The Jewish Moshiach will not come by misreading Jewish texts and applying them to those who don’t satisfy the criteria, nor will it actualize itself by such hostile groups strengthening their own skewed beliefs rather than drawing closer to Hashem. In short, the verses he cites from I Kings 8:41-43 were clearly NOT referring to evangelicals who call out in the name of Jesus!
Nor can the verses of Isaiah 61: 1-5 where the “strangers” stand and pasture our flocks, and “aliens” act as our plowmen and vine-trimmers refer to evangelical missionaries who believe they are witnesses to the “Second Coming.” Ironically, the next verse (verse 6) concludes by noting that “you shall enjoy the wealth of nations And revel in their riches.” It is hard to accept that this prophecy has materialized when most hard-working middle class Israelis struggle each month just to stay out of the “red.” Not to mention the undignified behavior of the State of Israel who grovels before the United States for foreign aid.
Finally, the quoting of Zechariah 8:20-22 as another proof text to equate the nation which will come to Jerusalem to pray to Hashem is clearly not referring to those who continue to worship and believe in their role as witnesses to “that man.” The classical Jewish commentators agree that those who come to Jerusalem are motivated by truth and to learn from Am Yisrael about the One true G-d.
Critical Point #1: The “foreigner” of the Torah (whoever he may be) is not a missionary!
Critical Point #2: The “foreigner” desires to come closer to Hashem!
Frum Messianic Fervor Gone Amuck
The desire to see halachically prohibited evangelical volunteerism as proof of the fulfillment of biblical prophecies is not only a distortion of holy texts but a form of false messianism. Please refer to the article “Jumping The Geula Gun”, from Jewish Israel’s Rabbi Sholom Gold, for an articulate formulation of the spiritual dangers inherent in such actions. Throughout Jewish history, the end result of unrestrained zealous messianic fervor is that Jewish neshamos are endangered. In a perverse irony, Jews have adopted the same distortions of our Torah that missionaries use. They have become masters of evangelical language and ideology. While they claim that no one has yet been proselytized, they are Exhibit A of the kind of effect evangelicals have had on them!
Gentile Residence In Israel
The Rambam is clear about which gentiles may reside in Eretz Yisrael. Assuming that the situation is one where Jews fit the criteria as being stronger than the gentiles, only those gentiles who meet the following criteria can reside in the land: a) adherence of the 7 Noachide law b) acceptance of “tribute and servitude” c) obtaining the status of ger toshav (resident stranger) in front of a Jewish court during a time of yovel (jubilee).
ט[ו] אֵין כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ אֲמוּרִים, אֵלָא בִּזְמָן שֶׁגָּלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵין הָאֻמּוֹת, אוֹ בִּזְמָן שֶׁיַּד הַגּוֹיִים תַּקִּיפָה. אֲבָל בִּזְמָן שֶׁיַּד יִשְׂרָאֵל תַּקִּיפָה עַל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, אָסוּר לָנוּ לְהַנִּיחַ גּוֹי עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה בֵּינֵינוּ; אַפִלּוּ יוֹשֵׁב יְשִׁיבַת עֲרַאי, אוֹ עוֹבֵר מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם לִסְחוֹרָה, לֹא יַעֲבֹר בְּאַרְצֵנוּ, עַד שֶׁיְּקַבַּל עָלָיו שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בְּנֵי נוֹחַ–שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר “לֹא יֵשְׁבוּ בְּאַרְצְךָ” (שמותכג,לג), אַפִלּוּ לְפִי שָׁעָה. וְאִם קִבַּל עָלָיו שֶׁבַע מִצְווֹת, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב. וְאֵין מְקַבְּלִין גֵּר תּוֹשָׁב, אֵלָא בִּזְמָן שֶׁהַיּוֹבֵל נוֹהֵג; אֲבָל שֶׁלֹּא בִּזְמָן הַיּוֹבֵל, אֵין מְקַבְּלִין אֵלָא גֵּר צֶדֶק בִּלְבָד. (Machon Mamre Online Mishne Torah)
“All the above is only applicable when we are in exile or among the nations.pr when the nations are mightier than Israel, but when Israel is mightier than they, we are forbidden to leave non-Jews among us. Even for a non-Jew to live temporarily in Eretz Yisrael or just to pass through on business is forbidden unless he undertakes the seven Noachide Laws……And if he undertakes them he is a ger toshav (resident stranger). We do not accept a ger toshav except when the Jubilee year is operative. At other times, we accept only real converts.” (Hilchot Avodah Zara V’chukot Hagoyim) “Uncensored Versions” of the Rambam.
