Dougg,
The text does imply 2 messiahs. If both people were really the same, then the definate article should precede the 2nd mentioning of this messiah. Instead it says "a" messiah, not "the messiah" the 2nd time around.

If both messiahs are the same, then we should read "the" messiah the 2nd time around - which would clearly point back to the 1st mentioning of this messiah.

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"He who saves one life... it is as if he saves an entire universe. He who destroys a life... it is as if he destroys an entire universe"

TALMUD - Sanhedrin 4:5

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