1. Moshiach Arrives Suddenly
No buildup or stages. One moment Golus, the next complete Geula. As Magid Meisharim notes, unlike a king’s announced arrival it is abrupt, absolute — flipping from night to day in one second.

2. A Gradual Process
Per the Zohar, leaving Golus is drawn out. Not a sudden breaking forth. Starting with small sparks of light that slowly expand, filled with doubts and questions along the way until the darkness of Golus is gone.

Two Paths to Redemption: Achishena and Be’ita
The Gemara in Sanhedrin 98a points out a contrast of verses. Daniel 7:13 says Moshiach comes “with the clouds of heaven” — speedy, sudden. Zechariah 9:9 says he comes “poor and riding on a donkey” — lazy, slow, gradual.

The Gemara Answers:

Zachu — “we merit”: It’s achishena, “hastened.” Moshiach comes before the preordained time in sudden revelation — im ananei shmaya, “with clouds of heaven.” Everything transforms at once. The Beis HaMikdash descends fully built from Shamayim.

Lo zachu —  “we do not merit”: It’s be’ita, “in its time.” Moshiach comes at the designated time — ani v’rochev al chamor, “poor and riding on a donkey.” Redemption unfolds gradually, step by step, without open miracles. The Beis HaMikdash is built by human hands through Moshiach.

The Ohr HaChaim echoes this: if Yidden are meritorious, Moshiach comes suddenly; otherwise, it’s a slow, gradual process.

The Challenge 
A person who only knows the natural, gradual descriptions may struggle to believe Moshiach could come this second. 
A person who only knows the sudden descriptions may struggle to accept Moshiach if he comes through a process.

The Ultimate Belief 
Hold both truths: believe wholeheartedly that Moshiach can come any moment now, while also recognizing there may be a full, orderly process to his revelation.

So you’re ready either way — whether it’s instant or step-by-step.

In Chassidus in General
Step-by-step Geula has the advantage of higher and deeper level of refinement of the world. 
Sudden Geula has the advantage of a higher revelation of Hashem.

The Rebbe adds
That distinction only applied if Geula came at its designated time. Now that all the end times have passed, there are no steps. Beginning and completion happen in a blink of an eye.

(Ohr Hachaim Bamidbar 24:17, Likutei Sichos 18 p. 418, Sefer Hasichos 2:651 5750)