This all depends on the nature of the battle that one needs to wage with his animal soul, according to the amount of selfishness in it will determine the number of years required to fight it until it will be transformed into a good desire to serve Hashem.
This is also the meaning of the verse, (Devarim 4:1) “And now Yisroel, listen to the statutes and judgements that I command you to fulfill...”
Meaning that specifically now, in this time of golus, when bad is mixed together with good, the Divine soul is called “יִּשְרָאֵל-Yisroel,” meaning that it needs to rule over and conquer the animal soul and transform it from bad to good.
However, regarding the future time after Moshiach comes, it says, (Zecharya 13:2) “And the spirit of impurity I (Hashem) shall remove from the earth,” and there will be no more unholiness at all, and there will be no more need for this battle. At that time, we won’t be called “יִּשְרָאֵל-Yisroel,” implying ruling and conquering the animal soul. Rather, we will be called, “The people connected to Hashem.”
LESSONS IN LIKUTAY TORAH
