It sais that we will not accept geirim in the times of mashiach, but they will convert themselves and do mitzvos, and the will panic and stop doing mitzvos in the war of gog umagog. This implies that the war is AFTER mashiach comes. is that true?
Ovadia Sofer, London, England
Yes, Mashi'ach ben Yosef will lead us in the war against Gog and Magog. Later, Mashi'ach ben David will come and rebuild the Beis ha'Mikdash and rule over Israel.
See Rashi to Yeshayah 24:18, to Daniel 9:26, Radak Yeshayah 4:2.
M. Kornfeld
D.A.F.
Does this mean that we will KNOW with certainty when mashiach ben Yosef comes?
Ovadia Sofer, London, England
I'm not sure that can be inferred from our Gemara. The Rambam and Ra'avad argue whether there is a clear-cut test for the veracity of a Mashi'ach (Hilchos, Melachim 11:3).
In either case, it is possible that many people throughout the generations can be a "partial" of Mashi'ach ben Yosef. It is Mashi'ach ben David who is the "one and only" redeemer.
M. Kornfeld
If that is the case, how will we know not to accept geirim in the days of Mashiach bed Yosef?
Ovadia Sofer, London, England
Gerim were not accepted at any point in Jewish history that it looked (to the world) as though it was a "good thing" to be Jewish. See Yevamos 24b and Tosfos.
M. Kornfeld