Today, it is a very common idea that the world is progressing, and that everything is becoming better, more highly developed, and more perfect - and will, therefore, ultimately merit redemption.

The concept of a world that will be redeemed in the "End of Days" was carried over from Judaism and - mediated by Christianity and Islam - has become one of the foundation stones of modern thinking.  It is so powerful that it has been integrated into non-theological "religions":  The ideology of Communism assured its followers that the Revolution (like the Messiah) might tarry, but it (like him) would surely come.

We can also see this way of thinking in the theory of evolution, which has - through a subtle shift in meaning - turned from a theory that explains how organisms adapt to their environments to a description of how creation improves with each generation.  According to this view, if we let nature run its course and don't interfere, society will evolve toward perfection.  Advances made in science and technology are held up as alleged proofs that the world is improving, based on the false assumption that whatever is more sophisticated (and more artificial) is better.

This optimistic view, as appealing as it may be, is considered by many to be naïve, unrealistic, and empty. The Jewish view of world history is optimistic, but it is an optimism with substance and meaning.