Editing Yemos Hamoshiach (section)

====== Two General Periods ======
However, the Rebbe explains that in truth, even those who hold that there will be no change in the world's nature, even according to them this will only be in the first period. While in the second period of the Days of Moshiach, there will be drastic changes, the main one being the resurrection of the dead, and likewise in Iggeret Teiman the Rambam writes that Moshiach performs signs and wonders, referring to the second period of the Days of Moshiach, after the period of "the world continues according to its natural order." But even in the first period, several prophecies will be fulfilled, such as non-fruit bearing trees in the Land of Israel producing fruit.

The Rebbe explains that the first period is not necessary, and it depends on the actions of the Jewish people: if they are in a state of "they merited," the second period will arrive immediately.

Therefore, the second period must also come, since in the first period the Jewish people will fulfill Torah and mitzvot completely, and will reach a state of "they merited" - and then they will merit the second period.

Based on the innovation that there are two periods in the Days of Moshiach, the Rebbe resolves many contradictory Gemaras and Midrashim, for example, whether the Temple will be built by human hands or by Heaven, and more.

Although the Rambam did not explicitly write about the second period in his book, the Rebbe finds a hint to this in the final law, where in the last two chapters the Rambam speaks about the complete knowledge of the Creator that will exist in the future from the human perspective, but that the world itself will be completely nullified to Hashem, this will only be in the second period. And to this the Rambam alludes in the final law, that from the world's own perspective there will not be relevant hunger or war, and therefore the nature of the world is to know Hashem, because "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as the waters cover the sea," meaning the world becomes covered and nullified from its existence through the revelation of G-dliness that will be then.