Sabbateanism and Nathan of Gaza: Giving Rise to Messianic Heresy through the Combination of Kabbalah and Prophecy

Introduction: Kabbalah Kabbalah, a term which means “received” as related to tradition,1 has developed in stages from ancient Judaism to the present. Kabbalism underwent a radical change within medieval Judaism, with a mystical and secretive bent, based upon new revelations and understanding of the Bible, Talmud, and tradition. The gist of medieval kabbalism is that God is concealed within ten sefirot (emanations), sort of outer coverings, which are illusory manifestations of the Godhead. The sefirot are divided between the three upper and the seven lower ones: crown, wisdom, and understa