The Time of the Messiah’s Arrival

The school of Eliyahu taught: Six thousand years is the duration of the world—two thousand of chaos, two thousand of Torah, and two thousand of the days of the Messiah. But due to the multitude of our sins, the years that have been taken away from them have been taken away.

Elijah said to R. Judah, brother of R. Sala Ḥasida, “The world will exist for no fewer than eighty-five Jubilee cycles [4,250 years]. And during the final Jubilee, the son of David will come.” R. Judah said to Elijah, “At the beginning of the Jubilee or at its end?” He said to him, “I do not know.” R. Judah asked, “Is it over already or not yet over?” He said to him, “I do not know.” R. Ashi said: This is what Elijah said to him: ‘Until that time do not expect his arrival; from that point forward expect his arrival.’”

R. Ḥanan bar Taḥlifa sent a message to R. Joseph: I found a man who had in his hand a scroll written in Ashurit script and in the sacred tongue. I said to him, “Where did you get this?” He said to me, “I was hired to serve in the Roman army, and I found the scroll among the Roman archives. And it is written in the scroll: ‘After 4,291 years have elapsed since the creation of the world, the world will end. During those years, there will be the wars of the sea monsters and wars of Gog and Magog, and the remaining years will be the days of the Messiah. And the Holy One will renew His world only after the passage of seven thousand years.’” R. Aḥa son of Rava said: It was stated [in the scroll], “After the passage of five thousand years.”

It was taught [in a baraita] that R. Nathan says: This verse penetrates and descends to the depths: For the vision is yet for the appointed time; and it declares of the end, and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come; it will not delay (Habakkuk 2:3). This is not in accordance with the opinion of our rabbis, who expounded: For a period and periods and a half period (Daniel 7:25). And it is not in accordance with R. Simlai, who expounded: You have fed them tears as their daily bread, made them drink great measure (Psalm 80:6, NJPS). And it is not in accordance with the opinion of R. Akiva, who expounded: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth (Haggai 2:6). Rather, the first kingdom ruled seventy years, the second kingdom ruled fifty-two years, and the kingdom of Bar Kosiba [Bar Kokhba] was two and a half years.

What is the meaning of: And it declares of the end, and does not lie (Habakkuk 2:3)? R. Samuel bar Naḥmani says that R. Jonathan says: May those who calculate the end of days be cursed, for they would say: Since the calculated time arrived and he did not come, he will no longer come. Instead, wait for his coming, as it is said: Though it tarry, wait for it (ibid.). Lest you say: We are waiting but He is not! Scripture teaches to the contrary: And therefore will the Lord wait, to be gracious to you; and therefore will He be exalted, to have mercy upon you (Isaiah 30:18). But since we are waiting and He is waiting, what is preventing it? Justice is preventing it. But if Justice is preventing, why should we be waiting? In order to receive reward, as it is said [in the conclusion of the previously cited verse]: Happy are all they who wait for Him.

Abaye said: The world has no fewer than thirty-six righteous people in each generation who greet the divine presence, as it is said: Happy are all they who wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18). The numerological value of “for him” is thirty-six.