Rambam- Moshiach

Moshiach will save Israel at the end of days. "He shall dominate all of Seth's descendants" ­This refers to the Moshiach (about whom it is written, "He will rule from sea to sea" [Zechariah 9:10]).
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The centrality of Moshiach in Judaism according to Rambam (Maimonidies), is so strong, that he even says, "The final goal, is the attaining of the World-to-Come; and it is to it, that all our effort must be directed."

Due to its sublimity and difficulty, to a great many contem­poraries, the idea of the Moshiach has become meaningless. Therefore He clarifies it, because it has fallen into chaos and disarray.

Rambam, returned the focus of the Jewish world, to regard the worship of G-d, as the ultimate goal of Judaism. And the ultimate purpose of the Torah, is the immortality of the soul.
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According to Rambam, the Moshiach will restore the mon­archy, build the Temple, and gather in the Jewish people; thus creating an environment in which, the Jewish people will be able to observe the Torah and its Mitzvot, in a perfect manner. Furthermore, he will remove any obstacles to this end, in the world at large.

As a consequence, the Jewish people will "be free [to involve themselves] in Torah and its wisdom, [without any pressures or disturbances]. At that time there will be neither famine nor war ... [and] the occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d" (Laws of Kings and Wars 12:4-5).

Thus we see, how the natural order of the world prevails: the Jewish people and the world at large, will be elevated to a perfect state, of knowledge and practice. This is the purpose of the Moshiach's coming.
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The knowledge and love of G-d for their own sakes, constituted the ultimate purpose of the commandments, as well as the Messianic era.
Rambam offers a new perspective, on the material benefits promised in the Torah and Rabbinic literature:

As regards the promises and threats alluded to in the Torah, their interpretation is: "If you obey these precepts, I will help you to a further obedience of them, and perfection in the performance of them. And I shall remove all hindrances from you...."

For it is impossible for man to do the service of G-d, when sick or hungry or thirsty, or in trouble; and this is why the Torah promises, the removal of all these disabilities; and gives man also the promise of health and quietude, until such a time, as he shall have attained perfection of knowledge, and be worthy of the life of the World-to-Come.

The final aim of the Torah, is not that the earth should be fertile, that people should live long, and that bodies should be healthy. It simply helps us to the performance of its precepts. [Intro­duction to Helek]
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The Messianic era creates conditions, that free man of mundane worries and dis­tractions, so that he can devote himself to the single-minded pursuit of knowledge of G-d.

In the days of the World-to-Come, knowledge, wisdom and truth will increase, as it is said, "For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:9), and it is said, "They will no more teach everyone his brother, and everyone his neighbor" (Jeremiah 31:34), and further, "I will remove the heart of stone, from your flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). [Laws of Repentance]

Rambam wrote, that the Moshiach himself will be human, and the longevity that people will enjoy in the Messianic era will be a perfectly natural consequence, of the conditions that will then prevail.
His [the Moshiach's] name will be great, and fill the earth to its uttermost bounds. It will be a greater name, than that of King Solomon and mightier.

The nations will make peace with him. And lands will obey him, by reason of his great rectitude, and the wonders, that will come to light by his means. Any one that rises up against him, G-d will destroy and make him fall into his hand. [Introduction to Helek]
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Because the king who will arise from the seed of David, he will possess more wisdom than Solomon; and will be a great prophet, approaching Moses, our teacher; he will teach the whole of the Jewish people, and instruct them in the way of G-d.

And all nations will come to hear him, as it is said, And at the end of days it shall come to pass, that the Mount of the Lord's house, shall be established as the top of the mountains [Micah 4:1; Isaiah 2:2]. [Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Teshuvah 9:8-10]

In this era, all nations will return to the true faith, and no longer rob or destroy....
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But in those days, the gaining of their livelihood will be so easy to men, that they will do the lightest possible labor, and reap great benefit. It is this, that is meant by the remark of the Rabbis, "The land of Israel, will one day produce cakes ready baked, and garments of fine silk."

By virtue of possessing Ruah Hakodesh, the Holy Spirit, he will be able to determine, who among the descendants of the tribe of Levi, are priests, and who are ordinary Levites. Then the Temple can be rebuilt, and the sacrificial service reinstituted.

The King Moshiach will arise, and restore the kingdom of David to its former state, and original sovereignty. He will rebuild the sanctuary, and gather the dispersed of Israel.

All the ancient laws will, be reinstituted in his days; sacrifices will again be offered; the sabbatical and jubilee years, will again be observed in accor­dance with the commandments set forth in the Torah. [Laws of Kings and Wars 11:1]
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Rambam states the Messianic king's functions, as being both temporal and spiritual. He must provide social and political stability and security, but also establish the sovereignty of the Torah over his entire kingdom. Because he is an instrument for extending the rule of the Torah, he may not use his power for the sake of personal aggrandizement.

Rambam' description of the Moshiach, thus parallels his conception of Messianism, as the means of an ideal fulfillment and implementation, of the Torah. He therefore emphasizes, that the Torah will in no way be abrogated during the Messianic age, but indeed will be restored in its entirety.

One thing that distinguishes the Messianic king from all other kings, is his success, in restoring Jewish national life in all its aspects, and the dissemination of the knowledge of G-d throughout the world.

The sages and prophets did not long for the days of the Moshiach ,that Israel might exercise dominion over the world, or rule over the heathens, or be exalted by the nations, or that it might eat and drink and rejoice. Rather, their aspiration was, that [the Jewish people] be free [to involve themselves] in Torah and its wisdom, without anyone to oppress or disturb them; and thus be found worthy of life in the World-to-Come. [Laws of Kings and Wars 12:4]

Whenever material well-being is promised or hoped for in Judaism, it is not regarded as an end in itself, but rather, as a means for furthering knowledge and love of G-d. Messianic times are ideal and desirable, because the conditions that will prevail will be conducive

Blessings will be abundant, and comforts will be within the reach of all. The one preoccupation of the whole world will be to know the Lord.
Hence Israelites nations will be very wise, they will know the things that are now concealed; and will attain an understanding of their Creato,r to the utmost capacity of the human kind. [Laws of Kings and Wars 12:5]
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This change in the stability and material perfection of the world, will benefit the non-Jewish nations as well. If they observe the Noachide laws, (the fundamental principles incum­bent upon all human beings according to halakhah), and subju­gate themselves to G-d's authority, they too will share in this world of the future.

They must keep the Bible's universal code of universal ethics and morality, known as the Seven Noachide Laws; which entail prohibitions: on idolatry, blasphemy, mur­der, sexual immorality, kidnapping, sadistic treatment of ani­mals; and a postitive commandment, to set up courts of law and uphold justice.

But there is a very important precondition to these laws, insofar as they necessitate an acceptance of Sinaitic revelation, as the exclusive source for validating obedience to the Noachide laws.

A non-Jew who accepts the seven commandments, and who serves them scrupulously, is a "righteous person," and will have a portion in the World-to-Come; provided that he accepts them and performs them, because the Holy One, blessed he He, commanded them in the Law and made known through Moses our teacher.

That the observance thereof had been enjoined upon the descendants of Noah, even before the Law was given.

But if his observance thereof, is based upon a reasoned conclu­sion, he is not deemed a righteous person, or one of the pious of the gentiles.
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The Rabbis of blessed memory said: "In the World-to-Come, there will be neither eating nor drinking

None of the conditions occur there, that are incidental to physical bodies in this world, such as sitting, standing, sleeping, seeing, grief, merriment, and their like....

The sages' expression of "their crowns on their heads" means, that the knowledge they have acquired, is with them
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The Rambam devoted significant portions of his epistles, to Jewish communities around the world, encouraging the suffering masses of Israel, never to lose hope in his arrival.

Notwithstanding the advances of the Gen­tile nations, amid the lowliness of Israel; and notwithstanding how improbable, indeed impossible, the advent of the Moshiach would ever seem; one could rest assured, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that G-d would keep His promise, and send the Moshiach.

This is how matters stand regarding the era of the Moshiach, may he speedily come.

For while the Gentiles believe, that our nation will never constitute an independent state; nor will it ever rise above its present condition; and all the astrologers, diviners, and augurs, concur in this opinion, G-d will prove their views and beliefs false, and will order the advent of the Moshiach. [Epistle to Yemen]