Parallel Eschatology

Coming of the Messiah.  It appears that the concept of “The Rapture” as interpreted by Conservative Christianity does not appear in ancient or modern Jewish scripture or commentary. However, Jewish Eschatology (end of the world) beliefs seem striking in their similarities. They show the underlying and common human desires to be singled out, saved from the horrors of a corrupt world and to participate in the coming idealized state of being. There is also a distinct sense of the possibility that one can earn one’s way into this coming utopia. In Judaism, the idealized state will first be realized on Earth prior to the End of Days. Central to Jewish belief is the yearning for the coming of the Messiah as foretold in the Old Testament. “The term “End of Days” is taken from Numbers 24:4. This has always been taken as a reference to the messianic era…” www.chabad.org/library/article.asp?AID=108400  

“The Hebrew word Mashiach … means anointed one, and refers to a human being who will usher in a messianic era of peace and prosperity for both the living and the deceased:
 - All of the people of Israel will come back to Torah
 - The people of Israel will be gathered back to the Land of Israel
 - The Holy Temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt
 - Israel will live free among the nations and will have no need to defend itself
 - War and famine will end and an era of peace and prosperity will come upon the Earth. The dead will be "livened."” www.wikipedia.com See entries on Eschatology - Judaism

Hope for Resurrection. “… the Prophets developed the hope of an ideal Messianic future through the reign of a son of the house of David—the golden age of paradisiacal bliss, of which the traditions of all the ancient nations spoke ... It would come in the form of a world of perfect peace and harmony among all creatures, the angelic state of man before his sin (Isa. xi. 1-10, lxv. 17-25 ). It was only a step further to predict the visitation of all the kingdoms of the earth, to be followed by the swallowing up of death forever and a resurrection of the dead in Israel, so that all the people of the Lord might witness the glorious salvation (Isa. xxiv. 21-xxv. 8, xxvi. 19). The hope of resurrection ...is extended to both the wicked and the righteous: the latter "shall awake to everlasting life," the former "to shame and everlasting horror." www.Wikipedia.com  See entries on "Jewish Eschatology”.

Elijah Raptured? "There is a tradition that Elijah the prophet will come to the world and announce the imminent arrival of Mashiach (Messiah)” The Jewish Encyclopedia “Eschatology” by Kaufmann Kohler www.jewishencyclopedia.com  

“… Jewish legends recall the mystical appearance of Elijah the Prophet in times of trouble, to promise relief and redemption, to lift downcast spirits, and to plant hope in the hearts of the downtrodden…. Elijah the Prophet is one of the very few individuals mentioned in the Hebrew Bible that didn't really die, but instead was carried off in a flaming chariot.” ... www.angelfire.com/pa2/passover/elijah-the-prophet-elijah.html

Order of the End Times. “When the archangel Michael blows the trumpet, Elijah will appear with the Messiah… whom he will present to the Jews ….. They will ask of Elijah, as an attestation of his mission, that he raise the dead before their eyes and revive such of the dead as they personally knew…. But he will do more than this, in that he will perform seven miracles before the eyes of the people:… At the bidding of the Messiah, Elijah will sound the trumpet, and at the first blast the primitive light will appear; at the second, the dead will rise; and at the third, the Divine Majesty will appear…. During the Messianic reign Elijah will be one of the eight princes (Micah v. 4), and even on the Last Day he will not give up his activity. He will implore God's mercy for the wicked who are in hell, while their innocent children who died in infancy on account of the sins of their fathers, are in paradise. Thus he will complete his mission, in that God, moved by his prayer, will bring the sinful fathers to their children in paradise (Eccl. R. iv. 1). He will bring to an end his glorious career by killing Samael at the behest of God, and thus destroy all evil…” www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=245&letter=E&search=Elijah#649

“The Resurrection will occur at the close of the Messianic era (Enoch, xcviii. 10). Death will befall the Messiah after his four hundred years' reign, and all mankind and the world will lapse into primeval silence for seven days, after which the renewed earth will give forth its dead and God will judge the world and assign the evil-doers to the pit of hell and the righteous to paradise, which is on the opposite side (II Esd. vii. 26-36).” From : Eschatology, by Kauffmann Kohler, The Jewish Encyclopedia - www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=460&letter=E#1223