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JUDAISM and the END OF DAYS
Judaism and Christianity stand in a unique relationship in that both believe the writings of the Tenach or Old Testament to be the inspired word of God and yet come to radically different conclusions in their interpretations of this book. What is more for both faiths the Tenach needs another book to interpret it. For Christianity the New Testament points to Jesus as the Messiah who came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets. For Judaism the Oral Law is believed to be necessary to interpret the Bible. According to Rabbinic teaching this was first given by God to Moses at Sinai and passed on by word of mouth to Joshua and succeeding generations. The Oral Law was finally codified in the Talmud which is believed to give the correct interpretation of the Tenach and looks for a Messiah to come.
When it comes to the issue of the end of days there is a great deal written in the Prophetic writings of the Tenach. So it is not surprising that this theme is also found in the New Testament and the Talmud. One of the difficulties of understanding the Prophetic writings, especially about the Messiah and the end of days, is that they seem to be saying contradictory things. For example the Prophet Isaiah alone presents the following difficulties:
Chapter 2 speaks of Messiah reigning with power from Jerusalem, all nations going to hear the word of the Lord and as a result living in peace together.
Chapter 53 speaks of Messiah being despised and rejected of men, having our iniquities laid on him, when he is cut off from the land of the living, executed with transgressors, buried and yet living to see the 'travail of his soul.' (N.B. Much of modern Judaism follows Rashi in denying that Isaiah 53 is about the Messiah, claiming that the 'servant' refers to Israel. The text itself makes this interpretation difficult if not impossible to uphold. Contradicting Rashi, Rabbi Alshech of Sfat wrote of Isaiah 53, "Our Rabbis with one voice accept and affirm that the prophet is speaking of King Messiah.")
Chapter II speaks of the earth being full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea, returning to conditions of paradise with even the animals being vegetarian and not destroying each other.
Chapter 24 speaks of the earth being devastated, cities destroyed and people scorched with few survivors.
These paradoxes are reflected in the ways in which Orthodox Judaism interprets prophecies of the end of days. The Lubavitch movement has been very active in spreading the idea that we are living in the days leading up to the coming of the Messiah:
"All the signs indicate that we are nearing the end of days ... It is certain beyond a shadow of doubt that the era of redemption has arrived ... All that is required is to greet our righteous Messiah (Moshiach), so that he can fulfil his mission and redeem all Israel from exile." The Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Lubavitch is currently presenting an optimistic view of the end of days, seeing in such events as the fall of Communism and Israel's protection during the Gulf War signs that redemption is near. In an advertisement in the Jerusalem Post (31/8/91) Lubavitch supporters announced:
"We are living in the most extraordinary times as our world evolves towards a state of peace, and mankind thrives towards a state of perfection. The times are changing not just for the better but for the best. A cornerstone of Jewish faith is the belief that ultimately good and peace must triumph. This is the essence of Moshiach who will usher in the final redemption ordained in the Torah."
A leaflet encouraging Jewish people to 'demand Moshiach as a laborer demands his wages at the end of the workday announces that current events are miracles which should 'inspire a recognition of the Divine hand in the affairs of humankind, and will give us a glimpse of the miracles that will transform the world with the coming of Moshiach.' It states that the disarmament agreements between the USA and the CIS 'point to the beginning of the prophetic beating of swords into plough shares.' (see Isaiah 2.4)
On the other hand the book Prophecy and Providence' by Rabbi Sokolovsky argues that the era of lkveta d'Meshicha' (the heels of Messiah, the last days of this age) will be days of spiritual decline and trouble. This is illustrated by the following quotations from the Talmud:
"Tragedy will come upon you at the end of all the days." Targum Yonathan.
"During the era preceding the Moshiach, prices will soar. The vine will produce its fruit but wine will be very expensive." Sotah 49b.
"During the lkveta d'Meshicha insolence will abound.. The young will make the faces of the elderly grow ashen with shame; the elderly will have to rise before the young; sons will disgrace fathers; daughters will rise up against their mothers; the members of one's family will become his enemies." Sotah 49b
"During the lkveta d'Meshicha government will turn atheist and there will be no protest. Truth will vanish." Sanhedrin 97a, Sotah 49b.
The Talmud also recognises that there are different ways in which the Messiah will come according to the writings of the Prophets:
"Rabbi Yochanan said: The son of David (Moshiach) comes only to a generation which is altogether worthy or altogether unworthy. We learn that he may come in a generation which is altogether worthy from the verse: If your people is altogether righteous, they shall inherit the land forever/ (Yeshayahu / Isaiah 60.21). Or he may come in a generation which is altogether unworthy, as it is written: "And if He see that there is no 'ish' (worthy man), and He is astonished that there is no intercessor, therefore His own arm brings salvation unto Him" (Isaiah 59.16).
"Rabbi Alexander said: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi noted the apparent contradiction in the following two verses. It is written:
... and behold, one like a son of man (Moshiach) comes with the clouds of heaven. Daniel 7.13
But it also says:
Rejoice greatly 0 daughter of Zion, shout, 0 daughter of Jerusalem. Behold your king shall come to you, righteous and a savior is he, a pauper and riding on an ass. Zechariah 9.9
These verses may be reconciled: If they are worthy Moshiach will appear with the clouds. If not, he will be a pauper and ride on a an ass." Sanhedrin98a.
An alternative way to resolve this apparent contradiction is the one we hold to: that there are two comings of the same Messiah. Firstly he comes as a Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53), coming in humility on the back of an ass, as Jesus did when he rode into Jerusalem in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy at the beginning of the final week leading to his sacrificial death and resurrection. The second time he willcome on the clouds of heaven as Jesus told the Sanhedrin he would at his trial:
The high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?"
And Jesus said, "I am and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." Mark 15.61-62
That day will be the close of this age, the second coming of the Messiah.
This also gives the answer to the other paradox, whether the end of days will be days of disaster or days of deliverance. Jesus' return will be preceded by a time of spiritual decline and tribulation of which the Hebrew Prophets write (Isaiah 24, Jeremiah 30, Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 11-12, Zechariah 12). In his own prophecy of the end of days Jesus also described world conditions in these terms (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).
This will be followed by his glorious reign when Isaiah 2, II, Zechariah 14 and Revelation 20 will be fulfilled and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, Satan will be unable to deceive the nations any more and there will be universal peace.
We recommend for further reading, 'What the Rabbis know about the Messiah' by Rachmiel Frydland, available from the shop for £5.50 +p&p (10%)
