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Many Christian commentators point out that, from the earliest Christian times, such individuals did appear. There is, of course, Bar-Jesus mentioned in the Book of Acts 13:6. However, the first truly significant false Christ or Messiah appears to have been Simeon Bar Cochba (AD ?-135), the Jewish rebel leader. (43:3) For three years the rebels fought valiantly against the legions; finally they were beaten by lack of food and supplies. The Romans destroyed 985 towns in Palestine, and slew 580,000 men; a still larger number, we are told, perished through starvation, disease, and fire; nearly all Judea was laid waste. Bar Cochba himself fell in defending Bethar. So many Jews were sold as slaves that their price fell to that of a horse. Thousands hid in underground channels rather than be captured; surrounded by the Romans, they died one by one of hunger, while the living ate the bodies of the dead. (Caesar and Christ 548)
(43:4)
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