The Messianic Era in Judaism: Peace, Abundance, and a Transformed World

According to the Talmud (Berachot 34b), in the days of Mashiach the world will continue to operate according to the laws of nature. There will be no dramatic miracles or unprecedented phenomena. The world will function as it always has: “there is nothing new under the sun.”

The Maharal’s Interpretation: A Transformed Creation

The Maharal of Prague explains, however, that even though the world will follow its natural order, there will still be a wondrous transformation. All of creation including mineral, plant, animal, human, and especially the Jewish people, will be elevated to a higher, purified state.

The purpose of this refinement will be to allow the Jewish people to dedicate themselves fully to Torah. There will be no wars, no hunger or shortage, abundance and goodness will overflow, and delicacies will be as common as dust. As the prophet Yeshayahu said: “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid” (Yeshayahu 11:6).

The Blessings of the Land of Israel

The sages also promised that in the Messianic era:

• “All barren trees in the Land of Israel will bear fruit.” (Ketubot 111b)

• “The Land of Israel will produce baked bread and fine garments.” (Commentary of Sforno on Bereishit 3:21)

• “Wheat will grow as tall as palm trees, standing atop the mountains. God will send a special wind to sift its fine flour, so a person will gather a handful in the field and have enough to feed his entire household.”

• “Each grain of wheat will be as large as the kidneys of a mighty ox.”

Rivers of Delight and Sweetness

Midrashic sources paint vivid pictures of abundance: “In the Messianic era, God will create rivers of wine, rivers of oil, rivers of honey, rivers of delicacies, rivers of sweets, and rivers of pure balsam. The mountains will drip with juice, and the hills will flow with honey and milk.”

Other texts describe an age of spiritual illumination: “In those days, no one will need sunlight by day or moonlight by night. The clouds themselves will shine. When they darken, people will know the sun has set; when they whiten, they will know the sun has risen. A person will look into a barrel or pot and see what is inside — because the cloud of the Divine Presence will dwell among them.”

The Yalkut Shimoni teaches that in that time, all the nations will come and beg to serve Israel. Each individual Israelite will be attended by 2,800 servants from the nations.

Awaiting the Days of the Messiah

Jewish tradition envisions the Messianic era as a time of peace, abundance, and divine closeness, when all of creation will be uplifted and transformed.

May we soon merit the days of Mashiach, to delight in the presence of God and to fulfill His will.