Non-Jews in the Messianic Era

The Aish Rabbi Replies

It’s a fascinating issue. We would imagine that after the Messiah’s arrival and the truth becomes known, all mankind will naturally want to observe God’s Torah fully and come close to Him. And in fact, according to one opinion in the Talmud (Brachot 57b) that is precisely what will occur. Mankind will universally convert to Judaism. This is based on Zephaniah 3:9: “For then I will change the nations [to speak] a pure language, so that they all will proclaim the name of God, to worship Him with a united resolve.” All mankind will serve God in “united” fashion – which assumedly means we will all observe the same Torah.

The accepted opinion, however, is that once the Messianic Age begins, it will be too late to convert (Talmud, Yevamot 24b). Once the truth becomes so evidently clear, people will obviously all want to embrace Judaism. But such people will not be considered truly genuine converts – because their sincerity will be suspect. Will such people want Judaism because of a true change of heart and commitment to pursue righteousness – or because they just want to be on the winning team? When the choice between good and evil will be so obvious, it will mean very little that a person wants to convert, and such a desire will not be considered sufficient proof of true resolve. We will not be able to assume such people truly possess the commitment and devotion to observe the 613 Commandments in their entirety. The Talmud (ibid.) likewise states that converts were not accepted in the days of Kings David and Solomon, when Israel was ascendant over the nations.

In fact, according to the Talmud (Yevamot 47a), one of the first questions we ask a potential convert today is why he would want to join such an oppressed, downtrodden nation. Only if he shows his complete willingness to convert despite this is he accepted. Otherwise, we are concerned that the conversion candidate has insincere or ulterior motives – such as to marry a Jew. And the same will be true on a much greater scale in the End of Days.

The Talmud (Avodah Zarah 3b) likewise describes how early in the Messianic Era –after the Messiah first arrives but before the final battle of Gog and Magog – many non-Jews will excitedly attempt to convert. They will not be accepted but they will consider themselves Jews nonetheless and begin observing some of the more conspicuous commandments – such Tzitzit and Tefillin. However, once the Great Battle begins, they will quickly abandon their newfound faith and disappear. In the words of the Talmud, God will “get a laugh” out of this – the only time in history that God will so to speak be amused by the often comical (but usually tragic) behavior of mankind.

If so, what is the meaning of the verse we cited in Zephaniah – that in the future all mankind will join together to serve God? The answer is that we will all join together in God’s service, but not necessarily through the identical form of observance. The Gentiles will no doubt be the equivalent of Noahides today – observing the Seven Noahide Laws as well as universal forms of worship such as prayer. As I discuss elsewhere, there are many ways for a Noahide to serve God without becoming Jewish – fulfilling his mission in life and earning a share in the World to Come. There are also several verses which depict the nation as assisting the Jews in serving God. See for example Isaiah 49:22-23, 60:10, 61:5; Zechariah 8:20-23. For Judaism does not believe that conversion and full observance are the only path to salvation. Mankind will all join in God’s service, but everyone will do so in his own particular way.