The Day of Hashem.

[Saxon Marauder]

Or the Day of Wrath, what is it exactly? Christians have a very specific idea (i.e. Armageddon), but I've read that, contextually, the Day of Hashem is an event, or series of events, within history itself- when His presence is once more going to fill the entire world. This sequence of events involves a war, or wars, the appearance of the Messiah, and the judgment of Hashem upon the world's evil, and it's not "the end of the world" as the Christians envision it?

Are the basics right? I'm just curious what Jews believe about the latter days, since I think that we're living in them right now.

[muman613]

I have answered this before.

I think you are referring to the final redemption, also known as the final judgment day.

This time period we are in is known as the 'Birthpangs of Moshiach' meaning that we are close to the time when we hope that Moshiach will be sent in order to bring about the final redemption, known as Geulah, which involves the ingathering of the Jewish exiles.

When Moshiach is rising in power he will be confronted by the nations who rise to destroy the Jewish nation. This is called the War of Gog And MaGog. There are many interpretations of what exactly will transpire in this war, whether it is Ishmaelim or Edomites who are the nations which rise against us.

Needless to say that Moshiach is an awesome warrior and a king who leads the Jewish people into the Messianic era. This is a time when there will be no war, no famine, and no death in the world. This is the time which the messianic prophecies foretold. The nations of the world will all acknowledge that Hashem is the One G-d, the G-d of Israel, and the Creator of everything. The propechies say that the "Knowledge of Hashem will spread on the earth like waters of the sea"

The messianic age will last for One Thousand years and then we will enter the time known as the Ressurection of the Dead, called Techiat HaMatim. This is the time when all the souls will return to their bodies and will walk again.

Now for some sources:


http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/1108919/jewish/Gog-and-Magog.htm

The Battle of Gog and Magog
By Naftali Silberberg

The prophet Ezekiel (chapters 38-39) describes a climactic battle that will be instigated by Gog and/of Magog, and will be waged against Israel and G‑d. The defeat of Gog and Magog will precipitate the Messianic Redemption. It is difficult to dwell on this topic because it is so shrouded in mystery. We are uncertain as to the identity of Gog and Magog, whether Gog and Magog are the names of nations or individuals, whether this battle will be a physical or spiritual battle, and even whether it has already occurred or not.

Some say that Elijah will arrive before the war of Gog and Magog, while others say that he will arrive three days prior to the revelation of Moshiach.

According to tradition, the central personality in this war is Moshiach ben Yosef—Moshiach of the tribe of Joseph. Jewish tradition speaks of two redeemers, each one called Moshiach. Both are involved in ushering in the Messianic Era. They are Moshiach ben David and Moshiach ben Yosef. (The unqualified term "Moshiach," however, belongs exclusively to Moshiach ben David, the ultimate redeemer.)

Moshiach ben Yosef will be killed in the war against Gog and Magog. Again, it is unclear whether the death will be in physical battle, or as a result of the spiritual battles which he will wage against the forces of evil. Either way, the prophet Zechariah (12:10) describes the national mourning that will follow his death.

Apparently, though, the death of Moshiach ben Yosef is not inevitable. The master-kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as the Arizal, said that when saying in the Amidah the words, "speedily establish the throne of Your servant David," one should beseech G‑d that Moshiach ben Yosef should not die in the course of his struggles.

According to certain sources, Moshiach be Yosef will serve as Moshiach ben David's viceroy. Thus finally bringing to an end the schism between the northern Ten Tribes, which were ruled by Joseph's descendants, and the Kingdom of Judea, which was ruled by the Davidic dynasty.

Kabbalah discusses some very scary topics:

http://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380312/jewish/The-Final-Battle-with-Ishmael.htm

The Final Battle with Ishmael
By Pinchas Winston

The Midrash speaks of four exiles in advance of Mashiach's arrival and the Final Redemption: Babylonian, Median, Greek, and Roman (Bereishit Rabba 2:4). Yet the Zohar speaks of another aspect of exile at the End of Days:

...The descendents of Ishmael will go up at that time [End of Days] with the nations of the world against Jerusalem... (Zohar 1:119a)

There is a tradition that Ishmael will be the final extension of the Roman Exile. It will be with his descendants that the final generation of Jews before the redemption will have to contend. This is supported by the Midrash:

Israel will say to the king of the Arabs, "Take silver and gold and leave the Temple." The king of the Arabs will say, "You have nothing to do with this Temple. However, if you want, choose a sacrifice as you did in the past, and we will also offer a sacrifice, and with the one whose sacrifice is accepted, we will all become one people." The Jewish people will offer theirs, but it will not be accepted because the Satan will lay charges against them before The Holy One, Blessed is He. The descendents of Kedar will offer theirs, and it will be accepted.... At that time, the Arabs will say to Israel, "Come and believe in our faith," but Israel will answer, "We will kill or be killed, but we will not deny our belief!" At that time, swords will be drawn, bows will be strung and arrows will be sent, and many will fall... (Sefer Eliyahu, Pirkei Mashiach, p. 236)

Furthermore, says the Zohar:

[During the Resurrection of the Dead], many camps will arise in Land of the Galilee, because that is where Mashiach is going to be revealed, since it is part of Joseph's territory. It will be the first place to be destroyed. It will begin there ahead of all other places, and then spread to the nations... (Vayakhel 220a)

When the latest Intifadah began, one of the first places to be destroyed was the Tomb of Joseph. The barbaric destruction of this Jewish holy site caught the world's attention, though the damage could not be reversed.

On the prophecies of Zechariah:

http://www.ou.org/about/judaism/treiasar/zechariah.htm

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Zechariah pictures the dawning of the Messianic Age by an image that has found its place in the imagination of Israel for all the generations: "Be exceedingly happy O daughter of Zion, Shout for joy, daughter of Yerushalayim, 'Behold, your king is coming to you, he is just and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey,…' " (Zechariah 9:9).

And, after "Milchemet Gog U'Magog," the final confrontation preceding the time of the Mashiach, in which the enemies of Israel make one last effort to destroy her, and HaShem comes to her rescue, Zechariah contributes another image that has found its way into every prayer said by the Jewish people in which it expresses its yearning for the time of the Mashiach, the "Alenu." That prayer ends with the verse from Zechariah 14:9,

"And the L-rd shall become the King over all the earth;
On that day shall HaShem be One, and His Name be One."
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On the Messianic Era:

http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/1128725/jewish/The-Basics.htm

The Messianic Era—The Basics

Paving the Road to Redemption

"Behold I will send to you Elijah the Prophet before the arrival of the great and awesome day of G‑d"—the Prophet Malachi.

Elijah will appear in order to herald the coming of Moshiach, though there's much speculation as to precisely when he will appear. With his arrival, he will also serve several other important functions.

Click here for more about Elijah's arrival, his functions, and why he was chosen for this special mission.

The prophet Ezekiel describes a climactic war, the Battle of Gog and Magog, that will occur prior to the arrival of the Moshiach. This topic is shrouded in mystery: we are uncertain as to the identity of Gog and Magog, whether Gog and Magog are the names of nations or individuals, whether this battle will be a physical or spiritual battle, and even whether it has already occurred or not.

According to tradition, the central personality in this war is Moshiach ben Yosef—Moshiach of the tribe of Joseph, who will be killed in this battle.

Click here for more about Gog and Magog and Moshiach ben Yosef.

Ingathering of the Exiles and Settling in Israel

One of the most important aspects of the Redemption is the promise of the ingathering of the exiles from the Diaspora, with all Jews settling in their tribal portion of the Holy Land. We are assured that no Jew will be left behind—including the Ten "Lost Tribes." The rebuilt Holy Temple in Jerusalem will be the central focus of all humanity—as Isaiah says, "My home will be considered a 'House of Prayer' for all the nations."

Click here for more about the ingathering of the exiles and the apportionment of the Land of Israel.

Total Immersion in G‑dly Wisdom

The Messianic Era will be one of tremendous prosperity—"delicacies will be commonplace like dust." That will leave humankind with ample free time—and all the nations of the world will be preoccupied with one pursuit: the study of G‑d and the Torah. Moshiach will reveal profound hitherto unknown dimensions of the Torah. The Midrash goes as far as to say that "the Torah which we study in this world is naught in comparison to the Torah of Moshiach."

Furthermore, while our present-day knowledge of G‑d is limited to intellectual perception, when Moshiach will teach about G‑d, we will actually "see" what we are studying.

Click here for more about the Torah of the Messianic Era—its superior nature as well as the radically different way we will grasp the knowledge.

Resumption of Suspended Mitzvot

The mitzvot we do today pale in comparison to those we will perform when we will be returned to the Holy Land. And aside for the greater quality of the mitzvot we will perform then, quantitatively, too, we then will finally be capable of performing so many mitzvot which we are unable to do today. Also, with the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, we will resume the Temple service and all the mitzvot that it entails.

Click here for more on the mitzvot we will then once again be able to fulfill.

A Miraculous Era?

Moshiach will usher in an era of peace and prosperity which will benefit all of mankind. The prophets depicts the Messianic Era as a miraculous one, and the Midrash and Talmud are replete with statements regarding fantastic miracles that will be commonplace during the Messianic Era.

Whether these prophecies are literal or allegoric is the subject of debate amongst the Jewish philosophers, click here for more on this topic.

Resurrection of the Dead

    I believe with perfect faith that the dead will be brought back to life when G‑d wills it to happen—13th Principle of Faith.

The Resurrection of the Dead – an era that will last for all eternity – is the second and final stage of the Messianic Era. It will happen forty years after the advent of the Messianic Era—click here for a more precise timeline and more about the resurrection process, and here to read Is the Resurrection Era the Ultimate Reward?

Every Jewish soul that ever lived will be resurrected—in the very body in which it lived and died (and in the case of reincarnated souls, all the bodies will be resurrected). The body and soul are partners in all good deeds performed; they must both be rewarded accordingly. For more on this topic, see Who will be Resurrected?

The Resurrection Era will be a period that will be characterized by radical changes in nature, with miracles becoming the daily norm (see A Miraculous Era?). We will then be treated to a reward that can only be viewed as a gift from Above, for its greatness is such that finite human efforts could never earn such bounty. Click here for more on the mystical significance of the Resurrection Era.

About the 'Birthpangs of Moshiach':

http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/100900/jewish/The-Time-Before-Mashiach.htm

Ikvot Meshicha: The Time Immediately Before Mashiach

III. Ikvot Meshicha:
The Time Immediately Before Mashiach

The time appointed by G-d for the Messianic redemption is a closely guarded secret.1 Nonetheless, we are offered many hints to recognize its proximity: when certain conditions come about, await the imminent coming of Mashiach.

Most of these conditions are quite disturbing, clearly displaying a situation of the very “bottom of the pit.”2 One major source describes the world-condition in those days as follows: increase in insolence and impudence; oppressing inflation; unbridled irresponsibility on the part of authorities; centers of learning will turn into bawdy houses; wars; many destitutes begging, with none to pity them; wisdom shall be putrid; the pious shall be despised; truth will be abandoned; the young will insult the old; family-breakup with mutual recriminations; impudent leadership.3

Other sources add: lack of scholars; succession of troubles and evil decrees; famines; mutual denunciations; epidemics of terrible diseases; poverty and scarcity; cursing and blaspheming; international confrontations nations provoking and fighting each other.4 In short, it will be a time of suffering that will make it look as if G-d were asleep. These are the birthpangs of Mashiach, bearable only in anticipation of the bliss that follows them.

“When you see a generation ever dwindling, hope for him… when you see a generation overwhelmed by many troubles as by a river, await him.”5 “When you see nations fighting each other, look toward the feet of Mashiach.”6

Little wonder that some sages expressed apprehensions about those days in terms of, “Let [Mashiach] come, but let me not see him.”7 The prevailing attitude, however, is to await his coming in spite of all, even if thereafter we shall merit no more than sitting “in the shadow of his donkey’s dung!”8

The troubles and agony of chevlei Mashiach (birthpangs of Mashiach), however, are not unavoidable:

“What is man to do to be spared the pangs of Mashiach? Let him engage in Torah and acts of loving-kindness!”9

Moreover, there are also good and happy signs indicating the imminent coming of Mashiach: a good measure of prosperity;10 a renewal of Torah-study;11 and opening of the “gates of wisdom above and the wellsprings of wisdom below,”12 evidenced also by scientific and technological discoveries and advances; a manifestation and propagation of the mystical teachings of the Torah;13 and also “In the time that Mashiach will awaken, many signs and miracles will occur in the world.”14

On the destruction of evil during Messianic times:

http://www.ou.org/torah/article/isaiah_chapter_11

OU TORAH
Now THIS is a Messianic Prophecy!
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz

In this chapter, Isaiah tells us about the Moshiach (Messiah), who will be descended from King David. What does Isaiah reveal? He will be wise, understanding and pious. He will be driven to do the will of G-d and will have exceptional powers of perception. He will judge fairly, not taking advantage of the poor as had been done by the leaders of Isaiah's generation. He will destroy evil with his mere words.

The righteous will surround the Moshiach. The strong will dwell in peace with the weak, rather than oppressing them. They are symbolized by the wolf and the lamb living together; there are those who take this literally rather than allegorically. There are many such metaphors in this chapter: the cow and the bear, the lion eating straw, children not fearing snakes, etc. The land will be as full of Torah knowledge as the sea is full of water.

When the Moshiach is established, the nations will turn to him for guidance. They will honor him and live in peace with Israel. Then, G-d will stretch out His hand to gather the exiles from Assyria, Egypt, Ethiopia and elsewhere. G-d will gather the scattered Jews from "the four corners of the Earth." The two Jewish nations, Israel and Judah, will be reconciled and reunited. (Israel is referred to as Ephraim, referring to the Tribe of their first king, Yaravam. According to Rashi, this verse also refers to the Moshiach ben David, from the Tribe of Judah, and the Moshiach ben Yosef, as Ephraim was a son of Joseph. Further explanation of the concept of two Messiahs is beyond the scope of this synopsis.) Together, the two Jewish nations will defeat their enemies.

G-d will dry up rivers and seas, beating them into streams with paths in between, to serve as highways for all the Jews returning from exile, like the Red Sea when the Jews left Egypt.

[muman613]

Here is another very interesting discussion of this topic:

http://www.aish.com/jw/s/48883092.html
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INGATHERING OF EXILES

The Zohar (Toldot 139a) says that in advance of the 210 years of the Resurrection of the Dead, there is a 40-year period of Kibbutz Galiot, literally the "Ingathering of the Exiles."As the name implies, it is the period during which all remaining Jews will be brought back to the Land of Israel. And as the number implies, it corresponds to the 40 years the Jewish people wandered in the desert.

In other words, the end of Jewish history perfectly mirrors the beginning of Jewish history in the time of Moses. We began with 210 years of life in Egypt, meant to bring us back to the level of Adam before the sin (though just the opposite resulted), and then, we "wandered"outside the Land of Israel for 40 years. So too, at the end of history, we may experience a process of returning to the land over the course of 40 years, followed by a 210-year period necessary to return to the level of Adam before his sin.

This period of ingathering will have two phases: Pre-Moshiach and Post-Moshiach. During the Pre-Moshiach period, history will still be subject to hidden Divine Providence. There will be limited aliyah (immigration) to Israel, but many situations will force Jews around the world to reconcile their feelings regarding the Land of Israel and redemption.

During that phase, it may look as if not much is happening to help the process of exile-ingathering, when in fact, a hidden winnowing process could be in full swing. Some Jews may feel a yearning to live in Israel, whether they will get there or not, while others may feel disenchanted and neutral to the idea of living on the land.

At that time, the importance of one's feelings and attachment to the Land of Israel may be virtually unnoticeable to most people. However, many midrashim explain that where a person stood with respect to the concept of living in Israel and their drive for closeness to God will make an important difference during Phase Two.

Phase One, within this 40-year period of ingathering, will come to a conclusion just before and during the arrival of Moshiach ben Dovid. Having come to save the Jewish people from the cataclysmic war of Gog and Magog (if that is the path history takes), and to rid the world of evil, the reality of God, the priority of Torah, and, the centrality of the Land of Israel will become eminently clear.

With the evil impulse (yetzer hara) on the way out of history for good, the era of free will choice will come to an end forever (Talmud - Sukkah 52a). With the end of free will, the opportunity to earn reward and enhance one's portion in the World to Come will also cease -- forever.

[Zelhar]

To begin with I don't think that Judaism uses the phrase "The Day of Hashem". I believe you meant to what is often referred to as "The Day of Judgement". It is a sort of singularity point between the times since creation and the first since, where death rules, to the times after where the world would be fixed and there would be no death.

[Saxon Marauder]

muman,

Thanks for the information! The information that you provided was incredibly interesting, especially the idea of there being two Moshiachs. I've seen this before, one representing Joseph and one, the "main" Moschiach, representing David. I hadn't connected them to the two kingdoms before, however, but it makes sense. So, Moshiach ben Joseph represents the "lost" tribes, who live scattered around the world (are they even aware of who they are or do they think that they're just Gentiles?). That the Muslims'll be involved in the war of Gog and Magog is an intelligent extrapolation (Gog and Magog = the two houses of Islamic belief, Sunni and Shia, or Saudi Arabia and Iran?), but you can also probably figure the various antisemitic, G-dhating groups and gangs around the world'll also be involved somehow. Does Israel stand by itself, or as, say, part of a coalition opposed to Gog and Magog? I can't really see, say, the U.S. abandoning Israel if and when such a massive conflict takes place.

Thanks for the info!