Gog Umagog: The Final War

B”H

Guest post by Rochel Rivka

Intro:
What is going on in the world? It seems like every day another tragedy hits. I’m scared to look at the newspaper- what could possibly be next? The list is endless with natural disasters, financial losses and family distresses starting it off; “Every living person can clearly tell that the world is changing greatly. We are starting to see how everything (aside from Hashem) we have ever leaned on for support until today is now falling apart.”

The world is literally shaking; natural disasters and the gloom of a nuclear war are becoming more evident. Our personal lives have been disrupted- how many families do we know that are undergoing trouble after trouble? Shalom Bayit and financial problems are just a start of the long list; “I am sure that my fellow Jews feel keenly that the world is in a frightening turmoil. I am sure that almost every Jew feels in his own personal life great distress and much heartbreak, whether it is chas v'shalom illness or marital problems or children off the derech or other personal tragedies”. “Thunder was created only to straighten out the crookedness of the heart” (Brachot 59a); “Thunder” can be any sort of wake-up call. Any disaster, any form of thunder, was create to wake us up! The hurricane in Houston! The Earthquake in China! The Tsunami! The Cyclone! The Stock Market crash! The Terrorist attack in India! WHY?; “we have seen in the last few years tremendous changes in our world. Whether it be unusual and biblical-like natural disasters, or war threats that are more frightening than the mind can grasp, with weapons so terrible that we're afraid even to think about them, or money problems throughout the world that are causing great financial difficulties to the whole world, or to the food shortages that have drastically increased the price of food”. When the Chofetz Chaim would hear thunder he would stop and ask “What does Tati want from me?”; “what do I have to fix that Hashem is trying to get my attention?” These warnings are not new- they are all in the Naviim, the prophets, have spelled out what is going to happen. Have we gotten the message? Is the thundering waking us up or will it have to get louder? Are we even asking “why?”

The autistic children warn: “Open your eyes and you will see that it is all taking place right now, as we speak. Everything is happening according to what is written in the prophecies. Whether it is the war between Ishmael and Edom, or between Ishmael and Israel, the tremendous and strange natural disasters, the many difficult and unnatural wars threatening to attack us, G-d Forbid,or the fact that the water level of the ocean is rising and the ice on the North and South poles are melting...The world is in total chaos!”

Are we safe in America? Most of you would answer “yes”. America has been the savior to the Jewish Nation after the Holocaust- or has it? Jews have an opportunity to have freedom in this country. We were also freed from the obligation of mitzvot. We have allowed gashmiut to enter our homes and most unfortunately, our hearts. As I was writing this article, I came across and article relating Hurricane Ike titled “Why People Ignore Warnings”. Among the reasons listed, it says, “some people just don't perceive the risk to be that high," Rebecca Morss of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., told LiveScience. We do not perceive the risk to be that high either; otherwise, we would be doing Teshuva and removing the gashmiut that fills our lives. I was speaking to my younger cousin about this and she innocently remarked “but we are orthodox, what could we possibly have to fix?” That is exactly why need to do Teshuva! It is not about quantity, it’s about quality. Davka (especially) in the ultra-orthodox circles! The danger is when we are far and think we are close. It all stems from our Emunah in Hashem. Do we have emunah in Hashem? When the banks will close- because they will and chaos will fill the world- are we going to have Emunah in Hashem that He will provide for us? When our expensive homes are destroyed- through natural disasters or (G-d Forbid) nuclear weapons- are we going to have Emunah that Hashem will give us shelter? “It is clear to all that the world is on the verge of collapse. Every day, every day something happens in some place or another throughout the world; something terrible, frightening and unexplainable”; this is all in order to wake the Jewish people up! “It is only through Teshuva that Israel can be redeemed" (Yoma 86b).

A lot of the quotations in this article will be from autistic children give over through the method of Facilitated Communication. “FC” works the following way: the neshama knows everything, while the brain is a filter. If the brain is not working (not filtering) the mouth cannot let out that information. These children’s brains do not function- there is no filter- as a result they cannot communicate normally. Hashem has allowed this new method has been revealed, because we are approaching the times of Mashiach (I highly encourage reading more about it or approaching me with questions, since the scope of this article cannot possibly cover all of it). As explained in the gemara, "From the time the Beit HaMikdash was destroyed, prophecy was taken away from prophets and handed over to fools" (Bava Batra 12b). HaRav E.E. Dessler expounds, "Prophecy was given to fools since by them the screen (i.e., the brain) is not so strong. The brains of fools are damaged, and one can peek within the world of the soul without any physical concealment or cover. When the brain is damaged, the soul is freed. It is unlimited and sees all. The brain is what limits and conceals the soul"(HaRav E.E. Dessler, IV). Regardless whether you believe this is true or not, the messages that they are giving are beautiful and should be listened to. The frightening part is how their prophecies and warnings have come true.

The Financial Crisis is the biggest fear filling the world. The American, European, Asian and Russian stock markets have plummeted significantly and expectations for recovery are not high. The fall of the stock market and the plummet of the dollar’s worth were warned months ago. In February 13th 2008, Daniel said “And what about the banks…? The banks are terrified - they have given people way too many loans and credit. This is the roughest time the world has gone through since the great (Wall Street) crash of 1929”. The Economist has labeled the current situation “the worst financial crisis since the Depression” (Oct. 9th 2008). At the time this sounded ridiculous- not anymore. They have recently warned, “The banks are going to fall and money will be worth no more than tissue paper”. I was in shock when I read in the news recently that Washington Mutual and Wachovia fell. This will force us to realize that “our livelihood does not come from our jobs, nor does it come from social security or any other such source, only from Hashem”. These are all tests of Emunah, complete faith, in Hashem.

What about the natural disasters? This year alone, there were more natural disasters than the last 5 years put together! “The world is changing, not just financially, but physically too. These are all messages from Hashem that we should realize the world, as a whole, is going to complain”. Unfortunately, if we do not get the message, “there will be even greater ones - far greater than the human mind is capable of even imagining. It will be terrifying and destructive in ways no one could have dreamed”. As Isaiah prophesized, “The earth is broken, broken down, the earth is crumbled in pieces, the earth trembled and tottered” (24:19); the earthquake in China was just the beginning.

The Midrash on (Yalkut Shimoni, Yishayahu 60) explains what will happen when Mashiach comes: Rabbi Yitzchak said: In the year when the king, Moshiach will be revealed [what will happen in the year Moshiach will be revealed], all the kings of the nations of the world are provoking each other [threats of war will be heard all over the world]. The king of Paras [the president of Iran] is provoking the Arab king [threatening the king of Saudi Arabia - the only country who still has the word "arab" in its name - with war] and then the Arab King will turn to Edom for advice [the king of Saudi Arabia will turn to the western countries led by the U.S.A. for advice on how to react to the Iranian threats].The king of Paras will then go and destroy the world [it is quite obvious that one cannot destroy the whole world with conventional weapons. In this case it is obviously referring to nuclear weapons. "the world" of course means most of the world, not the whole planet]. And all the nations of the world [the countries that will remain, see in Zecharia 13, the prophecy that says that 2/3 of the world will be destroyed] will shout from terror, fall upon their faces in fear and undergo such horrible pains as strong as labor pains [the whole world will be gripped with such a fear, since it is known that nuclear weapons can mean only one thing and that is: certain death]. And the Jewish people will shout from fear [they will be afraid that Iran may attack Israel, as well] and say, "to where do we turn?! To where do we run?"And He will say unto them (Hashem), my children, do not be afraid; all that I have done here, I have done only for you [everything Hashem will do is for the Jews, to destroy the reign of the wicked Edom, to eradicate evil from the world and allow the Moshiach, our righteous king to take over the kingdom]. Why do you fear? The time for your Redemption has arrived!” This midrash seems very relevant to our current situation. Hashem has given many prophecies: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it” (Zechariah 12:3). “And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god; whom he shall acknowledge, shall increase glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price” (Daniel 11:39); hasn’t the US pressured Israel to give land? The pieces all fit in…

The Autistic children give many warnings regarding the war of Gog Umagog: “any person can see that we are facing a terrible and most difficult war, unlike any war this world has ever seen. Two thirds of the world will be destroyed [Zecharia 13:8] by Hakadosh Baruch Hu [G-d] Himself, without the aid of any messengers. There will also be great and wondrous miracles. Things will happen that will be obvious to all that they are coming straight from Heaven”. As the Navi states, "Indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant and all the evildoers will be like straw and the coming day will burn them up, says the L-ord of Hosts, and will leave them neither a root nor a branch. But for those who fear my name, there will shine a sun of charity with healing in its wings" (Malachi 3:19-20). “I also want to emphasize the fact that we are facing a terrible war ["Gog Umagog"] that is going to change the whole world. A war the likes of which the world has never seen in all of history. And if out of sheer laziness or foolishness, we refuse to do the will of Hashem [to leave the sheker and come to the truth, as written above], within seconds we are liable to find ourselves in a hopeless situation, Heaven forbid. Or, we can find ourselves in the midst of the complete Redemption. The choice is ours. The Arabs are closing in on us from every direction; the South, the North, the West, the East, from every which way they can. And these are certainly not the Arabs that were around in the time of the Six Day War, who left their shoes and fled; the ones who were forced against their will by the Egyptians to get out of the military trucks and fight and if they refused, were severely beaten. The Arabs of today have a military of their own, more than adequately prepared to fight a real war, fully equipped with all the latest, advanced weaponry. Moreover, the amount of Arabs there are in the world today, by far, surpasses the amount of Jews”.

What about zechut Avot? Are we unworthy? “I wouldn't say that all the Jews are unworthy, that is not true. But the truth is that at this time, very few are really worthy. However, this situation can change in a second! How? If we make the decision to do teshuva, to really repent inside and outside, in every corner possible and decide that from this moment onwards, with Hashem's help, we will only do the will of Hashem or at least make tremendous efforts to follow His way and observe His mitzvot. And only a person who is truly longing for the Moshiach and is connected to Hakadosh Boruch Hu (Hashem), who does true teshuva (repentance), will be able to live in the world that will remain after the upcoming and final war. Am Yisrael, prepare yourselves for the next world. Go, prepare yourselves quickly! There is simply no time!”

These warnings started many years ago—doubts of the truth of the warnings have risen and been addressed: “You can't now say what you have always said, "you autistic people are always saying "soon" but then nothing happens..." Everyone can see that we are already there - "soon" is happening now, as we speak. Here and there people are claiming that there are still another seven years until the Moshiach comes. I'm telling you now very clearly that this is absolutely not true; there are not seven more years. We don't know if it will be seven months or perhaps even seven weeks. There is no way to know the exact time”.

Daniel and Benjamin, the autistic children I am mostly quoting, have a lot of warnings for the Jews in the Diaspora which I believed appropriate to add here. These are a combination of quotes from different sessions: “Brothers and sisters, look around you. See what is happening. Change your ways for the better. Realize that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the Ruler. Because if you don't, He will show it to you in the harshest way, and you won't be able to deny it. According to our holy prophets, two thirds of the world will be destroyed [Zecharia 13:8]. He will bring upon us miracles bigger than those in ancient Egypt. Fear, panic and desperation will grip those who deny His existence or His total rulership. But the believers will rejoice. They will be happy and Hashem (G-d) will care for them as a mother cares for her small baby, and they will be without worry, without fear and without distress. Therefore, now is the time to smash the Egel Hazahav (the idol-worship of materialism). Each one with his own hands, smash it and crush it into dust. And bury that dust forever. Am Yisrael (the People of Israel), it's time to come home. True, it won't be easy to come to a country ruled by non-believers who totally reject the concept of Moshiach (our Redeemer) and every other aspect of Judaism. But don't be afraid, because we know from our holy prophets that the non-believing rulers of today will fall completely before Moshiach is crowned. My brothers and sisters, come home. It's time. Those in Russia, you would do well to get yourselves out. Those in America and Europe, Edom will be totally destroyed [Ovadia 1:18]. Read the writing on the wall. Many of your brethren, people of means, have come to Jerusalem and bought apartments, thinking that when Moshiach comes they will be able to run away quickly to Israel, to their fancy apartments, and be safe. But let me tell you this: only those who truly trust and love Hashem will survive. Only those who live close to Hashem all the time will survive. Only those who really try, at least try, to do His will, will survive. Because only such people will be suitable to live in a world of Truth. The main reason that Jews hesitate to go up to the Land of Israel is the fear of not having their basic needs, food clothing, and shelter. Then there are others who fear that their standard of living will go down. To those who fear this, I repeat that the world economy will fall completely, and therefore financially there is not much to worry about”.

Great Rabbeim have also said lately that we are very close to the Geulah! Rav Mekubal Rabbi David Abuchazera Shlita of Naharia (The Baba Sali’s grandson) has been seeing standing to receive every person that comes to seem. He was asked why he is standing for everyone. The Rav's answer was astonishing and remarkable: "I dreamed that my grandfather, Rabbi Yisrael Abuchazera, the Baba Sali, zs'kl, is angry at me - 'Mashiach came twice to see you and you did not rise for him and show him his due respect. He will come a third time and you must honor him!' I don't know who the Mashiach is that my grandfather is referring to, so I began standing for all the people that come see me," said the Rav. Rabbeinu Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita has just recovered from two strokes this past summer. His son says the Rav is communicating through moving his lips and writing notes. He has been talking about the urgency to unite Am Israel in order to bring the complete redemption. Rav Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita talked about the extraordinary cloak his father earned from the honorable Baba Sali, zs'kl, which the Baba Sali personally prepared to wear for the coming of Moshiach. Before the passing of the Baba Sali, he called Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, who was lovable to him, and handed him a few things including the Glima (cloak) and told him that with this cloak, he'll greet Moshiach Tzidkenu. In the top pocket of the cloak are a few beard hairs of the revered Baba Sali and the Baba Sali told Rav Eliyahu before giving him the cloak, "Note that when you greet the Moshiach, these few beard hairs that were part of me will stay with you."Another thing that is associated with the Moshiach's arrival are the 2 watches Rav Mordechai Eliyahu received from the Baba Sali. Baba Baruch Shlita, the Baba Sali's son, told Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita that his father came to him several times in a dream and instructed him to give the watches to Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita. The Baba Sali said that when the watches read 12:00, Moshiach is coming. The Rav once said the clock is showing five minutes before twelve, and now the clock are at twelve. His son, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, said, "We don't dare to open the clocks without my father, my teacher, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu Shlita. But there is such a rumor - and we are really very close to the redemption. In any case, we need to pray that the Rav, HaRav Mordechai Tzemach ben Mazal Tov Shlita, will have complete recovery and his health improves so he can return home and personally see if the watches are showing 12:00 o'clock and announce the good news to us. I asked him several times about the watches and he replied the verse: ‘So says HaShem: Keep judgment and do justice: for My salvation is near to come, and My justice to be revealed’ (translated from http://www.news1.co.il/)”.

On Shabbat Shuva, the Admor of Sanz said "There are many signs that this year 5769 is the year of the Pekida (redemption) and we cannot lose the opportunity to be redeemed forever. Each person must do something to strengthen in observing the Torah and its Mitzvot and improve the Middot.” (translated from http://www.bhol.co.il)

The simple solution to all of our problems and the world’s problems is teshuva! “Yet most of the people are simply not moving; they are not trying to save themselves. And how indeed can we be saved from this upcoming frightening situation? One word: Teshuva. We, the autistic and brain damaged people, have, Baruch Hashem, written a lot of messages on this matter. But unfortunately most people just don't seem to care. We have already written all that needs to be said on the matter. We have spoken so much about this but many people don't want to listen, they just "plug their ears". The sheker is more pleasing to them because they are not yet familiar with the unlimited spiritual pleasure we attain from having a close connection with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. They are accustomed to materialism and are only aware of the superficial and fleeting materialistic pleasures. Such people will be lost, Heaven have mercy.

Yet perhaps now, with all the turmoil throughout the world, perhaps Am Yisrael will finally be prepared to realize the truth. Maybe with all the signs Hashem has been sending us lately, all the messages: through nature, through the financial crisis, through all sorts of personal tragedies, (may we not know) through the constant threats of Russia and Iran, and all sorts of other threats looming over us from all kinds of places, perhaps all this will finally open a tiny opening in many Jews' hearts, and they will begin to ponder the necessity of doing teshuva”. How many more warnings must Hashem send? Daniel’s and Benjamin’s last words are deeply touching: “Dear Jews, listen carefully to my words. It is true, what I said before, that Hashem is bringing us into the days of Moshiach gradually so that we won't get a terrible shock. However we are have arrived already at the final stages, and the end will suddenly be upon us. Hashem has already warned us in many ways, year after year, that we must return to Him and to His Torah and thus be saved.

However, most of the Jews still want to go on living a life of lies and don't want to know about or recognize Hashem's warnings. Therefore, I am telling you: the end is very near ["at the time Edom is destroyed, Israel will be redeemed", (Radak on Yeshayahu 63; 1 as well as the Malbim on Yechezkel 35;2)], and nothing can prevent it. Nothing will help us except returning to Hakadosh Baruch Hu and His Torah. However this does not mean returning to the charedi (orthodox) version of serving the Golden Calf. It means coming to a level of complete faith and bitachon in Hakadosh Baruch Hu and having no faith at all in olam hazeh [the materialistic world]. In the Talmud it says, “In the way that a person chooses to walk, he will be led” (makkot 10b). R’ Twerski adds, “The responsibility for choosing the way lies within in person”. The power of teshuva- which way your future will go- is up to you! “I am asking Am Yisrael to stop in their tracks, look back and see what a true Jew used to look like and then return to that point. Claiming that Am Yisrael cannot be blamed for all sorts of sins they committed is not reality. The reality is that we must rebuke each other now because that is the lifeline: "Jew! You are drowning!"”

What will the world look like when Mashiach comes? When Mashiach comes “man will externally look similar to how we look now. Hashem gives us everything we need now and will in the future world as well. But here, because we have to work we get confused and think that we are the ones bringing in our livelihood. In the Olam Haba the truth will become clear. Hashem will give us everything without the unnecessary materialism. Life will be spiritual with much more satisfaction. Don't forget, it will be a world without any evil inclination. I don't even know if anyone today can imagine a world without the evil inclination. The evil inclination finds its way into every nook and cranny, into every tiny crevice within the person. People are not even aware of how much the evil inclination motivates their every move. Abba, you know Hashem once took away the evil inclination from the world for three days and nothing, not a thing moved. [Gemmara chapter 7, daf 69] We are simply not equipped to understand or even imagine what it can be like. I want to emphasize once more what I have said in the past, that the world as we know it, is 'taking its final breaths'.

In the end, every man will be left alone with only himself and Hashem. On the Day of Judgment it is every man for himself. Am Yisrael, Hashem's beloved children; it is time to return home. There is no time. We are at the end”. It is hard to yearn for the unknown. We are comfortable and used to our lives. I even feel at times like there is still so much I want to do till this is all “over”. What we know now does not compare to what will and should be. B”H we should have the zechut to receive Mashiach, beyameinu, amen!

All the quotations, unless otherwise stated, are from www.dani18.com. These are messages by autistic children. I highly recommend visiting it for more information.