Thursday, August 4, 2016

Redemption Without Cataclysm


There is debate among rabbis whether the main violence of the Final War of Gog and Magog has already occurred since the start of World War 1, or not. There is room to interpret that there could be a cataclysm before the final redemption. There is room to interpret that all such major tribulations have already been fulfilled.

The synchronicity where HaShem/God has set up the potential for redemption without travails or redemption only through further suffering, is apparent. God, in His infinite wisdom, found a way to allow for every potential spiritual choice of humankind and still give the world a chance at redemption without further suffering, or the opposite if the wrong choices would be made.

Since God is holding the door of mercy open for us, it would behoove us to participate in His preferred plan of proactive mercy, and do all the mitsvos we can to enable a peaceful resolution to all conflicts in the world without devastation.

After a series of world wars in the first half of the 20th Century, people got used to the idea that cataclysm is predestined. But it isn't, there is no commandment of cataclysm.  It is only that the possibility is allowed for. The prophets often spoke in allegories, and by Talmudic principle, only positive prophecies must occur, negative prophecies need not, people can repent, as the city of Nineveh did, and not be destroyed, even if the only good they ever did was that unified penance, God in His endless mercy will find a way to save. If we "allow" for it with our choices.

God humbly awaits our choices, and has advised us with many messengers and many ways, please choose what is right. So we should.

The main thing is to do our best to serve HaShem/God in every way we can according to the Torah from Sinai, and the traditions of the prophets as recorded in the Talmud.

This explains why many rabbis such as the Lubavitcher Rebbe said that in our generation(s) we are not in need of moshiach ben Yosef, the messiah who primarily wages war, we now need only moshiach ben David, the messiah who primarily brings peace. This also explains why the rabbis say we need a yeshua (salvation) more than a geulah (redemption). Because if we repent and improve sufficiently, the positive prophecies will not be delayed, and then the salvation would spur on an immediate final redemption. Once the final redemption occurs, the possibility for cataclysm by human hands will forever end.

Thus the Talmudic perspective is, sufficient repentance leads to the salvation promised in the Tanach, and that salvation leads to redemption without further cataclysm.

Since it is a possibility that this is in our hands to do, shouldn't we do our best to try to make sure that it can happen?

Therefore do not give up until HaShem sends our righteous moshiach to build the Holy Temple on its mountain in our days.

May it soon be so, B'Ezras HaShem Yisborach, by the grace of God.



--
Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, 5776.