The Arrival of the Messiah: What Opportunity Will Never Return?

There are two words that often send shivers down people's spines: the arrival of the Messiah. For some, the feeling stems from excitement and awe, for others, it's fear and hesitation.

One of the thirteen principles of faith in Judaism is to believe in the coming of the Messiah and to await his arrival — "I believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may delay, I will await his coming every day." But how can one await something they fear?

In the 'Az Nidberu' bulletin, Rabbi Shmuel Pollak addresses this concern, which is common even among those who observe the Torah and mitzvot: "In these sensitive and volatile times, someone approached me quietly and said, 'There's something that stresses me out even more than war... the Messiah. The Messiah frightens me,' and he's not the first or second to express this fear. So, how can we anticipate something that scares us?"

Rabbi Pollak explains the reasons for fearing the Messiah, starting with how each of us has spiritual failures, weaknesses in serving Hashem, and things we don't do correctly. When the Messiah comes, we won't be able to hide behind excuses; he will know the spiritual standing of each person.

The sages explain that the Messiah will be endowed with divine spirit and will know a person's deeds without needing to see or hear them, but through his divine insight. The Radak notes: "He will understand good and bad people without needing sight or hearing, as through his knowledge he will perceive their actions with little contemplation," and the 'Yad Ramah' adds: "He discerns true matters through divine spirit and judges not by claims or testimony, but knows who is innocent and guilty."

Rabbi Shmuel Pollak responds in his article: "Ultimately, Hashem is the creator of the world, and if He says that when the Messiah comes, it will be good, then it means it will be as wonderful as imaginable. Today, in our world, things can be good but painful; after the arrival of the Messiah, it will be perfectly good. We must have faith in the Creator's promise of goodness.

"Let's address one primary reason for the hesitation about the Messiah. Even elevated individuals who serve Hashem feel this reluctance because we all understand that when the Messiah arrives, a door will close forever. There will be missed opportunities. The realization that the time for accumulating spiritual growth and mitzvot has ended is stressful.

"Some will miss opportunities, which will be painful and sad, and I have nothing more to say. But those who have already awakened to repentance, understand the need to live faithfully to Hashem and observe mitzvot, are still anxious because they realize there's always more to gather and improve, and after the Messiah arrives, the gate closes to further spiritual levels.

"Here I want to add some important disclaimers. The Maharal explains that the 'opportunity' fully ends in the world to come. The concept "days without desire" refers only to the afterlife, paradise on earth when indeed due debts will be settled, and those who missed out will miss. This is also true for those who pass away and leave this world. Even if Hashem rejoices at receiving the soul of the righteous, ultimately the door closes, something ends, it's an opportunity not to return. This is said about the day of passing and the world to come.

"However, in the days of the Messiah, the world will still function normally, as Hashem wishes to continue granting merit to Israel by multiplying Torah and mitzvot, meaning there will still be a chance to accumulate merits, but it will differ from what we could do prior to the Messiah's arrival."

Rabbi Pollak continues to explain that in the days of the Messiah, once Hashem's reign is revealed, deciding to strengthen one's spirituality will not be as meaningful as before the Messiah's arrival amidst free choice and obscurity. Significant steps of strengthening and returning to faith can only be made pre-Messiah.

"Indeed, knowledge of Hashem will fill the land as water fills the sea, and everyone will know Hashem as their creator, keeping one's eyes pure will be less challenging, and engaging in Torah study won't require as much self-discipline as now. So what will remain? The Maharal says that in the days of the Messiah, one can continue accumulating merit but only based on existing achievements. New creations won't arise, but progress will continue from what was built. As an analogy, imagine a housing market freeze, and from now on, buying new properties isn't allowed. Those who already own property continue to earn rental income, but new ventures won't be possible.

"Currently, one can still make new spiritual investments, build projects, and generate new Torah and good deeds, but once the Messiah arrives, there will be a freeze on new creations. Progress is possible but only from existing achievements.

Rabbi Zamir Cohen likens this to a pita production machine. One person with a home machine makes three pitas an hour, while another invests effort and resources to build a factory producing 100,000 pitas an hour. After the Messiah comes, everyone will continue with the tools they crafted during their life until that moment. The former works at a slower pace, the latter faster. Our commitment to Hashem and efforts in spiritual growth now determine our future spiritual levels post-Messiah.

Imagine different spiritual graphs. One person's spiritual progress line is gentle, while another's is steep; both will continue progressing along their trajectory after the Messiah arrives. One makes slow and limited progress in spiritual growth, whereas the other invests time and effort in strengthening Torah observance and character refinement. The same graph of spiritual achievement and effort follows them into the Messiah's era.

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Rabbi Pollak explains: "You cannot start gathering new momentum, as this creates a new foundation. But the account of merits, mitzvot, and improvements remains active, adapted to the foundation, pace, and level achieved so far.

"A person's level in serving Hashem is measured by one's readiness to show loyalty, to be united with Hashem, and willing to follow Him wholeheartedly. When the Israelites left Egypt, what 'check' did they use to secure Hashem's love? It was the willingness, the willingness to follow Hashem into the wilderness of an unplanted land. This is what is required now, the readiness to be loyal to Hashem to the end. This is what is necessary for the Messiah."

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