The Rebbe said that the fact he is predicting this will not prevent this Godlessness and confusion from increasing, and it would still be necessary to fortify one’s faith.
Thousands of years ago, Daniel and others also predicted that this would happen in the days before the Mashiach. They said, “Many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white. The wicked will act wickedly, and only the wise will understand” (Daniel 12:10). It has therefore already been predicted that there will be great temptations before the Mashiach’s coming, when “many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white” in faith. Fortunate indeed is one who resists these temptations and remains firm in his belief. He will be worthy of all the good promised to us by the prophets and sages of old.
Knowing full well that this has already been predicted, it would seem ridiculous for a person to succumb to any temptation to abandon his beliefs. It would seem obvious that every Jew would have enough intelligence to remain firm. But still, it is a great trial. Many will fall away, and for this reason it is written that “the wicked will act wickedly.”
The Rebbe said, “Still, I am revealing this for the sake of the faithful few who will remain strong in their belief. They will certainly have great conflicts within. But when they see that this has already been predicted, it will give them additional strength and encouragement.”
וְאָמַר: שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ אֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת גָּדוֹל עַל הָעוֹלָם.
The Rebbe said, “Great atheism is coming to the world.”47See “His Wisdom” #220. For a reason, see Kokhavey Or, p. 97, note 19.
וְכֵן סִפֵּר כַּמָּה פְּעָמִים שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ וְנִמְשָׁךְ אֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת גָּדוֹל בַּעֲווֹנוֹתֵינוּ הָרַבִּים בָּעוֹלָם. אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁיַּחֲזִיק עַצְמוֹ בֶּאֱמוּנָה בְּאֵלּוּ הָעִתִּים.
Many times he told us that the world’s many sins are resulting in great unbelief. Happy is he who is strong in his faith in these times.
וְאָמַר: אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ מוֹעִיל כְּלָל מַה שֶּׁהוּא מְסַפֵּר זֹאת, [שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת בָּעוֹלָם וְשֶׁצְּרִיכִין לְהִתְחַזֵּק עַצְמוֹ בֶּאֱמוּנָה, כִּי אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר זֹאת אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן מִתְגַּבֶּרֶת הָאֶפִּיקוֹרְסוּת וְהַבִּלְבּוּלִים.
The Rebbe said that the fact he is predicting this will not prevent this Godlessness and confusion from increasing, and it would still be necessary to fortify one’s faith.
כִּי הֲלֹא גַּם דָּנִיֵּאל וְכַיּוֹצֵא הוֹדִיעוּ מִקֹּדֶם, שֶׁקֹּדֶם שֶׁיָּבוֹא מָשִׁיחַ, יִתְבָּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ וְיִצָּרְפוּ רַבִּים, "וְהִרְשִׁיעוּ רְשָׁעִים וְהַמַּשְׁכִּילִים יָבִינוּ" וְכוּ' (דָּנִיֵּאל י"ב), וְאִם־כֵּן מֵאַחַר שֶׁהוֹדִיעַ מִקֹּדֶם שֶׁזֶּה יִהְיֶה הַנִּסָּיוֹן קֹדֶם בִּיאַת מָשִׁיחַ שֶׁיִּתְבָּרְרוּ וְיִתְלַבְּנוּ וְיִצָּרְפוּ רַבִּים בֶּאֱמוּנָה, וּמִי שֶׁיִּזְכֶּה לַעֲמֹד בַּנִּסָּיוֹן וְיִשָּׁאֵר קַיָּם בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ – אַשְׁרֵי לוֹ וְיִזְכֶּה לְכָל טוּב הַמְעֻתָּד לָבוֹא לָנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר נִבְּאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם כָּל נְבִיאֵינוּ וַחֲכָמֵינוּ מִקֹּדֶם, וְאִם־כֵּן הָיָה רָאוּי שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד יַשְׂכִּיל וְיָחוֹס עַל עַצְמוֹ לִשָּׁאֵר קַיָּם חָזָק בֶּאֱמוּנָתוֹ, וְלֹא יִהְיֶה לוֹ עוֹד שׁוּם נִסָּיוֹן וְצֵרוּף כְּלָל מֵאַחַר שֶׁכְּבָר הוֹדִיעוּ זֹאת מִקֹּדֶם.
Thousands of years ago, Daniel and others also predicted that this would happen in the days before the Mashiach. They said, “Many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white. The wicked will act wickedly, and only the wise will understand” (Daniel 12:10). It has therefore already been predicted that there will be great temptations before the Mashiach’s coming, when “many will purify themselves and be refined, and make themselves shining white” in faith. Fortunate indeed is one who resists these temptations and remains firm in his belief. He will be worthy of all the good promised to us by the prophets and sages of old.
וּבֶאֱמֶת אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁהוֹדִיעוּ זֹאת מִקֹּדֶם, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן יִהְיֶה נִסָּיוֹן גָּדוֹל. וְרַבִּים יַרְשִׁיעוּ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב "וְהִרְשִׁיעוּ רְשָׁעִים" (דָּנִיֵּאל י"ב).]
Knowing full well that this has already been predicted, it would seem ridiculous for a person to succumb to any temptation to abandon his beliefs. It would seem obvious that every Jew would have enough intelligence to remain firm. But still, it is a great trial. Many will fall away, and for this reason it is written that “the wicked will act wickedly.”
אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אֲנִי מוֹדִיעַ זֹאת מִקֹּדֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל אוֹתָן מְעַט הַכְּשֵׁרִים שֶׁיְּחַזְּקוּ עַצְמָן בֶּאֱמוּנָתָן, וּבְוַדַּאי יִהְיֶה לָהֶם מִלְחָמוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת בְּדַעְתָּן, לְמַעַן יִהְיֶה לָהֶם לְמֵשִׁיב נֶפֶשׁ וְהִתְחַזְּקוּת וְהִתְאַמְּצוּת יוֹתֵר כְּשֶׁיִּרְאוּ שֶׁכְּבָר דִּבְּרוּ מִזֶּה מִקֹּדֶם.
The Rebbe said, “Still, I am revealing this for the sake of the faithful few who will remain strong in their belief. They will certainly have great conflicts within. But when they see that this has already been predicted, it will give them additional strength and encouragement.”