Preparing for Moshiach

There is a concept that Eliyahu will prepare us three days in advance for Moshiach’s arrival.

Where does that come from?

We find it in Parshas Yisro,[1] where Hashem tells Moshe, “Go to the people and make them ready today and tomorrow… Let them be prepared for the third day, for on the third day Hashem shall descend before the eyes of all the people on Har Sinai.”

Moshe represented Eliyahu HaNovi and Hashem represented Moshiach.

What was Har Sinai? It was a Divine Revelation of Hashem’s presence to the entire world! As the Medrash states, “The events of the forefathers are signs for [what would happen to] their children [in the future].”[2]

Similarly, the Medrash[3] states, “Three days before Moshiach reveals himself,[4] Eliyahu will arrive and stand upon one of the great mountains of Israel and he will cry and lament over them, saying, ‘Mountains of the Land of Israel, until when will you remain standing in ruin, desolation, and destruction?’ His voice will be heard from one end of the world to the other. Afterward, he will say to them, “Peace has come to the world,” as it is written, ‘Behold on the mountains the feet of the proclaiming peace!.’[5] When the wicked will hear this, they will rejoice and say to each other, ‘Peace has come to us.’ On the second day, he [Eliyahu] will come and stand on the mountains of Israel and say, “Goodness has come to the world,” as it is written, ‘Heralding good tidings.’[6] On the third day, he will come and say, ‘Salvation has come to the world,’ as is written ‘Proclaim salvation.’”[7]

Can you guess which of the mountains that Eliyahu will stand on? Har HaZeisim.

Nathan said that Har HaZeisim will split into two. He’s basing his words on the Novi:[8] “Har HaZeisim will split open at its middle, east... and half of it to the south.”

Once the mountain splits, Moshiach will instantly reveal himself before everyone and we will know that he is the Moshiach. He will stand at the entrance of Har HaZeisim and determine who can and cannot enter. Anyone who doesn’t have the merit to enter, will stay outside and die.

Caroline: The people who were unworthy of entering Har HaZeisim are getting burnt up from fireballs that are raining down from heaven. Again, her words also are derived from the Novi:[9] “I will punish him with pestilence and with blood; torrential rain and hailstones, fire and sulfur will I rain down upon him and upon his cohorts and upon the many peoples who are with him.”

What the Novi describes, already occurred once in history. Where? Sodom and Amorrah:

Hashem had rained upon Sodom and upon Amorrah sulfur and fire, from Hashem, out of heaven.”[10] Rashi explains ‘out of heaven’ is referring to the posuk, “For with them He will judge the nations, etc.”[11] When He comes to chastise people, He brings upon them fire from the heavens, as He did to Sodom.

Nathan: Those who are worthy to enter will be saved. Moshiach will fight against Obama and kill him then he will bury him in the land of Israel. As the Novi[12] states: “On that day I will assign Gog a burial site there in Israel…”

Once the prophecy of Har HaZeisim has been fulfilled, Moshiach[13] will come wearing a robe that has blood[14] stained on it. He will take revenge[15] on the nations who killed Jews throughout the generations, simply because they were Jews.[16] Then Hashem will destroy the entire world, during which buildings and walls will collapse. As the Novi[17] states: “On that day a great earthquake will take place upon on the soil of Israel… the mountains will be broken apart and the cliffs will topple and every wall will topple to the ground.”

However, in places where there are tzaddikim,[18] buildings will not fall. On that day, Hashem will wage war against the wicked and there will be a 24-hour period of neither day nor night. As stated by the Novi:[19] “It will be a unique day; it will be known as Hashem’s [day], neither day nor night, but it will happen towards evening time that there will be light i.e. G-d’s salvation.” This is only the beginning of the redemption. It will take a long time until all the bodies are buried. For the Novi[20] states: “The House of Israel will bury them in order to cleanse the land, for seven months.”

Caroline: Twenty-four hours[21] or fifteen days later,[22] the sky opens and under the sky, I see these two clouds that are like spiraling around. One big one and one smaller one underneath it. Then, I see fire coming out from the sky through these spirals and hits the ground with an explosion. Slowly, the fire begins to construct the Beis HaMikdash.

Nathan: Once the war is over, the Beis HaMikdash will descend from heaven,[23] into our world engulfed in fire.[24] [25] At some point, there will be a revival of the dead.

Caroline: The moment the Beis HaMikdash began to descend from upon high, I noticed how all the people around me and myself included, were forced to turn our backs away from looking upon the Divine Presence. It’s impossible to gaze upon the Divine Presence but we could surely feel it! I cannot describe it in words.

Then, I hear this voice from heaven that comes forth and says: “My children, do not fear, the time of your redemption has come!”[26] As am I listening to this I see the Beis HaMikdash… I know that the Beis HaMikdash is being built slowly behind me, but we cannot turn to face the Divine Presence. This is the most beautiful experience of my life.

Nathan: Moshiach is a simple man who lives here in Israel.[27] He’s done teshuvah and has not committed even one aveirah ever since.[28] When he reveals himself, people will be surprised[29] that he is the Moshiach. In fact, Moshiach himself does not know that he is Moshiach and neither does his own soul. Moshiach will possess the power to be to discern the true essence of a person. It won’t be per one’s externals, such as a hat and beard; rather he will be able to sense by smell[30] if a person has holiness within him.[31] [32]

What’s the goal of Moshiach?

The Rambam[33] says, “Moshiach will correct the entire world to worship G-d together, as it says, ‘For then I [G-d] will turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Hashem, to serve Him with one consent.’”[34]

Today, more than ever, our nation faces trouble after trouble. Is there ANYTHING can we avert more troubles from OCCURRING?

The Chofeitz Chayim answers:

“All the many troubles that have fallen upon us, from which we have still not been saved, are because we don’t scream and increase our prayers in response to them. If we had prayed (properly), we would not have returned empty-handed. And it is not enough that (one) prays the Shemoneh Esrei prayer three times each day; several times daily he must pour out his requests in solitude, in his house, from the depths of his heart. The three regular prayers are so routine that one does not really concentrate during them – which is not the case if each person would contemplate in solitude his own plight... then he would pour out his heart like water to Hashem. Such a prayer would emerge with very deep intent with a broken heart and with great humility. Such a prayer will certainly not go unanswered…!”[35]

Therefore, just as Hashem listened to the groaning voices of Bnei Yisroel in Egypt, so will Hashem listen to our cries today. In the merit of that prayer and crying, Hashem will speedily bring the Redemption, as is written:[36] “Rav Yitzchak said that the salvation of Israel depends only on crying... as it is written:[37] ‘… with crying, they will come, and with lamentations, I will lead them.’”

Soo to, with the Creator’s help, in the merit of crying out to Him to redeem us, may He instantly[38] gather us out of the lands to which we were scattered[39] and bring us to the Land that our forefathers possessed.[40] For on that day Torah shall go forth from Tzion,[41] just like on the day it was received at Har Sinai and then the earth will be filled with knowledge of Hashem’s glory!!![42]