The Messiah At The Gates Of Rome

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi found Elijah standing at the entrance of the cave of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai. He said to him: When will the Messiah come? He said to him: Go and ask him himself. And where is he sitting? At the entrance of Rome. And what is his sign? He sits among the poor who bear illnesses, and all of them untie and rebind their bandages all at once, while he unties one and binds one. He says: Perhaps I will be needed, so that I do not delay. He went to him. He said to him: Peace be upon you, my teacher and my master! He said to him: Peace be upon you, son of Levi. He said to him: When are you coming, master? He said to him: Today. He came back to Elijah. He said to him: What did he say to you? He said to him: He said "Peace be upon you, son of Levi." He said to him: He assured you and your father a place in the World to Come. He said to him: He lied to me, for he said to me "Today I am coming," and he did not come. He said to him: This is what he said to you: "Today, if you will hearken to His voice" (Psalms 95:7).