What is the Gentiles’ purpose?

The fulfillment of G-d’s Kingship is dependent upon the Gentiles

The holy book of Zohar explains that the purpose of G-d’s creation of the physical universe is for the eternal future World to Come. In that time, His unlimited Essence will be openly revealed in this physical world, dwelling together with human beings, both Gentiles and Jews. Many Biblical prophecies focus on the Righteous Gentiles in the Messianic Era.

What is the purpose of Gentiles, who are created in the “image of G-d” (Genesis 1:27)? Through accepting upon themselves G-d as their King, there will be an essential revelation of G-d’s Kingship in the creation. Primarily this happens through following the Seven Commandments which He gave them. As the Zohar says, because G-d desired to do kindness, it arose in His thought, “I will reign”. By analogy, there is no king without subjects. A king may have many children (Exodus 4:22), and many ministers for the administration of his kingdom (Isaiah 6:2-3). But he is not a king with out a nation of subjects who will accept him as their king and accept his decrees.

Biblical prophecies of the Messianic Era that involve the Gentiles

This will mainly be accomplished through the Gentiles, more so than through the Jews. This is what the Jewish prophets prophesied about the eternal Messianic Era. All the Books of the Hebrew Prophets are full of these prophecies, and here are just a few examples:

– Psalm 67:3-6 – “That Your way should be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Peoples will thank You, O G-d; peoples will thank You, yea, all of them. Kingdoms will rejoice and sing praises, for You will judge peoples fairly, and the kingdoms – You will lead them on earth forever. Peoples will thank You, O G-d; peoples will thank You, yea, all of them.”

– Psalm 72:19 – “Blessed is His glorious Name forever, and may the whole earth [of which the great majority of people are Gentiles] be filled with His glory.”

– Psalm 100:1 – “Let all the earth [of which the vast majority of people are Gentiles] sing in jubilation to the L-rd.”

– Isaiah 11:9 – “The earth [which is almost entirely populated by Gentiles] will be as filled with knowledge of G-d as water covering the sea bed.”

– Isaiah 56:7 – “For My house [G-d’s eternal Third Temple that will be built in Jerusalem] shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

– Zephaniah 3:9 – “For then I [G-d] will turn the nations to pure language, so that all will call upon the Name of G-d to serve Him with one purpose.”

– Zechariah 14:9 – “G-d will be King over the entire world [including all the Gentiles], and in that day G-d will be One and His Name One.”

– Rosh Hashanah prayer for the Messianic Era, composed by the Talmudic Sages: “All will form a single band to carry out the will of G-d, blessed be He.”

Fulfilling the purpose for the physical creation

As a precondition to achieve all of this in actual reality, the world first needs to be perfected. This means that it is necessary for people to follow the path of righteousness and peace in the practical sense. Since the vast majority of the people in the world are Gentiles, this depends on them. (There are 8 billion Gentiles living in the world at this time). That is the goal and the purpose that they are assigned by G-d to accomplish.

This is one of the tasks of the true Messiah, who will be a naturally-born descendant of King David. He will motivate all Gentiles to reach this level of righteousness. This was explained by Rambam (Maimonides) in Laws of Kings, ch. 11. Nevertheless, the Gentiles need to be ready and desire on their own to reach that level. The readiness which the Gentiles need to have is to get ready in practical terms. This means doing their mission to actually accomplish it to the extent they can, with the proper guidance. The conditions for this are happening now, in the short but difficult time before the true Messiah is revealed.

Specifically, we must bring to fulfillment the unified purpose of Gentiles all over the world. This is to follow the path of goodness and righteousness, with acceptance of the one true G-d as their King. This can only be accomplished through their Seven Commandments that were given through Noah, and through Moses at Mount Sinai. That is the goal of the campaign by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to encourage all Gentiles to learn and observe their Seven Commandments. [1]

[1] See the book, To Perfect the World: The Lubavitcher Rebbe’s Call to Teach the Noahide Code to All Mankind

– By Dr. M. Schulman, Director of Ask Noah International