From the Vilna Gaons own Kol HaTor, the following revelations concerning this battle can be found.
Yosef is still alive. -- The independence of Mashiach ben Yosef is related
to three categories: a) the Mashiach ben Yosef from above is Metatron,
the Minister of Interior; as is known, Yosef is Metatron. Both of them are
from the light from above, and both are in the sefira Yesod, and active in
the war against Armilus (especially in the war of Gog and Magog). He is
helped by Seraiah ben Dan. b) In every generation one Mashiach ben
Yosef from below appears. He is a righteous person, a foundation of the
world, who because of his deeds and the root of his soul, merits acting
for the salvation of Israel, carrying out helpful deeds and glorifying the
Torah through his dedication. Thus he reaches to the high level of
Mashiach ben Yosef, which is 999 in the sefira Yesod.c) Mashiach ben
Yosef who is present in every house of Israel in general, according to
what is revealed by the words “remnant of Yosef” which was said about
all of Israel in general and regarding every man of Israel in particular.
Mashiach ben Yosef resides within the 999 sparks of many a soul in
Israel, in those who merit carrying out deeds that promote the
ingathering of exiles, etc. Whoever merits, on the basis of his deeds as
well as the merits of his forefathers, carrying out deeds that are
characteristic of Mashiach ben Yosef, is considered a spark from the
root of the soul of Mashiach ben Yosef -- each according to the level of
his deeds.
21. Yosef is still alive. All three Hebrew words are from the sefira Yesod.The
first word od’ is in the sefira of Hod, on the left side line. ‘Yosef’ is from
the sefira Yesod of the middle line. ‘Chai’ is from Nezach of Yesod on
the right side line.
22. Yosef is still alive. The light of Mashiach ben Yosef has three levels: a)
Mashiach ben Yosef from the land, in line with Yosef, son of Rachel,
from the aspect of recipient. b) Mashiach ben Yosef from Heaven in line
with Yosef son of Jacob, from the aspect of one who gives and
influences. c) Mashiach ben Yosef from both Heaven and Earth,
revealed in the words “even all in the Heavens and Earth.” is in the sefira
Yesod. In gematria “all in the Heavens and Earth” equals Mashiach ben
Efraim” [741]. Likewise the value of “horn of salvation, ” is 741 in
gematria, and, according to the Gaon, this refers to Mashiach ben
Efraim. Every act of ransom and saving by Mashiach ben Yosef is aided
by Mashiach ben David in line with the incident in which Judah saved
Joseph. According to what is written: “What profit is it if we sell our
brother and cover up his blood?” etc. By saving Yosef, Judah merited
being the one from whom the kingdom of David descended.
23. Yosef is still alive. Our forefathers and many of the Prophets of God,
kings of Israel, and many of the Tannaim and Amoraim, many of the
great men of Israel and the men of deeds in every generation were in the
line of Mashiach ben Yosef. The first one was our forefather Abraham,
as revealed in the words, “whereby will I know that I will inherit it?” As
known, wherever the term inheritance’ is used in connection with Eretz
Israel, it is in the line of Mashiach ben Yosef.This is hinted at in the word
“I will inherit” which in gematria equals Mashiach ben Yosef [566]. Our
forefather Abraham started the beginning of the first Redemption, that is
the redemption of the holiness from below, which is the land of the Land
of Israel [Eretz Israel]. Our forefather Isaac was in the line of the
Mashiach ben Yosef from the time he was bound as a sacrifice. His
name even hints at " end of life. Our forefather Jacob was in the line of
Mashiach ben Yosef from the time he fought the Angel of Esau, after
which it says, “Jacob came to Shalem.” Shalem, to Succoth. Judah was
in the same line, from the time he saved Yosef; Yosef, from the time of
his first dream; Moshe Rebbeinu, from the time he took along the bones
of Yosef. Joshua son of Nun was the first who fought in the battle of the
Lord against Amalek. Both Saul and David fought in the war of the Lord.
And it is known that every war of the Lord is considered to be in the line
of Mashiach ben Yosef, etc., etc. During recent generations, the Holy Ari
and his special student, the holy and pure R. Chaim Vital, and the Holy
Rabbi, author of Or Hachaim were also in the line of Mashiach ben Yosef
as is known. And in the last generation, it was the Gaon, our Rabbi,
Rabbi Eliyahu, light of Mashiach ben Yosef whose light goes before us,
and whose light increases until the day will be established. A few of his
students, who fulfilled his commandment regarding the vision of Zion to
accept and be inspired with his spirit and his great light, are also in the
line of Mashiach ben Yosef.
Yosef is still alive. A righteous person lives by his faith. Together with
all our activities connected with the mission of Mashiach ben Yosef, we
are commanded and it is incumbent upon us to pray a great deal for the
life and success of Mashiach ben Yosef. Our entire existence is revealed
by the words “remnant of Yosef, ” through whom the ingathering of
exiles will be accomplished. This refers to the Mashiach ben Yosef from
below who is present in every generation. We must pray that he not be
killed by the wicked Armilus, that he should not die before he carries out
completely his holy mission, that he should be able to stand up against
Armilus who seeks to cause him to fail in all his ways; that he should
maintain his faith in his great and holy mission until his last day. This is
what is meant by, “a righteous person lives by his faith, ” referring to
Mashiach ben Yosef from above--that his light should not go out, the
light that connects the middle column of the [the Shechina] with our
Father in Heaven which is the center bolt that connects Yesod and
Malchut as well as Yesod to Tiferet in the middle line, the line of
Compassion. King David, of blessed memory, prayed many prayers on
behalf of Mashiach ben Yosef, that he should not die, but Israel’s poverty
should help annul the decree against Mashiach ben Yosef, as revealed
by the words, “I was brought low, and He saved me” which is one of the
prayers that King David, of blessed memory, prayed on behalf of
Mashiach ben Yosef, as explained by the Gaon. We are especially
obligated to pray as follows (the English translation follows the Hebrew
paragraph):