The Days of Mashiach and Beyond: An Anthology from Biblical, Midrashic, Talmudic & Rabbinic Writings

By Rabbi Reuven Chapman

Explore the depths of prophecy, resurrection, and the eagerly awaited arrival of the Mashiach in "The Days of Mashiach and Beyond." This comprehensive and enlightening work delves into profound questions that have intrigued humanity for generations.

Within the pages of this book, you'll embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of Jewish tradition and prophecy. It tackles intriguing topics such as the dual occurrences of the Resurrection of the Dead, the enigmatic appearance of false messiahs throughout history, and the compelling question of whether we can actively hasten the arrival of the Mashiach.

One of the fascinating aspects explored is the concept of two King Mashiachs, shedding light on the intricate layers of this divine plan. The age-old debate of whether the Third Temple will descend from Heaven fully constructed or be built by human hands is examined, providing a glimpse into the profound spiritual significance of this event.

The book offers detailed insights into the mechanics of the Resurrection of the Dead, a concept deeply rooted in Jewish theology. It addresses intricate questions, such as the status of a spouse who remarried after their first partner's death, and to whom they will be married after both return from the Resurrection of the Dead.

As the narrative unfolds, you'll be transported through time, tracing the history of the Mashiach's spirit from before the world's creation to our present day, just before the Mashiach's anticipated arrival. The book documents what will transpire before the Mashiach's coming and what transformations will unfold afterward, including the prophesied War of Gog and Magog, the monumental task of rebuilding the Third Temple, and the awe-inspiring Resurrection of the Dead.

Drawing extensively from the Talmud, Midrash, Biblical sources, and the wisdom of the Sages of Israel across generations, this work is meticulously researched and annotated, providing a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of these profound subjects.

The book concludes with practical steps that readers can take to contribute to the hastening of the Mashiach's arrival, making it a call to action for all who long for the fulfillment of this ancient prophecy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350937411

Book preview

The Days of Mashiach and Beyond

An Anthology from Biblical, Midrashic, Talmudic & Rabbinic Writings

First Edition 2023

Copyright © 2023 by Rabbi Reuven Chapman

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the author.

The author may be contacted via email at: [e-mail]

Hardcover ISBN: 979-8-35092-783-2

eBook ISBN: 979-8-35093-741-1

CONTENTS

PREFACE

My Motivation to Write This Sefer

What This Sefer is Not

Tools Available to Research This Topic

Haskamos

Dedication

In Appreciation

INTRODUCTION

Why investigate these matters when the Rambam tells us not to?

How to Relate to Aggados Regarding the Future

Important Notes

CHAPTER ONE: TWO OF THE RAMBAM’S FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

Belief in the Arrival of the Mashiach

The Chasam Sofer Questions the Rambam for Including This Principle

How Do We Understand Rabbi Hillel’s Statement that The Mashiach Has Already Come?

Why is this period referred to as Ikvasa d’Meshicha-the heels of Mashiach?

Belief in the Ultimate Resurrection of the Dead

Techias Hameisim, Twice

CHAPTER TWO: THE MASHIACH: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The King Mashiach

His Identity

His Family Lineage

Identifying Signs

His Spiritual Greatness

More of His Greatness and Stature

His Material Greatness

How He Will Initially Appear

His Activities

His Name Was One of Seven (or Six) Things Created Before the World

What is the Name of the King Mashiach?

Adam as Mashiach

Chava Forsaw that Mashiach Would be a Descendant from Seth

Haran’s Reward for Entering Nimrod’s Furnace – The Mashiach is Descended from Him

Mashiach is Descended from Lot and His Daughters

Mashiach is Descended from Yehuda and Tamar

Bilaam’s Prophecy

Mashiach is Descended from Moav Via Ruth

Mashiach is Descended from Naamah the Ammonite

The Days of Mashiach – Two Thousand Years

The Many False Messiahs Over the Generations

Bar Koziva as Mashiach

Shabtai Zvi – The False Messiah

False Messiahs – Why Does Hashem Allow Them?

CHAPTER THREE: EVENTS LEADING UP TO HIS ARRIVAL

The Time of His Arrival is Among Seven Hidden Things

B’Itah (In its time) Or Achishenu (I will hasten him)

Forcing the Mashiach’s Arrival

Did Anyone Know When the Mashiach Will Come?

The Mashiach Cannot Come Until…

The Final Redemption – The Difference between This World and the Days of Mashiach

The Final Redemption – The Days of Mashiach Defined

The Final Redemption – Will it Occur in Stages or Suddenly?

The Final Redemption – The Different Stages According to The Rambam

The Final Redemption – The Different Stages According to the Ramban

The Final Redemption – The Different Stages According to Rav Saadia Gaon

The Final Redemption – The Different Stages According to Rav Hai Gaon

The Final Redemption – The Signs of His Imminent Arrival

Audacity Will Increase

Prices Will Skyrocket

The Vine Will Produce but Wine Will Be Expensive

The Government Will Promote Not Believing in Hashem

There Will Be No Rebuke

The Study Hall Will Be Used for Immorality

Torah Centers Demolished

Border Residents Will Wander from Town to Town Without Pity

Since These Signs Have Occurred, Why Has the Mashiach Not Arrived?

Another Sign of the Imminent Arrival of Mashiach – Foxes on the Temple Grounds

The Final Redemption – Will Be Eternal Because It is Completely from Hashem

The Final Redemption – Only After the Evil Roman Empire Rules the World

Mashiach ben Yosef

The Arrival of Mashiach ben Yosef 40 Years Before Mashiach ben Dovid

Eliyahu Hanavi Returns

Arrival of Eliyahu Before, After, or Together with Mashiach

Eliyahu Hanavi to Resolve Genealogy Issues and Undecided Legal Matters

Eliyahu’s Lineage - Is He Pinchas?

Reinstating Semichah (Rabbinical Ordination) – And the Great Sanhedrin

Eliyahu Hanavi Cannot Arrive on Shabbos

The War of Gog and Magog

Will the War Precede or Follow the Mashiach’s Arrival?

The Plagues of Egypt Will Befall Gog and Magog

The First Battle with Gog and Magog

The Second Battle with Gog and Magog

The Final Battle with Gog and Magog

Hashem Will Judge the Nations Following the War of Gog and Magog

Mashiach ben Yosef May Be Killed in the Battle of Gog and Magog

Yerushalyim Will Expand in Size

The Mashiach will be born on Tisha B’Av

CHAPTER FOUR: UPON THE MASHIACH’S ARRIVAL

Mashiach Will Arrive in Nissan or Tishrei

Mashiach Will First Appear in Tiverya

What Blessings Does One Say Upon Greeting the Mashiach?

The Mashiach Will Arrive Riding on a Donkey

Mashiach’s Shofar

Ingathering of the Jews from Amongst the Nations

Will the Ten Tribes Return?

Israel Will Receive the Land of The Ten Nations Promised to Avram

The Mashiach Will Allocate Three and Possibly Even More Cities of Refuge

Seven Things the Mashiach Will Show the Children of Yisrael

The Fiftieth Portal of Wisdom Will be Revealed

Mashiach Will Judge by Smell

Esav Will Return Yaakov’s Gifts to the King Mashiach

Everything Will Yield More Plentiful and Perfect Produce

Studying Laws That Will Only Apply When the Mashiach Comes

The Mashiach Will Process the Tenth Parah Adumah (Red Heifer)

Will Those Who Return at Techias Hameisim Require Ashes of the Parah Adumah?

The Third Temple

Who Will Build the Third Temple?

Is There a Difference in Who Will Build the Beis HaMikdash Between B’ita or Achishenu?

How Will the Third Temple Differ from the First Two?

Sunken Gates Will Be Appended to the Prefabricated Third Temple

Dedicating the Third Temple

Recovery of the Lost Temple Vessels

Items Still in Rome to This Day

The Staff of Moshe Rabbeinu

An Eight-String Musical Instrument Will Be Used in the Temple Service

The Tenth Song (Shira) Will Be Sung in the Days of the Mashiach

The Miraculous Golden Fruit Trees of King Solomon

The Bechoros (Firstborn) Will Resume the Avodah (Temple Service)

Will the Kohanim Serve Immediately When the New Beis HaMikdash is Built?

Stream That Flows from The Temple

Will the Yetzer Hara (Evil Inclination) Be Abolished in the Days of Mashiach?

Will We Still Keep the Mitzvos?

Those Meticulous in Tzitzis Will Merit 2,800 Servants!

From When Will the Mitzvos Stop Being Kept?

Which Type of Mitzvos Will Be Dropped?

For Whom Will the Mitzvos No Longer Apply?

Will We Still Keep All of the Yomim Tovim – Which Will Remain?

Will There Still be a Second Day of Yom Tov?

Mah Nishtanah? How the Pesach Seder Will Change

All the Fast Days will become Yomim Tovim

Will the Prophets and Writings Be Abolished Except for Esther?

Will All Shuls and Study Halls Relocate to Eretz Yisrael?

Reinstating the Practice of Shemittah, Yovel and Other Mitzvos

Animal Behavior in The Days of Mashiach

Will the Pig Become Kosher?

How Long Will the Days of Mashiach Last?

The Ultimate Day of Judgment

Techias Hameisim (Resurrection of the Dead)

Techias Hameisim – Biblical Proofs

Techias Hameisim – When Will It Occur?

Techias Hameisim – How Long Will It Last?

Techias Hameisim – Where Will It Occur?

Techias Hameisim – What Will Come Back? Just the Soul or the Body as Well?

Techias Hameisim – How Will It Happen?

Techias Hameisim – Will They Return in the Clothing in Which They Were Buried?

Techias Hameisim – Who and With What Merit Is One Worthy?

Techias Hameisim – Moshe and Aharon Will Lead the Generation of the Desert Back to Israel

Techias Hameisim – Will Those Who Return Recognize Each Other?

Techias Hameisim – The Roles of the Luz Bone and Melaveh Malkah

Techias Hameisim – Marital Issues Resulting from A Former Spouse That Returned

Techias Hameisim – Eliyahu Hanavi’s Wife – What is Her Status to Remarry?

Techias Hameisim – Kiddushin and Anointing Kohanim at the Techias Hameisim

Techias Hameisim – A Widow Who Remarried – Her Status at Techias Hameisim

Techias Hameisim – Will Aborted Fetuses Return at Techias Hameisim?

Techias Hameisim – Will There be Enough Room on Earth for Everyone Who Returns?

Techias Hameisim – Will Those Who Return Be Able to Sin, and if so, be Punishable?

CHAPTER FIVE: IN THE FUTURE ERA

In the Future Era the Law Will Be Like Beis Shammai

Le’Atid Lavo - In the Future Era

The Goodness in Store for The Righteous

Feast of the Leviathan, Behemoths and the Yayin HaMeshumar

All Sacrifices Will Be Abolished Except for the Todah (Thanksgiving) Sacrifice

CHAPTER SIX: THE WORLD TO COME

The World to Come – What is it?

The World to Come – The Tzadikim Will Be in Hashem’s Innermost Circle

The World to Come – Who and With What Merit Is One Worthy?

The World to Come – What Will Become of The Ten Tribes?

The Illumination That Was Set Aside During Creation For The Righteous

The Ultimate Destruction of This World

CHAPTER SEVEN: HOW CAN WE HASTEN HIS ARRIVAL?

Looking Forward To The Salvation

Things Which Delay His Arrival

Things Which Hasten His Arrival

Things To Do to Avoid the Birth Pangs of Mashiach

Learning How the Korbonos (Sacrifices) Are Brought Can Hasten the Geulah (Redemption)

Teshuva (Repentance) Will Hasten the Geulah (Redemption)

Keeping Shabbos Twice in a Row Can Bring the Geulah

Learning Mishnayos Brings the Geulah

Citing Something in the Name of Its Author Brings the Geulah

The Mashiach Is Only the Means to the End – Serving Hashem

IN CONCLUSION

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

INDEX

PREFACE

My Motivation to Write This Sefer

Considering the global tragedies and disasters that seem to occur on an almost daily basis, I felt that now is an opportune time to review what our Sages have written over the millennia that will ultimately lead to the appearance of the King Mashiach and what will happen afterwards until the end of time.

I feel like a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants to be able to view and to some degree absorb what they have written and make it available to the English-speaking community which is not conversant in the Hebrew or Aramaic languages in which these sources were written. Any errors in translation are my own and for that I seek forgiveness in advance.

What This Sefer is Not

I do not reveal the end date when the Mashiach will come or even hint at when this will occur. I have seen many sefarim on the Mashiach published recently that present amazing Gematrias (numerical word values) or interpretations of verses in Tanach (the Bible) that allude to the Mashiach’s arriving in this or in another particular year. However, if we are not worthy and the Mashiach does not arrive in that year then that prediction can be added to the many more over the centuries of when Mashiach should have arrived but did not. As believers in Hashem and His Torah, our job is to continue to have faith that the Mashiach can arrive any day if we are but worthy.

Tools Available to Research This Topic

I am very grateful to Hashem that I merited to live in a generation such as this one in which I have access to a vast wealth of Talmudic and Midrashic literature, easily searchable in our day. It would have been much more difficult to put a sefer (book) like this together as recently as a hundred years ago.

Today we have access to very powerful software like the Bar Ilan Responsa Project and the Otzar HaChochma which enable high speed searches on any topic. The recently developed Artscroll Schottenstein Talmud which is now available in its Artscroll Digital Library Wasserman Digital Initiative add to these resources. In addition to these, we now have the Oz Vehadar Mesivta Shas and the websites HebrewBooks.org and Sefaria.org which add incredible depth to the Talmud.

I have made extensive use of each of these in researching material for this Sefer in addition to my personal library.

Haskamos

(In order of last name)

Haskama of Rav Moshe Heinemann, Shlita – Translated

I wish to express my glory and praise for the important book The Days of Mashiach and Beyond by Rabbi Reuven Chapman Shlita, which I set my eyes upon and went through, and I really enjoyed his words both from what he wrote, as well as what he left out. From what he wrote, from the broad knowledge of the Rabbi, the author of this book, from both ancient and recent sources he quoted, from the Mishna, the Tosefta, the Babylonian and Yerushalmi Talmud’s, from the earlier and later commentaries, from books on both the revealed and hidden wisdom of the Torah, from books on morals and outlook which all talk about the matters of the birth pangs of the Mashiach, the days of the Mashiach and also the first and second Resurrection of the Dead. What we have now and what is to come, everything according to our late Sages and as understood by the Sages of Israel.

In the Thirteen Principals of Faith, we learned that our Mashiach will be sent at the end of days to redeem those who are waiting for His salvation. The dead will be resurrected by God in the abundance of His kindness, blessed forever is His praised name. It is not possible to be waiting for His salvation unless one knows for what one is waiting and after he arrives one is no longer waiting. Yet one needs to wait and to know why one is waiting now and every day. God has therefore given us this book so that we will know what to wait for according to the Sages of Israel.

I am also amazed at what he did not include in this book, the number of years until the arrival of our righteous Mashiach, which is known to be concealed from humanity as it says in the end of the book of Daniel, Go Daniel, for these words are secret and sealed until the end of time. Rashi interprets until our redemption draws near, to mean that when the end is close, even though he has not yet come, the time of his coming will be known to the learned.

May it be the will of our heavenly Father to send the Rabbi, the author of this book, blessing and success. And that this book will be accepted in Israel and will have an influence on all types of people of Israel, not only those who represent the Esrogim (citron), but also those who represent the other fruit such as the lulavim (dates), hadasim (myrtle branches), and the aravos (willows), to await our redemption and the redemption of our souls soon.

I have therefore signed this document on the eve of Rosh Hashanah 5784, on Friday, the twenty ninth day of Elul in the year five thousand seven hundred and eighty-three since the creation of the world.

Moshe, son of the Chaver, Rabbi Baruch Gedaliah of the Heinemann family, who resides here in Baltimore.

In Appreciation

I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who made significant contributions in the creation of this book.

I begin by thanking Hashem Yisborach for giving me the skills and opportunity to compile this collection of statements and thoughts presented by the Sages of all the generations that preceded me from the beginning of time until now.

My parents, Eva Lou and Julius Chapman of blessed memory, thank you for giving me the foundation, the support and encouraging me to be who I am today.

My parents-in-law, Merle and Bernard Rosin of blessed memory, when Granny came to us she would comment about the extensive collection of seforim in my library and asked if I read all of them, I wish that she could see this sefer in print because all those seforim went into creating this sefer.

Our children Aryeh Leib and Shayna, Yochanan and Tamar Devorah, and Dov Ber, the answer to the famous CHAPMAN question – which will come first, Mashiach or my sefer? The question is now finally answered, Thank you for your encouragement and support.

Shout out to Shalom Chaim for always asking "Zaidy – how is your sefer going – are you finished yet and when can I read it? Thank you for your nagging, which finally motivated me to finish.

I would like to thank Elaine Bodenheimer for her meticulous proofreading of this sefer and for teaching me how to critically read what is written.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my Eishes Chayel, my devoted wife, Janine, who gave me more than ample opportunity to devote to my research and the writing of this book. Whatever I have achieved was due to her self-sacrifice.

INTRODUCTION

Why investigate these matters when the Rambam tells us not to?

The Rambam¹ writes, "And one should not engage in the stories relating to the End of Days nor spend much time delving into the many midrashim which discuss these matters, nor make them one’s primary focus because they bring one neither to fear nor to love of Hashem. And similarly, do not calculate when the end will come, for those who attempt it will be frustrated."

Rabbi Yehoshua Hartman in the introduction to his Mechon Yerushalyim edition of the Maharal’s Netzach Yisrael asks the obvious question: based upon this quote from the Rambam that the study of these matters relating to the Mashiach do not bring one to fear or love of Hashem, why would the Maharal write his work Netzach Yisrael, focused on just this topic? And one cannot answer that the quote from the Rambam was focused on the calculations of the end specifically because as he writes, also the calculations of the end, implying that other matters are also included. So how can we reconcile the Maharal’s writing his Sefer Netzach Yisrael with this statement from the Rambam?

In addition, there have been many other great Torah scholars such as the Ramban, the Abarbanel and the Ramchal as well as others who have published major works on this topic! It does not seem logical that on such a fundamental matter, there should be such an extremely wide variety of opinions among Torah scholars on this matter, to the extent that on the one hand, the Rambam writes not to engage in these studies, while so many others write extensively on this topic.

However, when we investigate the words of the Rambam carefully we see that the matter becomes clear. The Rambam wrote that these references to the Mashiach do not bring one to fear or love of Hashem. Whereas the good in this world brings a person to the love and awe of Hashem, how much more so will the complete goodness that awaits one in the World to Come have even more of an impact on a person. So why then did the Rambam state that engaging in these studies does not lead one to increased love and awe of Hashem?

However, when we carefully investigate the words of the Rambam, the answer becomes clear. The Rambam says that these stories from the Talmud regarding the days of Mashiach do not bring one to fear or love of Hashem. One can wonder; doesn’t the mere anticipation of the great goodness that awaits the Jewish people in the future bring us to a state of love and fear of Him?

One must conclude that the words of the Rambam in Hilchos Melachim do not refer to learning that investigates the greatness of the world of Mashiach but rather something else. The Maharal has already developed the concept that the words of our Sages are focused upon the perceived and not the tangible. Even the Rambam himself in his Maamar Techias Hameisim warns us not to take the statements of our Sages at face value. Rather these statements are meant to teach a lesson that needs to be understood. In fact, the statements of our Sages can be understood from the perspective of 1) the many interpretations of specific Messianic matters per se or 2) the study of the general matter of Messianic affairs, which hides within it the many details.

We can now understand that in his Hilchos Melachim, the Rambam was referring to interpreting the various statements of our Sages from the point of view of specific issues. The Rambam never intended to block one from analyzing these statements from the general aspects. Therefore, since the teachings of the Maharal are entirely built upon the principle of understanding the statements of our Sages along these lines, there is no contradiction between the Rambam and the writings of the Maharal in his work Netzach Yisrael.

The Malbim² explains that was only in the distant past when the End was hidden from the public. But as we approach the era of the End, the secrecy and doubt will diminish, and the certainty of its imminence will increase. The story is told of the Malbim that in his youth, he would travel with his father to a trade fair in a distant town. When he would ask his father, when will we get there? His father replied, Don’t ask foolish questions because we still have much further to travel.

Several weeks later, the Malbim heard his father ask the wagon driver, How much further? The Malbim then asked his father why he replied that his was a silly question, when now the father was asking the wagon driver the same question? The father replied that at the outset of the trip, when there were still weeks of travel ahead of them, it was silly to ask such a question, but now that they were close to arriving at their destination it was appropriate to ask when they would arrive. The Malbim explains that the same applies to awaiting the arrival of Mashiach. Previously, the Torah sages knew that there would still be centuries until Mashiach would arrive, so they said not to calculate the End. But now that the End is near, certainly one can look forward to Mashiach’s imminent arrival.

Rabbi Refuel HaLevi Eizenberg in the introduction to his Chevlei Mashiach B’zmaneinu writes that when one notes what has happened recently in our days, we see that the words of the prophets and sages regarding Chevlei Mashiach have in fact come to pass. Therefore, it seems correct, in my humble opinion, for this generation to clarify these words to strengthen our faith and love for our Father in Heaven.

As Rabbi Moshe Eisemann observes; We will understand the exact meaning of the many obscure passages in Scripture with the occurrence of the events which they describe. In the meantime, we need to know no more than the general picture which the sources yield. The details are in no way principles of faith. ³

How to Relate to Aggados Regarding the Future

The Rambam⁴ explains how to relate to the many aggados about the future eras like the Messianic era, the Resurrection of the Dead, and the World to Come. The Rambam identifies three groups of people regarding how they understand and interpret the aggados in the Torah: 1) The first group takes the statements of Aggadah literally. They do not assume that the story should be taken as an allegory to mean something else. They feel that by taking it literally, they are showing the utmost respect to the Torah even though this may result in absurd conclusions and in some cases lead to physical impossibilities. 2) The second group also takes the Aggadah literally, but instead of showing utmost respect for the Torah, they deride the Sages as primitive and ignorant. The Rambam writes that this group is more foolish than the first group since they thoughtlessly downgrade the Sages who have already been accepted by men of real intelligence. 3) The third group consists of those who have come to appreciate the greatness of the Sages and their viewpoints. This is because the