The Messianic Age: The Completion of the Palace the Second Goal
THE MESSIANIC AGE: THE COMPLETION OF THE PALACE
THE SECOND GOAL
In the last few chapters we have been discussing the mission of the soul in this world. Its goal is to struggle with the material world and the obstacles that are posed by our bodily existence. Ultimately, the soul reaches a higher level than it was at before it “descended” into this world. Moreover, the soul realizes its full potential. If things do not work out, there are remedies. Gehinom (Hell) and other forms of painful spiritual experiences are a cathartic process that rids the soul of its grease and grime.
In certain cases, the soul must descend once more (or several times) to make up for what it had lost, and thereby allow the soul to reach its state of perfection.
Our discussion thus far, has centered itself on the purpose of existence from the vantage point of the soul. From that vantage point, if it were the only one, we would have to explain all of Jewish beliefs in terms of how the soul reaches its ultimate goal.
Indeed, this seems to be the view of Maimonides, the great Jewish philosopher, Talmudist and leader. In his Mishneh Torah as well as in his other works he devotes much attention to the notion that the Messianic Age and the Resurrection of the Dead, are all stages in the development of the world that enable the soul to mature and grow.
Everything, according to Maimonides revolves around the soul All of creation, in his opinion, was put here to serve the person whose soul and spiritual life – i.e., a life of Torah and Mitzvot – is his primary concern.
And all such people, whose pursuits are Torah oriented during the period of exile and hardship, will either merit the Messianic Age when it will be possible for them to study Torah and observe the Mitzvot undeterred and unimpeded, or will be resurrected in the future. Either way, they will be given the opportunity to excel in the pursuits of the soul, because life in the Messianic Era will be so complete that it will ensure that Torah study and Mitzvot observance will be on the highest level possible. That, in turn, will provide them with the means to realize the highest state of bliss in the Afterlife, when the soul will finally leave this physical world for good.
In Maimonides’ view, all of physical existence is secondary to the spiritual existence of the soul. .
This is not the view of the Kabbalists. From the perspective of Jewish mystical thought, there is another way of viewing the ultimate purpose of existence. This is to view existence from the vantage point of the body and the physical world. This does not mean that the soul is unimportant or that the soul does not enjoy the greatest spiritual bliss I the end. What it does suggest, however, is that the ultimate goal is not for the soul to grow, but that it is for the world – body and material existence – to change and be transformed. The soul, by virtue of being the catalyst in this process, will not only not suffer, but also be given the opportunity to reach its own state of perfection.
Thus, the Kabbalists are of the opinion that the ultimate reward will be for the co-existence of the soul within the body. And this will occur in the future when the dead are brought back to life. This, state, they declare is the ultimate and final state of existence. We will discuss this in greater depth, G-d willing, in the next chapter.
Messianism: An Integral Part Of Creation
Every culture and ism has its own messianic agenda. Even the most diabolically evil forces such as Communism and even Nazism were messianic movements in their own perverse way. Evolution, is also a form of messianism, where the belief of constant changes and developments that ultimately produce a more advanced form of existence is at the very heart ant root of evolution. And, of course, all religions have their own versions of the messianic age of perfection and utopia..
The differences between one culture and another are in the way each perceives what is good and ideal, noble and blissful. One’s utopia can be the other’s hell. Another difference can be in the way one imagines how things will change; incrementally or abruptly. But, everyone who breathes is motivated to go one because in their mind and hearts there is a belief that the world is going to change for the better.
Belief in a messianic age is thus an integral part of humanity. One can posit that what makes people tick is the notion that their existence is an integral part of the universes inexorable movement and journey towards perfection.
Where does this messianic faith come from? Form the context of Jewish Mysticism it can be suggested that since G-d’s intention in creating the universe is to have the world develop to the point that it conforms to G-d’s plan, this G- dly intent is the spiritual DNA of the entire cosmos. Everything by virtue of it being part of the creation is endowed, consciously or subconsciously, with the drive towards the messianic goal.
Needless to say, this does not mean that every messianic movement is true or good, what it means that every messianic movement contains within it a kernel of truth. It is crucial that one goes to the source of truth – the Torah – for an understanding as to what constitutes the messianic ideal in all of its ramifications.
From the book Safe Kabbalah, Part Three: Journeys of the Soul by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
