Editing The Wolf Will Dwell with the Lamb (section)

== Literal Meaning or "Parable and Riddle" ==
Regarding the fulfillment of this prophecy, the Rambam writes: "And that which is said in Isaiah 'the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the young goat' - is a parable and riddle, that Israel will dwell securely with the wicked gentiles who are compared to wolves and leopards," etc. On the surface, it appears that according to the Rambam, this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally but is a "parable and riddle" (however, during the visit of the Admor of Skulya to [[The Rebbe Rashab|the Rebbe]] in [[5741]], the Rebbe said that the Rambam's intention is not that this prophecy will not be fulfilled literally, but rather that it certainly has an inner interpretation as a "parable and riddle," and will certainly be fulfilled according to its inner interpretation, and if a student will prove that it also has a literal meaning - then it will be fulfilled literally as well). But according to the opinion of some [[Rishonim]] (the Ramban and others) who hold that in the future there will be a change in the natural order of the world, it is understood that this prophecy will be fulfilled literally.

The Rebbe explains that generally regarding the physical prophecies of the future era, it is explained that they will be fulfilled literally even according to the Rambam, but this will happen in the second period of the Messianic era. However, regarding this prophecy, the Rebbe says that the prophet connected it to the matter of Moshiach (the verse "the wolf will dwell with the lamb" appears in proximity to verses discussing Moshiach: "Behold, My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up," etc.), and the definition of Moshiach is the perfection of Torah and [[Mitzvah|mitzvot]] within the parameters of the world, "the world continues in its natural way." If so, this prophecy and other prophecies written regarding Moshiach will be fulfilled also non-literally (as a parable and riddle) - according to the Rambam - and in the first period, besides being fulfilled literally in the second period like other physical prophecies.

However, in Igeret Techiyat HaMeitim, the Rambam writes that what he said in the Yad about "the wolf will dwell with the lamb" being fulfilled non-literally: "this statement of ours is not definitive," and it is possible that it will be fulfilled literally. The Rebbe explains this by saying that the physical prophecies represent a miraculous conduct that Hashem does with us as a reward for fulfilling Torah and mitzvot. Therefore, if the redemption comes in a manner of "they did not merit" - the first period will be needed in order to reach the perfection of Torah and mitzvot, and then as a reward will come the second period with Hashem's miraculous conduct. But if we reach redemption already in a state of "they merited," in fulfillment of Torah and mitzvot, then already at the beginning of redemption both periods will be together, because already then Hashem will conduct affairs miraculously due to our fulfillment of Torah and mitzvot beforehand. In such a situation, even according to the Rambam, "the wolf will dwell with the lamb" will be fulfilled literally already in the first period, because although it is connected to Moshiach - in such a situation the other physical prophecies will also begin already with the first period. It turns out that in a situation where redemption comes in a manner of "they merited" - according to all opinions, all prophecies will be fulfilled literally, right from the beginning of the Messianic era.