A handwritten note from the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach from Pesach Sheni 5745 (1985) in response to a letter sent by Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Wolfson, in which he quoted the Holy Ruzhiner (see Besuras Hageulah in this issue) who said that the Rambam saw himself as Moshiach .
The Rebbe corroborated this idea from writings of the Rambam himself:
All that you have sent has been received; many thanks.
Take notice of Iggeres Teiman, a treatise to the Jews of Yemen written by the Rambam where he writes about a tradition he received regarding the time when prophecy will return, and he adds “that this is the prelude for Moshiach.”
The year mentioned is 4970 since creation [=1210], (which comes out to be close to his time living in this world, just five years after his passing).
The Rambam adds then that “this ketz is the most correct one,” which means that this ketz is “B’Itah” — the destined time for Moshiach’s arrival; him coming beforehand [in the Rambam’s lifetime] surely was a possibility, it would be “Achishena” — an expedited coming.
The Rambam’s lineage too, supports this, as he is heir to Rabbeinu Hakadosh, who is from the offspring of Dovid Hamelech, peace be upon him which makes him someone worthy of being Moshiach. ■