Geulah
As has been explained in the famous talk [delivered by the Rebbe Rashab] on Simchas Torah concerning the highly charged preoccupation with affecting the revelation of Moshiach in the most complete and final manner.
Rebbe Rashab’s Prophecy
On Simchas Torah 5658, the third anniversary of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, the Rebbe Rashab addressed its students. His statements included what the Rebbe described as “open prophecy” concerning our current period of history, and a historic call to arms in the spiritual sense. Mission statement: Bring Moshiach. With the Talmudic phrase, kal kayotzei lemilchemes beis Dovid – “Whoever goes out to battle for the House of David,” the Rebbe Rashab issued all students of the yeshivah with their lifelong marching orders to ultimately bring about the coming of Moshiach – for the “House of David” alludes to the revelation of Moshiach, David’s descendant.
In Fifty Years’ Time…
During the address, the Rebbe Rashab issued an ominous prediction: “I am certain that I can see the woeful turn for the worse and the suffering that [the maskilim, the so-called ‘Enlightenment’ movement] will bring upon our people, and that this will be followed by the sweet conclusion of the fifty-year period of the ‘footsteps of Moshiach,’ which will ultimately bring about the coming of Moshiach.”
Sweet Conclusion
It has been observed that exactly fifty years since the Rebbe Rashab pronounced those prophetic words in 5658 brings us to the year 5708 – the year in which the Rebbe officially consented to assume the position of Rebbe, i.e., the beginning of the “sweet conclusion,” which will ultimately bring about the coming of Moshiach.
The Rebbe Rashab based his words on the phraseology at the conclusion of Tehillim 89: “...that Your enemies have abused, O G-d, that they have abused the footsteps of Your Moshiach. Blessed be G-d forevermore. Amen and Amen.” As the Rebbe explains, the final word is repeated in order to emphasize that the victory and revelation of Moshiach will occur in a most complete and final manner.
Based on With Light and with Might by Sichos In English.
