What Awaits Us in the Age of the Messiah?

The Rambam explains that "the only difference between this world and the days of the Messiah is the subjugation to other kingdoms." In other words, the main feature of these days will be Israel's rest from subjugation to foreign powers.

In contrast, the Ramban believes that in the age of the Messiah, there will be a fundamental shift in people's spiritual lives, particularly regarding free will. During these days, the choice for good will be ingrained in human nature, and the evil inclination will be nullified. People will return to the state of Adam before the sin, when goodness was innate, and there was no desire or inclination to do evil. Humans will naturally do only good, as they will want nothing else.

In the age of the Messiah, anyone who opens the Book of God's Torah will discover the secrets of Creation and of the Chariot. At that time, knowledge, wisdom, and truth will increase;^[1] and the desire and goal of the world will be solely to know Hashem. Thus, the people of Israel will become great scholars, knowing hidden matters and attaining knowledge of their Creator.^[2]

According to the "Aruch LaNer," in those days, Moses, Aaron, and his sons will rise to teach the people the way to go, as they did when leaving Egypt,^[3] and with them will awaken and sing all the righteous of Israel who died in exile waiting for salvation,^[4] as Daniel said, "Blessed is he who waits and reaches the days."^[5]

The Rambam, in "Hilchot Teshuva," writes that not only Israel but the entire world will be rectified under the Kingdom of Heaven,^[6] and even the entire creation will ascend to spiritual levels. It is said that in the future, when someone tries to pick a fig on Shabbat, the fig will cry out, 'Shabbat'.^[7]

According to the holy sources, it appears that in the age of the Messiah, the world will experience an abundance of spirituality. May we merit to see it speedily in our days.