Rambam vs. Ramban: What Jewish Thinkers Teach About the Messianic Era

Maimonides (the Rambam) explains: “There is no difference between this world and the days of Mashiach except for the end of subjugation to foreign powers.” According to him, the central characteristic of the Messianic era will be that the Jewish people will no longer live under the rule of other nations. Life in this world will continue much as it always has, but with national freedom and independence.

Nachmanides (the Ramban) disagrees. He teaches that in the days of Mashiach there will be a profound transformation in the spiritual life of humanity, particularly regarding free will.

In that future time, the choice of good will be embedded in human nature itself, and the evil inclination will vanish. Humanity will return to the state of Adam before the sin — when goodness was inherent and there was no inner drive toward evil. People will act naturally in accordance with goodness, because no other desire will exist.

Torah Study and Revealed Secrets

The sources explain that during the Messianic era, anyone who opens the book of God’s Torah will discover within it the secrets of Creation and the mysteries of the Divine Chariot. Knowledge, wisdom, and truth will increase, and the single purpose of the world will be to know God.

As a result, the people of Israel will reach extraordinary levels of wisdom, grasping hidden matters and attaining deep understanding of their Creator. 

Resurrection of the Righteous

Rabbi Yaakov Ettlinger (Aruch LaNer) writes that in those days Moshe, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons will rise again to guide the people, just as they did during the Exodus from Egypt . Along with them, all the righteous of Israel who died in exile while awaiting redemption will awaken and rejoice .

This is the meaning of Daniel’s words: “Happy is the one who waits and reaches the days to come” (Daniel 12:12) .

Rambam on Universal Perfection

In Hilchot Teshuvah, Rambam teaches that the entire world will be perfected under the sovereignty of God . Even creation itself will rise to higher spiritual levels.

One Midrash even describes a symbolic image of this transformation: in the future, if a person tries to pick a fig on Shabbat, the fig itself will cry out: “Shabbat!” .

A World Filled with Spiritual Abundance

From these sacred sources, we see that the Messianic era is described as a time overflowing with spirituality. It will bring freedom, wisdom, and universal harmony — an age in which the deepest longings of humanity are fulfilled. May we merit to see it speedily in our days.