Revealed, Hidden and Revealed Again

The phrase "revealed, hidden and revealed again" is an expression used by our Sages to describe one of the stages in the coming of Moshiach, when Moshiach becomes hidden after his first revelation, and after which the complete revelation will occur.

Words of Our Sages

In Midrash Rabbah, our Sages draw a parallel between Moshe, the first redeemer, and the King Moshiach, the final redeemer. Similar to the redemption from Egypt where the redeemer - Moshe Rabbeinu - disappeared for several months, so too the final redeemer will be revealed, become hidden, and then be revealed again:

Rabbi Berachiah in the name of Rabbi Levi: As the first redeemer, so is the final redeemer. Just as the first redeemer was revealed and then hidden from them... so too the final redeemer will be revealed to them and then become hidden from them. — Ruth Rabbah 5:6

Rashi, in his commentary on the Book of Daniel on the verses (Daniel 12:11-12) "From the time the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Fortunate is the one who waits and reaches 1,335 days," writes:

"Fortunate is the one who waits, etc." - Forty-five years added to the previous calculation, during which our Moshiach is destined to be hidden after being revealed, and then will return and be revealed again. So we find in the Midrash Ruth, and so was established by Rabbi Elazar HaKalir (in the Siluk Yotzer for Parshas HaChodesh), "And he will be hidden from them for six weeks." — Daniel 12:12 There are additional sources that attest to this state of Moshiach's concealment before his final revelation.

The Rambam's Approach

The Rambam in his Mishneh Torah at the end of Hilchos Melachim does not explicitly mention this detail as part of the signs of the King Moshiach, but the Rebbe notes that this does not prove that the Rambam rejects this possibility according to halacha, since he brings as evidence for Moshiach's identity and signs from Ben Koziba, who hid in caves for a period of time before his revelation.

The Rebbe draws a parallel between the two appearances of the King Moshiach - his first revelation before the concealment, and his complete revelation after the concealment - to the two halachic stages enumerated by the Rambam: "presumed Moshiach" and "definite Moshiach"; as well as to the two stages in Moshiach's revelation mentioned in the letter of the Rebbe Rashab: "son of David" and "David."

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The Manner of Concealment

From the midrashim of our Sages, it is not clear exactly how Moshiach's concealment will occur. The Arizal writes, "Just as we find with Moshe Rabbeinu, peace be upon him, who ascended to heaven in body and soul and was there for 40 days, so too Moshiach will merit that soul and will recognize himself that he is Moshiach... and afterward Moshiach will be hidden in body and soul," just as Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, and afterward will be revealed again.

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The Duration of Concealment

There are several opinions that seemingly differ regarding the definition of the time of concealment. In Midrash Rabbah, it states that the time of concealment will last forty-five days. According to Rashi, the time of concealment will be forty-five years. However, it is possible that the Midrash also intends years.

According to Rabbi Elazar HaKalir - as per Rashi's version in Daniel - "And he will be hidden from them for six weeks," which equals forty-two years.

In the Zohar, it is written that the time of concealment will be forty years.

Trial of Faith

In the Midrash it states that "in the period of the Messiah's concealment, anyone who believes in him and follows him eats broom roots and salty leaves." And in the writings of the Arizal it is brought that the trial that the Children of Israel experienced when Moses went up to receive the Tablets, when the Satan showed them an image of Moses in heaven with angels accompanying his deathbed, will repeat itself before the coming of the Messiah, when the Messiah himself will be concealed.

In connection with this stage, it is written about an additional trial: that initially the Messiah is revealed only to "the congregation who await him," but when the time comes, he will be revealed to all of Israel. It is brought in the books that in the generation of redemption there will be righteous people and Torah scholars who will not recognize the Messiah at first and will oppose him. But ultimately "I will clothe his enemies with shame" will be fulfilled - these are those who dispute him, and they "understand and say with certainty this is the King Messiah," "but anyone who believes from the first year, their reward is doubled many times over."

The Process in Our Generation

Extended entry – Eternal Life of the Rebbe

On Shabbat Parshat Vayera 5752 (1991), the Rebbe said that in our generation "there is not only the existence of Moshiach but also the revelation of Moshiach." From this it is understood that the process of 'revealed' has already occurred.

Even the period of "concealment" many interpret as having begun on the 3rd of Tammuz 5754 (1994), since then we do not merit to hear and see the Rebbe King Moshiach Shlita.

External Links

• What is the source that Moshiach will not be revealed equally to everyone at first? Rabbi Shalom Dovber Wolpo, on the website of the AT"H Center in the Holy Land
• Moshiach revealed and concealed and revealed again, collection of sources on the website

See Also

• Eternal Life of the Rebbe