectation of a messianic redeemer cannot be generalised. In recent decades, Jews have increasingly linked the concept of God’s revelation to history. Recognising this development helps, not least, to understand the political agenda of the current Israeli government in the Middle East conflict