Forcing The End

"Kings shall see and arise, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves" (Isaiah 49:7)? Rabbi Eliezer said to him: But has it not already been said, "If you return, O Israel, says the LORD, return to Me" (Jeremiah 4:1)? Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: But has it not already been said, "And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things shall be finished" (Daniel 12:7)? And Rabbi Eliezer was silent. And Rabbi Abba said: There is no more revealed end than this, as it is said: "But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel" (Ezekiel 36:8). Rabbi Eliezer says: Also from this, as it is said: "For before those days there was no wage for man, nor was there any wage for beast; and to him who went out or came in there was no peace because of the enemy" (Zechariah 8:10). What is "to him who went out or came in there was no peace because of the enemy"? Rav said: Even Torah scholars, of whom peace is written, as it is written "Great peace have they who love Your Torah" (Psalms 119:165), have no peace because of the enemy. And Shmuel said: Until all the prices are equal. Rabbi Hanina said: The son of David will not come until even a small fish is sought for a sick person and is not found, as it is said: "Then I will make their waters settle and cause their rivers to run like oil" (Ezekiel 32:14), and it is written afterward: "On that day I will cause a horn to spring forth for the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 29:21). Rabbi Hama bar Hanina said: The son of David will not come until the contemptible kingdom comes to an end from Israel, as it is said: "And He shall cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks" (Isaiah 18:5), and it is written afterward: "At that time a gift shall be brought to the LORD of hosts from a people tall and smooth" (Isaiah 18:7). Ze'eiri said that Rabbi Hanina said: The son of David will not come until the haughty of spirit cease from Israel, as it is said: "For then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones" (Zephaniah 3:11), and it is written: "And I will leave in your midst a people humble and lowly, and they shall take refuge in the name of the LORD" (Zephaniah 3:12). Rabbi Simlai said in the name of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon: The son of David will not come until all the judges and officers cease from Israel, as it is said: "And I will turn My hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye... and I will restore your judges" (Isaiah 1:25-26). Ulla said: Jerusalem will be redeemed only through righteousness, as it is said: "Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent by righteousness" (Isaiah 1:27). Rav Pappa said: If the arrogant cease, the Magi cease; if the judges cease, the petty officers cease. If the arrogant cease, the Magi cease, as it is written: "And I will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy" (Isaiah 1:25). And if the judges cease, the petty officers cease, as it is written: "The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, He has cleared away your enemies" (Zephaniah 3:15). Rabbi Yohanan said: If you see a generation that is steadily dwindling, wait for him, as it is said: "And the afflicted people You will save" (2 Samuel 22:28). Rabbi Yohanan said: If you see a generation upon which many troubles come like a river, wait for him, as it is said: "When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19), and adjacent to it: "And a redeemer shall come to Zion" (Isaiah 59:20). And Rabbi Yohanan said: The son of David will come only in a generation that is entirely righteous or entirely guilty. In a generation that is entirely righteous, as it is written: "And your people shall all be righteous, they shall inherit the land forever" (Isaiah 60:21). In a generation that is entirely guilty, as it is written: "And He saw that there was no man and was appalled that there was no one to intercede" (Isaiah 59:16), and it is written: "For My own sake I will act" (Isaiah 48:11). Rabbi Alexandri said: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi pointed out a contradiction: it is written "in its time" and it is written "I will hasten it" (Isaiah 60:22). If they merit, I will hasten it; if they do not merit, it will be in its time. Rabbi Alexandri said: Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi pointed out a contradiction: it is written "Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man" (Daniel 7:13), and it is written "humble and riding on a donkey" (Zechariah 9:9). If they merit, "with the clouds of heaven"; if they do not merit, "humble and riding on a donkey." King Shapur said to Shmuel: You say the Messiah will come on a donkey? Let me send him the dappled horse that I have! He said to him: Do you have a horse of a thousand colors? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi found Elijah, who was standing at the entrance of the cave of Rabbi Shimon ben Yohai. He said to him: Will I come to the world to come? He said to him: If this Master wishes. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: I saw two, and I heard the voice of three. He said to him: When will the Messiah come? He said to him: Go, ask him himself. And where does he sit? At the entrance of Rome. And what is his sign? He sits among the poor who suffer illnesses; and all of them untie and bind their bandages all at once, but he unties one and binds one. He said: Perhaps I will be needed, that I not be delayed. He went to him. He said to him: Peace be upon you, my master and teacher! He said to him: Peace be upon you, son of Levi. He said to him: When will the Master come? He said to him: Today. He came to Elijah. He said to him: What did he say to you? He said to him: Peace be upon you, son of Levi. He said to him: He assured you and your father of the world to come. He said to him: He spoke falsely to me, for he said to me, "Today I will come," 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). His disciples asked Rabbi Yose ben Kisma: When will the son of David come? He said: I am afraid that you will ask me for a sign. They said to him: We are not asking you for a sign. He said to them: When this gate falls and is rebuilt, and falls and is rebuilt, and falls, and they do not manage to rebuild it before the son of David comes. They said to him: Our master, give us a sign! He said to them: But did you not say to me that you are not asking me for a sign? They said to him: Even so. He said to them: If so, let the waters of the cave of Pamyas turn into blood. And they turned into blood. At the time of his passing, he said to them: Make my coffin deep for me,