THE JEWISH NATION WILL BE ON THE LOWEST LEVEL BEFORE THE ADVENT OF THE MOSHIACH [HAZRAT MAHDI (AS)]

The Jewish nation itself will be on the lowest level possible before the advent of the redemption in order that the redemption will have the greatest impact on them. This is the meaning of the following midrash:

Israel said before the Holy One, blessed is He, “Master of the world, when will You redeem us?” God answered, “When you descend to the lowest level, I will redeem you,” as it says, “The children of Yehudah and the children of Israel will be assembled together, and they will appoint one head for themselves and ascend from the land” (Hoshea 2:2). And it says, “For our soul is prostrate to the dust” (Tehillim 44:26). What is written afterward? “Arise! Assist us!” God said, “Everything is [dependent] on you, like a rose that blossoms with its core upraised. So too, when you do teshuvah like a rose, with your hearts directed toward [God] above, I will redeem you,” as it says, “I will be to Israel like the dew” (Hoshea 14:6). When [will God soothe Israel like dew]? When “he will blossom like a rose” (ibid.).

[Yalkut Shimoni, Hoshea 533]