The vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though he tarry wait for him, for it will surely come it will not be late! (Habakuk 2:3)

Therefore wait for Me, says God, for the day that I rise to the prey; for My judgment is to gather nations, that I assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation, all My fierce anger. For all the earth shall be consumed by the fire of My jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8)

Happy are all those that wait for him. (Isaiah 30:18) Waiting for Mashiach, anticipating his coming, is not simply a virtue but a religious obligation.

When you come to Shamayim (heaven) one of the first things they will ask you is “Tzipisa L’Geula”; were you anxiously awaiting the Geula? More than being one of the 13 fundamental principles of Yehadut, the Rambam in Peirush HaMishnayot says that you need to be Mispalel for the Geula to come.

In Hilchot Milachim (11:1) he says that whoever does not wait and expect Mashiach’s imminent arrival is a Kofer BaTorah. What this means, say Rav Yosef Rubinstein in his Kuntrat Bait Kodsheinu V’Sifarteinu, is that if you are not waiting anxiously it is because you don’t really believe that great things will happen when he comes.

According to the Smak waiting for Mashiach is even a Mitzva Aseh. It is included in the Mitzva of “Anochi HaShem Elokecha Asher Hotzaeisicha MeiEretz Mitzrayim”. The Smak says that this Mitzva of Anochi means that just like HaShem took us out of Mitzrayim, so too will He take us out of this Galut and bring the Geula. Rabbeinu Peretz explains the Smak, saying that since the Aseret HaDibrot are commandments, Anochi is also a commandment to wait for the Geula and not just a matter of belief.

It was not for nothing that the Chofetz Chain kept a packed suitcase always at hand, ready to go at any moment. It is not for nothing that tzaddikim cry bitter tears every night while saying Tikun Chatzot over the Churban and the Galut HaShechina. We pray three times a day in numerous Brachot in Shemoneh Esrei for the Geula, Yerushalayim, and Mashiach. This is a Mitzva D’Oiraita (from the Torah).

Rambam thus rules that whoever does not believe in and whoever does not await (eagerly looking forward to) the coming of Mashiach, in effect denies the whole Torah, all the prophets beginning with Moses.

In the popular formulation of his thirteen Principles of the Faith (the hymn of Ani Ma’amin) this is put as follows: I believe with complete faith in the coming of Mashiach. Though he tarry, nonetheless I await him every day, that he will come.