The Sabbatean Prophets

From Mystical Vision to Prophetic Eruption 105
The spirit of prophets and prophetesses has been established outside the
Land [of Israel], and they are numerous as far away as the island of Portoferraio,
44 sixty miles distant from here. I saw with my eyes a young student
in particular on Rosh Hodesh of this past Adar [around March 1666.] He recited
biblical passages, and while speaking he lost use of his limbs and was
almost without pulse. Then he said, “Shabbatai Zvi is our king and our savior,
the righteous teacher crowned with the most high crown. He will rule
over all the land and the hosts of heaven. And Nathan the prophet teaches
salvation to Israel,” and many similar things. He repeated the passages of redemption
and salvation, praise, and the like, with prostrations, sometimes
crying and sometimes laughing. Once an evil man stood before him and
beat him. And when he returned to his senses, he remembered nothing. A
person may lie about all things, but with a pulse nobody can deceive. 45
A second account comes from Baruch of Arezzo and features an informative
list of the prophets.
After this, prophecy came upon many men, women and children in Izmir,
Constantinople, Aleppo, and elsewhere. [The common reference in most
Jewish sources is to Constantinople, not Istanbul.] The same message came
from all of them. They would bear witness and declare “Shabbatai Zvi is the
Messiah of the God of Jacob!” Now this is the manner of the prophecy
which came during those days. A deep sleep would come upon [the prophets]
and they would fall upon the ground like dead people with no breath
remaining in them. About a half hour later breath would come from their
mouths though their lips would not move, and they would recite passages
of song and passages of comfort. They would all declare, “Shabbatai Zvi is
the Messiah of the God of Jacob.” Afterward they would rise back to their
feet knowing not what they had said or done.
In the city of Izmir over 150 prophets prophesied; among whom were
these who blasphemed [pronounced divine Names]: the wife of our master
[Shabbatai; that is, Sarah], the wife of Jacob Peña, the wife of Vana, the wife
of Jacob Serrano, the wife of Jacob Benveniste, the wife of Jacob Capua,
the sage Daniel Finti [Pinto], Joseph ha-Levi, Solomon the son of Rabbi
Daniel Valencin, Joshua Morletto, Samuel Bomuano [Bon Homme], Moses
Shefami, Elijah Bonseneor, and a certain orphan. And these are the names
of the prophets of Aleppo: R. Isaiah ha-Kohen, Moses Galante, Daniel
Pinto, the wife of Yomtov Laniado, the wife of Rabbi Nissim Mizrahi, the