Another Sign of the End

בס"ד

Many years ago I read the end of Isaiah, chapter 66 and believed that this truly is the prophecy to wait for. When this happens, we are there. It is interesting that this prophecy is read as the Haftarah when Rosh Chodesh occurs on Shabbos. For years I have paid special attention to every Rosh Chodesh that fell on a Shabbos, asking: is this the month that the prophecy is to be fulfilled? Of course there was always something lacking in world events that let me know that we weren’t there yet.

Then came this past Shabbos and, needless to say, the month of Elul 5775 is looking absolutely like we are there. First, read the commentary from the Artscroll Chumash which gives an excellent summary of the Haftarah:

Haftaras Shabbas Rosh Chodesh – Isaiah 66:1-24
This chapter is the last one in the stirring Book of Isaiah. It was chosen as the Haftarah of the Sabbath Rosh Chodesh because its penultimate verse (which is repeated after the chapter is concluded) speaks of the homage that will be paid to G-d on every Sabbath and Rosh Chodesh.

The chapter gives hope and comfort to the Jewish people, as Isaiah foresees the ultimate downfall of the nations that will do battle against one another and against Israel in the climactic War of Gog and Magog, the war that will precede the final redemption. Isaiah speaks of the defeat of the nations and the universal recognition of the greatness of G-d and His people. But there are stern lessons for Israel, as well.

The chapter begins by declaring that all the world is but G-d's throne and His footstool. Can anyone think that the Jewish people can build a Temple that will encompass His Glory? Surely the purpose of the Temple is not to honor G-d - Who is above any honor we can render Him - but to serve as our vehicle to elevate ourselves. People who seek to appease G-d with insincere, meaningless service are considered like those who kill and maim people, and who offer unclean animals and contaminated blood upon His Altar. And they do so consciously, having chosen this form of blasphemous service.  G-d will respond in kind, punishing those who ill-serve Him. But that will not be the end. Those who are loyal to G-d will be acknowledged and rewarded in a miraculous manner. The rebirth of Israel will be as astounding as that of a nation being born in a single day, without even labor pains. If   G-d decides to give new life to His people, can it be otherwise?

Thus, all who have been loyal to Jerusalem and mourned her will rejoice with her. Blessings will flow to them in torrents, but their enemies will suffer ignominious defeat, as G-d pours out His wrath upon them. The survivors will bring word of His greatness to the furthest corners of the world, and in the process they will bring back the straggling Jews who seemed to have been irretrievably lost in the long, hard exile.

Then all will come to the rebuilt Temple - the eternal Temple - to prostrate themselves in devout and loyal service to G-d. History will have reached its goal and those who were loyal to G-d will be vindicated.

If you read the commentary carefully, you would agree that all that is happening in the world is pointing to the conclusions that Hashem is telling us through His servant Isaiah. If you have been paying attention to the many messages we have received from the Rabbanim, the Mekubalim, the Facilitated Communications individuals as well as the obvious fulfillment of the prophecies of scriptures, you should be as excited as I about the time we are in and what is obviously imminent.

It is extremely appropriate that this Elul should be the month to have a Rosh Chodesh on Shabbos. This is the last month of the Shemitah cycle; in fact the end to the ten Shemitah cycles that were predicted to occur before Moshiach is introduced. This is the month that we try to evaluate our lives as we go into the time of judgement starting with Rosh Hashanah, probably the final judgement for our personal Tikun. This is the month that we recite Selichos, prayers asking for forgiveness for not properly following Hashem’s ways. With the above pointing to the last Elul before Geula, this is the month that we must do the very best Teshuvah, Tefillah, Tzedukah, Limud HaTorah, Avahas Yisroel, etc that we ever did in our entire lives (that is including all our previous lives). Consider this month our final testing in this life. Treat it as though your entire future and the future of your loved ones, forever and ever, depend on it. It is that serious a month and any hardship that is happening in the world, as we are seeing every day, should not harm you. Please, please go into Rosh Hashanah and the holidays with complete success, after getting the most out of the month of Elul – you will be so happy you did.

Note: I received a comment on my post yesterday that mentioned that he believes we are close, but he is not sure if it is as close as Hashem is telling us. I worded it that way (he didn’t) because he is not aware that the skepticism is the opposite of emunah. The system in this world that Hashem gave us is that everything happens according to us and how much we turn to Hashem. Hashem does not decide anything – He only has a final goal of Tikun HaOlam, perfecting the world. Why has it taken so long for Moshiach to come? As long as there are people who say “I am not sure if it is going to happen yet,” Hashem answers with: “If you are still wanting to wait and don’t believe My messages that it is NOW, you will wait.” But there is still so much skepticism, why do I know that it is now? Hashem told us!!!! He said we will have Geula earlier, if we are deserving, or in its time, if we are not. The good news is “we are not deserving; therefore, it is, according to Hashem and everything He told us in scriptures, IT IS TIME, THE END, GEULA, MOSHIACH, THE END OF EVIL, THE END OF HATRED, THE END OF SKEPTICISM!!!!!!!! If you don’t believe Hashem’s myriad of messages, consider yourself a total loser who is throwing it all away. We study Torah to understand the system that Hashem gave us; and, we live Torah to benefit from that system. Don’t blow it, when it is all about to pay off, big time.