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'''Simon bar-Kokhba''' ("Son of a star"; later referred to by Jews as "bar-Kosiba", "son of a lie") was the last significant false [[Messiah]]. In 130 AD, Emperor [[Hadrian]] forbade Jews from visiting [[Jerusalem]] and ordered that a temple to the idol [[Jupiter]] be constructed on the site of the [[Second Temple]], ruined since the revolt of 70 AD.<ref name="liv">http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar07.html</ref>. Two years later, bar-Kokhba began a revolt.
The influential [[Rabbi Akiba]] proclaimed him to be Messiah, saying, "This is the king Messiah!"<ref>y. Taʿan. 4:8/27; parallel at Lam. Rab. 2:2 §4</ref>. Bar-Kokhba called himself "Nasi," or "Prince," a term used to describe Messiah<ref>E.g. Ezekiel 34:24</ref>. Coins were even minted with his picture on them, showing him holding [[Aaron]]'s rod that had budded. He persecuted Christians who would acknowledge only Jesus as Messiah<ref>Justin Martyr, ''First Apology'' 31:6</ref>.
While the Jews fought tenaciously, the Romans finally managed to suppress the revolt in the winter of 135-136 AD. Bar-Kokhba retreated to the town of Betar, southwest of Jerusalem, where he and his last defenders never surrendered but died from hunger and thirst in the besieged town.<ref name="liv" />
{{reflist}}
The influential [[Rabbi Akiba]] proclaimed him to be Messiah, saying, "This is the king Messiah!"<ref>y. Taʿan. 4:8/27; parallel at Lam. Rab. 2:2 §4</ref>. Bar-Kokhba called himself "Nasi," or "Prince," a term used to describe Messiah<ref>E.g. Ezekiel 34:24</ref>. Coins were even minted with his picture on them, showing him holding [[Aaron]]'s rod that had budded. He persecuted Christians who would acknowledge only Jesus as Messiah<ref>Justin Martyr, ''First Apology'' 31:6</ref>.
While the Jews fought tenaciously, the Romans finally managed to suppress the revolt in the winter of 135-136 AD. Bar-Kokhba retreated to the town of Betar, southwest of Jerusalem, where he and his last defenders never surrendered but died from hunger and thirst in the besieged town.<ref name="liv" />
{{reflist}}