(See this lecture http://www.divineinformation.com/videos-english/what-is-hashems-message-to-us-2/ for the source)
All the doomsday predictions popping up right now are exactly the same ones that were being made back when Obama was elected the first time around. But hey, at least Obama didn't coerce Israel to give away land like Clinton and Bush did.
Eitherway, even if the end is going to be very soon, our minds should probably be on more important things like...what saves us from Moshiach?
2 things are commonly said to save us:
- Learning Torah
- Acts of kindness
- (Less commonly spoken about) Having 3 meals on Shabbos (Sanhedrin)
Just learning torah alone is not enough to save us, gotta do acts of kindness as well. So if you think the end of the world is coming soon, better start worrying about what you have to show Hashem than where you live. (Not that living in dangerous places is something to ignore but you get the point).
You are very close to hitting a crucial nail on its head, for which I commend you. If you'll allow me to inject what I think the Rebbe of Lubavitch might have to say in such a matter.
ReplyDeleteYou're 100% right that Gentile kings and leaders are putty in the hands of Hashem, in that they really lack free choice, and that all the ballyhoo, therefore, is extraneous.
But - not only is it extraneous, it is actually self-defeating. Not only is it a waste of breath, by speaking about or preoccupying ourselves with those who would harm us - we actually FEED THEIR lifeblood. In other words, by ignoring them they would disappear or self-destruct, except that OUR CONCERN ABOUT THESE MATTERS is like filling THEIR gastanks with OUR gas.
I try to say it more clearly here:
http://hezbos.blogspot.com/2012/11/resuscitating-dying-counter-culture.html
The Rebbe says the best way to bring Moshiach is to learn ABOUT Moshiach and the Era of Redemption.
Kol tuv!