יד תנא דבי אליהו ששת אלפים שנה הוי עלמא שני אלפים תוהו שני אלפים תורה שני אלפים ימות המשיח
14 It has been taught, R. Nehemiah said: in the generation of Messiah's coming impudence will increase, esteem be perverted,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., none shall esteem another. Another opinion: even the most esteemed shall be perverted and deceitful. ');"><sup>24</sup></span> the vine yield its fruit, yet shall wine be dear,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Everyone will be drunk, so that in spite of the abundant yield, there will be a scarcity. ');"><sup>25</sup></span> and the Kingdom will be converted to heresy<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Heb. Minuth. By 'the Kingdom' is meant the Roman Empire, and the statement is a remarkable forecast by R. Nehemia (150 C.E.) of the conversion of Rome to Christianity under Constantine the Great in 313; v. however, Herford, Christianity in the Talmud, 207ff.] ');"><sup>26</sup></span> with none to rebuke them. This supports R. Isaac, who said: The son of David will not come until the whole world is converted to the belief of the heretics. Raba said: What verse [proves this]? it is all turned white: he is clean.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XIII, 13. This refers to leprosy: a white swelling is a symptom of uncleanliness; nevertheless, if the whole skin is so affected, it is declared clean. So here too; when all are heretics, it is a sign that the world is about to be purified by the advent of Messiah. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself of his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXXII, 36. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> the son of David will not come until denunciators are in abundance.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'When he seeth that their power is gone' is interpreted as meaning that they will be at the mercy of informers; then God will judge his people — redeem them through the Messiah. ');"><sup>29</sup></span> Another interpretation [of their power is gone]: until scholars are few. Another interpretation: until the [last] <i>perutah</i> has gone from the purse. Yet another interpretation: until the redemption is despaired of, for it is written, there is none shut up or left, as — were it possible [to say so] — Israel had neither Supporter nor Helper. Even as R. Zera, who, whenever he chanced upon scholars engaged thereon [I.e., in calculating the time of the Messiah's coming], would say to them: I beg of you, do not postpone it, for it has been taught: Three come unawares:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when the mind is diverted.' ');"><sup>30</sup></span> Messiah, a found article and a scorpion.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence by thinking of him they were postponing his coming. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> R. Kattina said: Six thousand years shall the world exist, and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. II, 11. ');"><sup>32</sup></span> Abaye said: it will be desolate two [thousand], as it is said, After two days will he revive us: in the third day, he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hosea VI, 2: the 'two days' meaning two thousand years. Cf. Ps. XC, 4. quoted below. ');"><sup>33</sup></span> It has been taught in accordance with R. Kattina: Just as the seventh year is one year of release in seven, so is the world: one thousand years out of seven shall be fallow, as it is written, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day,' and it is further said, A Psalm and song for the Sabbath day,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XCII, 1. ');"><sup>34</sup></span> meaning the day that is altogether Sabbath — 35 and it is also said, For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. XC, 4; thus 'day' in the preceding verses means a thousand years. ');"><sup>36</sup></span> The Tanna debe Eliyyahu teaches: The world is to exist six thousand years. In the first two thousand there was desolation;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., no Torah. It is a tradition that Abraham was fifty-two years old when he began to convert men to the worship of the true God; from Adam until then, two thousand years elapsed. ');"><sup>37</sup></span> two thousand years the Torah flourished;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., from Abraham's fifty-second year until one hundred and seventy-two years after the destruction of the second Temple. This does not mean that the Torah should cease thereafter, but is mentioned merely to distinguish it from the next era. ');"><sup>38</sup></span> and the next two thousand years is the Messianic era,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Messiah will come within that period. ');"><sup>39</sup></span>