The End Time in Judaism

The end time in Jewish tradition is often depicted as a time of strife, of the wars of Gog and Magog, of what the rabbis called picturesquely "the birth pangs of the Messiah." Images of resurrection (based on scattered passages such as Daniel chapter 12) and an awakening of the dead were commonplace. But alongside the anticipated violent paroxysms of a new world being born there is a more peaceful, gentle view. In the Talmud, Samuel equates messianic days with the freedom of the Jewish people from the subjugation to foreign powers, a very "this-wordly" view.

The naturalistic idea appealed to the great medieval Sage Maimonides. He explains what will happen at the end of days as follows: It will not be a time of revenge or cruelty or even supernatural wonders. "You must not imagine that the messiah must prove his messianism by signs and miracles, doing something unexpected, bringing the dead to life, or similar things." Rather, nations will dwell together in harmony. People will settle quarrels without malice or injury. All will seek and achieve a knowledge of their Creator as far as possible by human understanding. And Maimonides caps his image of the end time with a quote from the prophet: "For the earth shall be full with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

 

 

 

Comments

[alipes]

02:40 AM on 05/21/2011

Thank you for this piece Rabbi. I enjoyed knowing what Maimonides thought the end times could be. I hope he's right, and I was thinking that an Article V Convention in America could bring such a time about.

http://www.foavc.org

[Dina Preuss]

12:12 AM on 05/20/2011

B"H -- Hello Rabbi. I'm confused now by your article. You offered two opposing opinions, but drew absolutely no conclusion of your own. So, which do you believe is correct and why? Thank you.

[Jessica Gerson]

01:54 AM on 05/21/2011

Dina, I don't understand why he has to draw a conclusion? I think this post was an education, not an endorsement. He's providing an overview of what Judaism has to say about the end times, not writing an opinion piece. And, incidentally, it was quite well-written. A succinct, well-stated view of what various Jewish voices have had to say.