Our sages, may their memory be a blessing, had some pretty fascinating ideas about it. They taught us that the world as we know it exists for six thousand years, and then… well, then things get interesting. According to the Talmud in Sanhedrin (97b), the seventh millennium brings destruction, followed by God, blessed be He, renewing His world.

But what does that mean?

The Talmud (Sanhedrin 92a) offers a glimpse, saying that in this seventh millennium, the righteous… what do they do? God makes them sails, and they float upon the water. It's a beautiful image, isn’t it? It even echoes the prophet Isaiah (40:31): "And those who trust in haShem [the Name, referring to God] will renew their strength..."

So, let’s break this down. We have three distinct periods, right? Six thousand years of the world as we know it, the seventh millennium, and then the renewal of the world. For those first six thousand years, things are pretty much as they are now. But in the seventh millennium, even though the world hasn’t been fully renewed, the righteous experience something akin to the resurrection of the dead. God provides them with sails, allowing them to navigate this new reality.

Think of it this way: right now, the body is in control. It’s like a person residing in their own house, comfortable and in charge. This is its place. But in the seventh millennium, the righteous become elevated, lifted from the earth. The body remains, but it's… different. It’s like a person wandering from their place, a visitor diverted to sleep. It no longer has the same control.

It reminds me of Moshe (Moses), our teacher, may he rest in peace, ascending Mount Sinai. When he ascended from the earth, he no longer lived according to the ways of earthly beings.

Similarly, the sages called the seventh millennium “a day that is completely Sabbath for eternity” (Sanhedrin 97a). A Shabbat (Sabbath) where we rest from all physical, secular labor. The body still exists, but creation hasn't been fully renewed yet.

But what about after the renewal? What then?

Well, that's when things get really interesting. As it says in Eruvin (22a), "...tomorrow to receive their reward." After the renewal of the world, the body’s control is no longer needed. Its purpose, which was to serve in its time, is complete. Instead, its existence becomes subjugated to the soul, to be pampered with heavenly goodness forever and ever.

The body, which once held sway, now becomes a vessel for experiencing unimaginable bliss.

So, what does all of this tell us? Perhaps it's a reminder that our present reality, with all its struggles and limitations, is not the final word. There's a promise of something more, something beyond our current comprehension, a time when the righteous will navigate a new world with sails provided by God, and ultimately, a complete renewal where the soul reigns supreme. Food for thought, isn't it?