Sanhedrin 98A

מלכים יראו וקמו שרים וישתחוו״?

Kings should see and arise, princes should prostrate themselves, because of YHWH, Who is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, Who has chosen you” (Isaiah 49:7), indicating that redemption will come independent of repentance?

אמר לו רבי אליעזר: והלא כבר נאמר ״אם תשוב ישראל נאם ה׳ אלי תשוב״? אמר לו רבי יהושע: והלא כבר נאמר ״ואשמע את האיש לבוש הבדים אשר ממעל למימי היאר וירם ימינו ושמאלו אל השמים וישבע בחי העולם כי למועד מועדים וחצי וככלות נפץ יד עם קדש תכלינה כל אלה וגו׳״? ושתק רבי אליעזר.

R' Eliezer said to him: But isn’t it already stated: “If you will return, Israel, says YHWH, return to Me” (Jeremiah 4:1), indicating that redemption is contingent upon repentance? R' Yehoshua said to him: But isn’t it already stated: “And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by the One Who lives forever that it should be for a period, periods, and a half; when the crushing of the power of the holy people should have been completed, all these things should be finished” (Daniel 12:7), indicating that the time for redemption is set and unrelated to repentance? And R' Eliezer was silent, unable to refute the proof from that verse.

ואמר רבי אבא: אין לך קץ מגולה מזה, שנאמר: ״ואתם הרי ישראל ענפכם תתנו ופריכם תשאו לעמי ישראל וגו׳״. רבי אליעזר אומר: אף מזה, שנאמר: ״כי לפני הימים ההם שכר האדם לא נהיה ושכר הבהמה איננה וליוצא ולבא אין שלום מן הצר״.

§ And R' Abba says: You have no more explicit manifestation of the end of days than this following phenomenon, as it is stated: “But you, mountains of Israel, you should give your branches, and yield your fruit to My people of Israel, for they will soon be coming” (Ezekiel 36:8). When produce will grow in abundance in Eretz Yisrael, it is an indication that the Messiah will be coming soon. R' Eliezer says: You have no greater manifestation of the end of days than this following phenomenon as well, as it is stated: “For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; nor was there peace from the oppressor to him who exits and to him who enters” (Zechariah 8:10). When there are no wages for work and no rent paid for use of one’s animal, that is an indication that the coming of the Messiah is at hand.