Q&A with Rav Itamar Schwartz on the Star of Mashiach, 15 Days of Darkness, the Light of Mashiach ben Yosef, Stocking Up on Food, What Happens with the Modern Descendants of the 10 Lost Tribes, and How Much Wiggle Room Time for Teshuvah

In this post, this Q&A has been rearranged for improved reading clarity.
Please see the original here:
https://question.bilvavi.net/blog/2021/10/08/the-end-of-days/

​THE END OF DAYS 

QUESTION
The Zohar says that there will be 15 days of darkness in the world before Mashiach comes, and that a certain star will be visible 45 days before his arrival.

Is this all literal or does it mean something more mystical?

ANSWER
Any matters of agadta, especially statements of the Zohar, are not necessarily meant to be understood in the simple and literal sense.

QUESTION
The Zohar says that Mashiach ben Yosef will come before that period.

Can this be referring to the Arizal, who had the soul of Mashiach ben Yosef [and therefore the prophecy was already fulfilled with the Arizal, who was Mashiach ben Yosef], or is it referring to the Mashiach ben Yosef who will come in the future?

ANSWER
The light of “Mashiach ben Yosef” began then [in the Arizal’s times] and it is ongoing until today.

QUESTION
Someone said that it says in the Zohar that the reason why the Erev Rav still continues to rule over us [in Eretz Yisrael] even though the foretold 70 years of their rule has been delayed longer, is because Moshe Rabbeinu asked the Erev Rav after they came out of Egypt if they want their reward now or in the end of days, and they responded that they want their reward in the end of days.

That is why the Erev Rav got rewarded with ruling over Eretz Yisrael with the establishment of their state.

Is this true?

Does it say that in the Zohar?

ANSWER
That is one of the reasons.

QUESTION
Is it worthwhile to stock up on food, drinks, and candles to get ready for the war of Gog and Magog which may be this year?

And if yes, how much should a person stock up for?

Is there any physical preparation we need to do, besides for spiritually preparing?

ANSWER
If one is concerned about it, he should stock up for 2 weeks worth of food.

QUESTION
I have heard that the “Ten Lost Tribes” who are spread out in the countries of China, Afghanistan, India (etc.) – who can be identified as people who keep the mitzvos and who remember and say that they are from the Jewish people, and some of them even have lineage records that go back to Yaakov Avinu – will these Jews return to the Jewish people?

ANSWER
Yes.

QUESTION
What will happen to the Chilonim and Chareidim right before Mashiach comes?

Will there be a time when Eliyahu HaNavi will reveal himself to us and will that cause all the Chilonim [secular Jews] to do teshuvah and will that cause all the Chareidim to throw away their smartphones, will the women throw away their forbidden wigs, and will everyone disconnect emotionally from the Israeli government, from the Erev Rav, and instead searching only for closeness with Hashem?

And then only those who do teshuvah will be zocheh [merit] to be around when Mashiach comes?

Or will Mashiach come and then everyone who did teshuvah will be zocheh to survive and those who didn’t do teshuvah won’t?

ANSWER
There will be a revelation of the light of Eliyahu, and it will not necessarily be an actual face-to-face revelation of Eliyahu.

Rather, it is very possible that it will become an enlightenment, in which people will recognize the truth, and then each person will have the free will if he wants to repent. 

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The Kotel (Western Wall) in Yerushalayim