The Mashiach has two functions, one when he becomes Mashiach and one before he becomes Mashiach. The Mashiach has certain things he must do before becoming the Mashiach. The era of Mashiach is a certain period of time which exists right before the year 6000. From the year that Mashiach comes until the year 6000 is the time of the Messianic era. The world before and after Mashiach are very different periods. The period before has a certain quality of hiddenness; the period after has a tremendous amount of revelation. The World to Come is only after the year 6000 and is much more powerful than the Messianic era.