Jewish tradition has a lot to say about that, and some of the most intriguing glimpses into the future come from a text called Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer.
This isn't your typical biblical narrative. Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer is a fascinating, almost dreamlike, retelling of biblical history, filled with legends and interpretations you won’t find anywhere else. It’s from this unique perspective that we get a glimpse of what's to come. Here, the narrative speaks of kings – not just earthly rulers, but figures representing stages in the unfolding of history itself.
Our text focuses on the ninth and tenth kings. The ninth, we’re told, is none other than King Messiah.
Now, the concept of Messiah can be interpreted in many ways, but here, the text paints a picture of universal dominion. He will rule "from one end of the world to the other," as Psalm 72:8 tells us: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea." It's a powerful image of a leader whose influence and justice will encompass the entire globe.
Think of that image for a moment. A world united under a just and righteous ruler. It's a powerful vision, isn't it?
The text goes on, connecting this Messianic reign to a verse from Daniel 2:35: "And the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." This stone, often interpreted as representing the Jewish people or the Messianic kingdom, starts small but grows to encompass everything. It's a symbol of transformation, of something seemingly insignificant becoming the dominant force for good in the world.
But what happens after the Messiah's reign? That's where the tenth king comes in.
The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer says something truly remarkable about this final ruler: he will restore the sovereignty to its owners. In other words, he will return the kingship to its source, to the ultimate authority. It's a moment of profound humility and recognition. The text even equates this tenth king with the first, drawing on Isaiah 44:6: "Thus saith the Lord, the King… I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." The beginning and the end meet.
This idea of a cyclical return resonates deeply. It suggests that history, at its highest point, acknowledges its origins and submits to the ultimate power. As Zechariah 14:9 proclaims, "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth." Not just a king, but the King.
So, what does it all mean? Is this a literal prophecy of future kings? Or is it a symbolic representation of the stages of history and the ultimate triumph of divine sovereignty? Perhaps it’s both.
Maybe the Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer is inviting us to imagine a future where justice and righteousness prevail, where leadership is guided by humility and a recognition of a higher power. It's a future worth striving for, isn't it? A future where the circle is finally complete, and the first is truly the last.