The Mishnah forewarns us: "On the eve of the coming of Mashiach, ...each day's curse will be heavier than that of the preceding day."

What possible good could come from giving us this somber prophecy?

Yet it serves a purpose. Had the Torah not foretold this situation, it would have been so perplexing that the Jewish people would have become dispirited. But now that the Torah has told us what to expect as the era of exile finally draws to a close, Jews can take heart, and can tackle their divinely-appointed tasks with zest.