Potential of ushering in messianic age
“He said: ‘Anything of benefit that the messiah will bring to Israel, so too can I. The only difference is that the Messiah will decide, proclaim, and it will come to pass, whereas I … But I cannot finish.’ The definitive statement implies that there is no difference between R. Nachman and the Messiah – excepting the ability to enforce his will upon his followers. … A well known oral tradition among Breslav Chasidim preserves this same aphormism … ‘The Messiah will be obeyed, but they do not want to obey me.’ This version sharpens the implications of the message – If only the world would listen to him, there would be no difference between R. Nachman and the Messiah. In other words, if obeyed, R. Nachman would be the Messiah. .. His (Nachman’s) claim was that even though he was not obeyed at present, in time he eventually would be heeded, ushering in the messianic era. But R. Nachman’s hopes were dashed. His disciples who disappointed, the bitteer struggles and denunciations, the discovery that his illness was to be terminal – all these made him realize that he would not reach his goal in his own lifetime. … Despite this, he said: ‘I haven’t finished? I have already finished and I will finish!”
The Scroll of Secrets, Zvi Mark, pp. 66-70
“Also when we travelled to Uman together, he spoke to me concerning the idea that G-d always completes … At first when we grew close to him, he had contemplated finishing his task of repair at once, as we had discussed several times. Afterwards, due to our great sins and the sins of the generation, as well as the great attacks of the Evil One which brought the controversy which hounded him, the world became confused and he could not accomplish in his lifetime that which he had intended. Despite all this, though, he sad that he had finished and that he would finish (as mentioned above). For after he arrived from Lemberg, he began on this path and spoke of these things -that his light would never be extinguished. And I heard in his name that he had said, ‘My flame will burn until the messiah comes.’
The Scroll of Secrets, Zvi Mark, p. 71, citing Chayei Moharan Im Hashmatot 260.
Text …
“Yosef recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him — This is one of the traits of Yosef not only in his own generation, but in every generation, i.e., that Mashiach ben Yosef recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. This is the work of Satan, who hides the characteristics of Mashiach ben Yosef so that the footsteps of the Mashiach are not recognized and are even belittled because of our many sins. Otherwise, our troubles would already have ended. Were Israel to recognize Yosef, that is, the footsteps of ben Yosef the Mashiach which is the ingathering of the exiles etc., then we would already have been redeemed with a complete redemption.”
Kol Hator, Chapter 2, Aspect #39
Time not relevant p69
Acts 3