Seeing the Messiah: An Analysis of the Postmortem Appearances of Jesus Christ and the Lubavitcher Rebbe Against the Backdrop of Apparitional Phenomena
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Apparitions are real. The evidence for their objective nature is immense, and they are frequently not the transparent, non-physical manifestations depicted by Hollywood and popular culture. Moreover, some apparitions demonstrate blatantly physical characteristics to the point that they may be initially mistaken for real people. Seeing the Messiah takes readers on a tour of case studies from eight well-evidenced categories of apparitions that occur in nature. These categories include visions of the bereaved, those that linger in haunted houses, figures that materialize during seances, and apparitions that represent religious icons such as the Blessed Virgin Mary. What exactly are apparitions? Visitations from the supernatural realm? Dramas created through telepathy? Dr. Kendall speculates on how these strange intrusions into our reality might best be interpreted and the implications this has for the nature of reality itself. Having established the characteristics of this phenomenon, Dr. Kendall examines claims that Menachem Mendel Schneerson (i.e., the Lubavitcher Rebbe) was raised from the dead, with special scrutiny of the post-mortem encounters of the Rebbe to his followers. He then evaluates the historical data used to support Jesus’ resurrection in light of the same apparitional data. Do those who “see the Messiah” merely experience apparitions?
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- Presents evidence for the objective and often physical nature of apparitions
- Tours various categories of apparitions through well-evidenced case studies
- Examines claims of post-mortem encounters with religious figures, including the Lubavitcher Rebbe
An eye-opener for sure for those whose minds aren’t closed. Kendall has done the hard comparative work, and even if (as I do) you disagree with him on this or that, you will not forget this book. Future treatments of Jesus’s resurrection that fail to consider Kendall’s materials and analysis will not be worth reading.
——Dale C. Allison Jr., Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament, Princeton Seminary
Dr. Kendall’s volume is an incredible collection of research that treats an exceptionally wide range and variety of religious apparitions. It draws careful distinctions that feature balanced evaluations, while avoiding easy dismissals of the data, even when these seem opposed to his central ideas. Without shying away from difficult inferences, Kendall draws cautious and reasoned conclusions. This text is highly recommended for very careful and well-grounded readers.
——Gary R. Habermas, Distinguished Research Professor, Liberty University
- Title: Seeing the Messiah: An Analysis of the Postmortem Appearances of Jesus Christ and the Lubavitcher Rebbe Against the Backdrop of Apparitional Phenomena
- Authors: Jonathan Kendall, Michael Licona
- Publisher: Resource Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2025
- Logos Release Date: 2025
- Pages: 276
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- ISBNs: 9798385249015, 9798385248995, 9798385249008
- Resource ID: LLS:9798385249015
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-07-25T07:49:54Z