Community Magazine June 2009

30 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE that the world’s leading Christian countries will join forces in an attempt to seize Eress Yisrael from the Jews. Their efforts will initially succeed, and these nations will take control of the land for a period of nine months, during which time they will oppress the Jews and cause havoc to the Arabs living in Eress Yisrael and in the neighboring Muslim countries. Thereupon, the nation Gog Umagog will unite with other Muslim countries to defend themselves from the Christians, avenge the blood of their Muslim brothers, and wrestle control of Eress Yisrael away from their oppressors. This final war, as the Midrash tells, will take place in three stages. The first two stages will take place in Eress Yisrael – one on the ground and one at sea 19 – while the third and harsh- est confrontation will occur in the city of Rome, where the Muslims will attempt to destroy the Christian stronghold there. Our sages explain 20 that after the first two deadly battles, which will result in numerous casualties on both sides, the Muslims will triumph over the Christians and then attempt to achieve world domina- tion by destroying the Christians’ ancient city of Rome. But then Mashiah ben David will emerge on the scene, defeating the enemies of the Jewish people and leading the entire nation to Eress Yisrael, thereby ushering in the period of our final redemption 21 . A Time of Bitter Suffering The prophets 22 describe the unparalleled suffering the Jewish nation will endure during the time of God Umagog, which will sur- pass even the worst periods of persecution in our nation’s history. Both Christians and Muslims alike will oppress the Jews, resulting in tens of thousands of Jewish deaths. 23 No country will offer the Jews refuge 24 , and they will find themselves helplessly persecuted for a period of nine months. 25 At that point, a wise, courageous leader from the tribe Efraim – Mashiah ben Yosef – will assemble an army of righteous Jews to wage war against the invading gentile nations. 26 Mashiah ben Yosef will fall in battle, resulting in a renewal of the oppression against the Jews. The Midrash describes how during this period the Jews will flee the cities to the deserts in an attempt to save themselves, subsisting on whatever plants and vegetation they find. Many will perish simply from malnutrition and starvation. Forty-five days later, Hashem, in response to the people’s heartfelt prayers and cries, will sound a powerful shofar blast that will be heard throughout the world. Mashiah Ben David will then be sent forth to destroy the attacking gentile nations and redeem the Jewish nation from exile. 27 The Wicked Armelous Many sources depict a frightening figure named Armelous who will step onto the scene during this war and cause devastating harm to the Jews, including the murder of Mashiah Ben Yosef during battle. 28 Different sources describe Armelous as either a Christian or Muslim. 29 Many commentaries identify Armelous as the ruler Gog, while others claim that Armelous will be Gog’s twin brother. 30 Armelous, as the Midrash describes, will be born with a full, adult frame, and then grow to a size of nearly four feet wide and twenty feet tall. He will feature blazing red eyes, and, possessing the soul of Satan himself, will never fear any human being. According to the Midrash, he will make his appearance following the major successes of Mashiah ben Yosef in his battles against the Christians and claim to be a god. Armelous will kill all who oppose him and, according to some sources, will seize control over the entire world. Although Armelous will succeed in killing Mashiah ben Yosef, he will eventually meet his fate at the hands of Mashiah ben David, who will kill him with the mere utterance of words. 31 Today’s Current Events Today’s world finds itself in the midst of an intensifying conflict between the Western world and radical Muslim lead- ers, as manifest most clearly in the emergence of international Islamist ter- ror networks, such as that which perpe- trated the deadly 9/11 attacks. A closer examination of these developments, along with expert analysts’ assessments of these events, leads us to the frighten- ing realization that the world is likely headed toward another world war between radi- cal Muslims and the Western world. Former President Bush 32 gave this assessment while speaking to Congress in 2007 about the need to prevent Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons. Former Mossad Chief Efraim Halevy, in an interview with a Portuguese newspaper 33 , stated explicitly that a world war between Islamic radicals and the Western World is inevitable, and, to some extent, is already underway, though only few people are prepared to acknowledge this grim reality. This progression, in all likelihood, is leading toward the war of Gog Umagog predicted by the prophets, and serves as yet another indication of how close we are to the coming of Mashiah and the final redemption. Next Issue: Gog Umagog in Detail Endnotes See Rashi and other commentaries to 1. Yehezkel 38:2. Abarbanel to Yehezkel 38:1. 2. See commentaries to Yehezkel 38:2. 3. See Abarbanel to Zecharia 14:1 and 4. Malbim to Yehezkel 38:3. Commentary to Yehezkel 38:2. 5. Yalkut Shimoni, Zecharia, chapter 12. 6. Commentary to Zecharia 14:1. 7. See Malbim to Yehezkel, chapters 38 8. and 39. Sefer Lev Eliyahu, Parashat Yitro, p. 172. 9. See Yehezkel 38:7-8. 10. See Rambam, Hilchot Melachim chapter 11. 12; Radak to Yehezkel 38:7 and Zecharia 12:2. See Abarbanel’s introduction to Yehezkel 12. 38, Malbim to Yehezkel 38:1, and Maharsha to Masechet Succah 52a. See Yefeh To’ar to Midrash Rabba, 13. Parashat Sav 9:6. Malbim, Yehezkel 39:9. 14. Masechet Yuma 10a. 15. Malbim to Yehezkel 32:25. 16. See Zohar Hakadosh, Parashat Vayera, p. 17. 118a, and Malbim to Yehezkel, chapter 38. Introduction to Yehezkel chapter 38. 18. Pirke Derabbi Eliezer, chapter 30. 19. Abarbanel to Yehezkel 32:32. 20. Ibid. 21. See Daniel 12:1 (and commentaries). 22. See Masechet Sanhedrin 98b and 111a, 23. Messudat David to Daniel 12:1, and Sefer Ess Hada’at Tov to Tehilim 124. Maharsha to Sanhedrin 98b. 24. Ibid. 25. See Zeharia 12:5-10 (and commentaries). 26. See Osserot Aharit Hayamim, pp.156-176. 27. See Yonatan Ben Uziel, Parashat Vzot 28. Haberachah 34:2, Shivhei Ha’ari, p. 119. See Osserot Aharit Hayamim, pp.156-176. 29. Ibid. page 45; Sefer Zichron Mashiah, 30. pp.12-13. Ibid. pp. 156-176. 31. FoxNews.com. 32. YNetNews.com. 33.