Ikveta d’Mashicha’,

‘Ikveta d’Mashicha’, that is the period of transition, from exile to redemption.

http://dreamingofmoshiach.blogspot.com/2007/04/generation-of-moshiach.html

One major characteristic of the End of Days is, the Jewish people’s lack of belief in G-d. Rambam, in Iggeret Teiman, writes, “Our sources have already revealed to us, that toward the end of the exile, as a result of our suffering, many Jews will come to doubt G-d, be led astray from the Torah, and eventually abandon their religion.

And all this will be because, of our lowly position in the exile, and the elevated status of the non-Jews. But a few will still remain loyal, and not become confused.”

1. Many verses affirm, that before the redemption, the Jews will err after various forms ‘idol worship’, changing their allegiance from one to another. Indeed, during the last hundred years, most Jews have abandoned G-d, transferring their allegiance from one “ism” to another; to which they literally sacrificed their blood, children and money. German Enlightenment, Liberalism, Democracy, Socialism, Communism – yet each of these idols betrayed them.

The Jews’ belief in Nationalism and Socialism, caused their own downfall, through National Socialism.

2. The second major characteristic, is a lack of commitment to Mitzvot. Many sources portend, that in the End of Days, most Jews will despise the Torah, the Mitzvot, and those Jews who observe them.

Ramban confirms this and writes, that in the End of Days, the majority of Jews will have forgotten the Torah, and will therefore transgress most of the Mitzvot.

He notes one exception: brit mila. This is based on the verse, “With the blood of your covenant I have freed your prisoners, from a pit [exile], in which there was no water [Torah]” (Zacharia 9:11).
Interestingly, most non-observant Jews today inexplicably, continue the covenant.

During the last stage of exile, before returning to the Land of Israel, the Jews will be persecuted by the descendents of Esav, the European nations.During that period, secularism will undermine the foundations of Torah. Jewish children will cease to learn Torah, in favor of secular studies; and wealthy Jews will cease to support Torah, in favor of secular philanthropies.

In either case, this blow to the thigh of Jacob, will shake the supporting pillar of Israel.

The descendants of the mixed multitude, who defy G-d, and deny the Torah, will stand at the head of the people; particularly upon the Jewish people’s return to the Land of Israel after the long exile. The Jewish masses will be lured to follow after the mixed multitude, and be deluded into forsaking G-d and the Torah.

The observant Jews and Torah scholars, will be put at the very end.
They will be considered by the others, to be the lowest part of the Jewish people, rejected and despised.Other sources add, that once the Jews return to their land, they will be greatly distressed by the descendants of Ishmael (Zohar, Vaera p. 32a).

Eventually, an extremely numerous and powerful people of the descendants of Esav, after having overrun the rest of the middle east, will invade the Land of Israel from the North (Daniel 11,12; Yechezkel 39). This will initiate the cataclysmic war of Armageddon; a conflict whose resolution will ultimately result, in the victory of Moshiach, and the final Redemption. ____________

Moshiach will be revealed, when people will be both healthy and brilliant; and so scientifically and technologically advanced, that they will have the power to destroy the world.However, the vast majority will be in desperate need of spiritual and moral instruction. They will he shameless and arrogant, and truthfulness will all but disappear.

The wickedness of the times, will have its effect upon children, who will act brazenly and disrespectfully towards elders; including their parents and parents-in-law.

The exemplary behavior of sin-fearing individuals, who will try to serve G-d, will not be followed; but rather, they will be scorned and despised.Wars, disharmony, and social discord, will be the order of the day, to such an extent, that one will have enemies in his own family. The government of Israel will also be a victim of society, and will turn to heresy. And as if this is not bad enough, no one will rebuke them.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise, that the spiritual decay of that generation, caused it long ago to be compared to the face of a dog. So low will it be, that just as the wicked ways of the people living at the time of Noah brought upon them the flood, so also according to the Divine Attribute of Justice; the generation that will see Moshiach should rightly be destroyed.

However, G-d will have mercy upon them, and He will instruct Moshiach to reveal himself, so as to prepare deserving people, for their eternal existence on earth. This will happen immediately, following a time, when the Jewish Nation as a whole will spontaneously repent, and return to G-d and His Torah.If they do not repent voluntarily, G-d will cause an evil ruler to arise over them, whose harsh decrees will force them to do so. ___________

Considering all of the above, it is safe to assume, that we are the people being described. But there is still further evidence.There is another most terrifying prophecy that is also to take place, immediately before the revelation of Moshiach, and that is the war of Gog and Magog.

There are authorities who said, that this battle will not happen in the literal sense, but if its description is to be taken literally, then we could shortly expect all the nations to attack Jerusalem, only to find themselves fighting against G-d. The result will be, that it will take seven months for the Jews to bury the enemy dead, just around Israel's borders.