Millennial fever struck Europe and the Near East in the 17th century- many Christians thought the Lord would return in 1666. The Jewish Zohar suggested the year 1648, and a citizen of Syrma stepped forward to claim the role of the long awaited Judaic Messiah- young Sabbatai Zevi. He travelled about the Levant seeking opportunities and converts- gradually many came to believe he really was the Jewish Messiah.....England was abuzz with speculation, and Oliver Cromwell revoked the order banning Jews from the country, because it was thought that Israel was about to be restored and the real kingdom of heaven was at hand. ( Jews had been banned from England since Magna Carta, about 200 years)The sudden appearance of a Polish prostitute who thought she was destined to marry the Messiah seemd to strengthen the movement...But Zevi angered too many Rabbi's by abrogating too many traditional rituals...Then Zevi was arrested in Constantinople by agents of the Sultan. In prison a rival messianic claimant had an audience with the inspired yet forlorn Turk, highlighting the probable absurdity of his claim...then Sabbatai suddenly converted to Islam ! (to save his neck). Amazingly he continued to attract followers, while he played one side against the other ( He argued to the Sultan that he converted to attract Jews to Islam, and he said the same to Jewish elders...) Zevi died alone and neglected a few years later, but today about 100,000 Turks still adhere to his 'brand' of Judaism.

Sabbatai Zevi's 'career' seriously damaged the worlds Jewish community- governments sought reprisals for causing such trouble(once an army of Zevites was said to be marching toward the capitol, and the garrison had to be readied...). There have been extremely few messianic claimants within Judaism since these events.