Tag: gentiles

Israel Shall Be Saved

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Romans 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 

‘All Israel shall be saved’ – this refers to the whole nation that will be alive in Palestine when Christ comes (Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-15; Matt. 24:39; Isa. 66:7-8). It is at that time that all the rest of Israel will be gathered (Isa. 11:1-12; 66:19-21; Matt. 24:31).

‘There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob’ – quoted from Isaiah 27:9; 59:20-21. By this judgment upon His people the iniquity of Jacob will be purged; the proof of such cleansing from sin will be when Israel is caused by God to throw down the stones of the altar and the groves, and throw away the images.

Those that will turn from transgression in Israel in that day (at Christ’s second coming), will be the one-third of the nation who will come through the tribulation alive, the two-thirds being killed (Zech. 13:9). They will be the ones to say, ‘blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord’ (Matt. 23:39) – the ones that will be born again in a day and make the nucleus around which the others from all the tribes will be gathered in the Millennium (Isa. 11:10-12). They are the “all Israel” of Romans 11:25-29, and the Judah of Zechariah 14:14.

‘Turn away ungodliness from Jacob’ – no one in Israel or among the Gentiles will be saved and blessed by God in the eternal program until he turns from sin. This is the reason Israel is now scattered among the nations, and why God has not been able to fulfil His everlasting covenants with them. He can never do so until they turn from sin to Him and holy living (cp. Matt. 18:3; John 3:3-5).

Five things Christ will do at the Second Coming: He will come to Zion – Jerusalem (no other place on earth, Isaiah 59:20 and Zechariah 14:4). He will come to them that turn from sin in Jacob or Israel (Isa. 59:20; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-5, 14; Rom. 11:25-29). He will make a new covenant with them in that day (Isa. 42:6; 49:8; 55:3; 57:8; 59:21; 61:8; Jer. 31:31; Heb. 10:16). He will pour out the Holy Spirit upon them (Isa. 32:15; 34:16; 44:3; 59:21; Joel 2:28-32; Zech. 12:10-13:1). He will put the words of God in their mouths and in the mouths of eternal generations to come (Isa. 59:21).

This Mystery

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Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 

‘Ignorant of this mystery’ six things Paul did not want people to be ignorant of (1:13; 11:25; 1Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 2Cor. 1:8; 1Thess. 4:13).

‘Mystery’ [Greek: musterion] something previously hidden, but now fully revealed. In the New Testament it always means any doctrine that has not, in former times, been made fully known to people. It is found 27 times in the New Testament and not once in the Old Testament. Eighteen mysteries of are noted in Scripture: The kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God (Matt. 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10); Israel’s blindness (Rom. 11:25); salvation in Christ (Rom. 16:25); the wisdom of God (1Cor. 2:7); the doctrines of God (1Cor. 4:1; Col. 2:2; 1Tim. 3:16); the gospel (Eph. 6:19); gift of knowledge (1Cor. 13:2); speaking in tongues (1Cor. 14:2); the rapture of Christians (1Cor. 15:23, 51-58; John 14:1-3; 1Thess. 4:13-16); God’s will (Eph. 1:9); the body of Christ (Eph. 3:1-9; 5:32); Christ in people (Col. 1:26-27); doctrines of Christ (Col. 4:3); the spirit of lawlessness (2Thess. 2:7); faith of the gospel (1Tim. 3:9); the seven candlesticks (Rev. 1:20); God’s delay in casting out of satan (Rev. 10:7; 12:7-17) and mystery Babylon (Rev. 17:5, 7).

‘Blindness in part is happened to Israel’ this is the 2nd New Testament prophecy in Romans (11:25-27) that is unfulfilled. The revealed secret here is of the blindness of Israel until Christ comes when she will be restored (11:25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-21).

‘The fullness of the Gentiles be come in’ – the same as the times of the Gentiles. Jerusalem, still partly in Gentile hands, will be liberated from them and will become the Jewish capital for a short time, until the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. Then the Antichrist will break his 7-year covenant with Israel and enter Palestine. He will take over Jerusalem and the future Jewish temple as his capital building and start the beast worship (Dan. 9:27; 11:4-45; 12:7; Matt. 24:15-21; 2Thess. 2:1-12; Rev. 13:1-18; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 20:4-6). Jerusalem will then be in Gentile hands for 42 months, finally being liberated at the second coming of Christ (Rev. 11:1-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5; 19:11-21; Zech. 14:1-21; 2Thess. 2:8-12). The times of the Gentiles will then end. These times refer to Israel’s history from being a nation in Egypt to the second coming of Christ when she will be oppressed, more or less, by the Gentiles. It began with the Egyptian bondage, not with the overthrow of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. This is clear from the fact that the Jews were oppressed under Egypt and Assyria more than 1,500 years, off and on, before Nebuchadnezzar. What would these oppressions be but “the times of the Gentiles?” Revelation 17:8-17 also proves that there have been and will be 8 great world empires oppressing Israel in the times of the Gentiles.

From this verse, we can see that this could not mean that Gentiles will no longer be saved, because God will continue to save Jews and Gentiles even through the tribulation period (Acts 2:16-21; Rev. 7:1-17; 15:2-4; 20:4-6). The fullness of the Gentiles will end at the second coming and the national conversion of Israel (11:25-29; Isa. 66:7-8; Zech. 12:10-13:1; 14:1-21). The times of the Gentiles end then also (Zech. 14:1-21; Matt. 25:31-46; Luke 21:24; Rev. 11:1-2).

Through Their Fall

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Romans 11:11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 

‘Have they stumbled that they should fall? … how much more their fulness? … For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?’ Have the Jews stumbled to complete and eternal ruin? God forbid. Their ruin is only temporary. In the meantime the Gentiles will take their place to provoke them to jealousy (10:19; 11:11; Deut. 32:21). The fall of the Jews was not in itself the reason for the salvation of the Gentiles. They were to be saved whether the Jews accepted or rejected the gospel (Gen. 12:1-3; Rom. 4:1-25; Gal. 6:8-10). The unbelief of Israel could never give faith to Gentiles. The rejection of Christ by the Jews only accelerated the salvation of the Gentiles (Acts 13:46-48; 28:28).

‘Stumbled’ [Greek: patio] to make a false step or mistake; to fail. Stumble (11:11); fall (2Pet. 1:10) and offend (Jas. 2:10; 3:2).

‘Fall’ [Greek: pipto] to fall down or out, meaning to be slain, or to lose one’s favour or grace. This proves that Israel, by offending or by failing lost the grace or favour of God. “Fall” is used in this sense in many scriptures (Luke 8:13; Acts 1:25; Rom. 11:11-12, 11:22; 1Cor. 10:12; Gal. 5:4; 1Tim. 3:7; 6:9; Heb. 4:11; 6:4-6; 2Pet. 1:10; 3:17; Jude 1:24; Rev. 2:5).

‘Fall’ [Greek: paraptoma] a falling aside, when one should have stood upright; a moral fall; a fall from truth and grace. Fall (11:11-12); fault (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:16); offence (4:25; 5:15-20); trespass (Matt. 6:14-15; 18:35; Mark 11:25-26; 2Cor. 5:19; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13); and sin (Eph. 1:7; 2:5; Col. 2:13).

‘For to provoke them to jealousy’ – the salvation and blessing of Gentiles will be the means of provoking Jews to seek and claim again their blessings.

Israel fell because: They forsook God (1Kin. 9:9; 11:33; 2Kin. 22:17; 2Chr. 7:22; 24:20; 36:25-27; Jer. 17:12); they sinned (1Kin. 14:15-16; 15:30; 2Chron. 6:24; Jer. 40:3; 44:23); of their transgressions (Lev. 16:16; Deut. 32:5; Josh. 7:15; 1Sam. 24:5); they despised the Lord (Num. 11:20; 15:31; 1Sam. 30:12; 2Sam. 12:10); they turned away from the Lord and would not serve Him (Num. 14:43; Deut. 28:47); they have done evil (2Kin. 21:15); they rebelled (Num. 20:24; Ps. 107:11-17); they would not obey God (Deut. 8:20; 28:62; 1Kin. 20:26; 2Kin. 18:12); they have forsaken the Lord (Deut. 29:25; 1Sam. 12:10; 2Kin. 22:17; 2Chr 24:20-24; 28:6; Jer. 17:13; 19:4; 22:9); they have rejected the Lord (1Sam. 15:17-35); they have not kept His commandments (1Sam. 13:13-14; 1Kin. 11:34); they have cast off the law (Isa. 5:24; Amos 2:4); they have forgotten God (Isa. 17:10; Jer. 17:13; 18:15; Ezek. 23:35); because of their evil and wickedness (Jer. 4:4; 21:12; 26:3; 32:32; 44:3; Hos. 10:15) and of their abominations (Jer. 44:22; Ezek. 5:9; 44:7); they repented not (Matt. 11:20); because of their unbelief (Rom. 11:20; Heb. 4:6).

They Stumbled

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Romans 9:30-33 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believe on him shall not be ashamed. 

‘What shall we say then?’ What shall we finally conclude from all these prophecies? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained it; but Israel which followed after the law of righteousness has not attained it (9:30-31).

‘Wherefore?’ Why has Israel not attained to the righteousness she sought so long? Because she sought it not by faith, but by works of the law and because she stumbled over the way her Messiah came (9:32-33).

‘Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law’ – the Jews were ignorant of God’s way of righteousness by faith in Christ (3:25-31; Gal. 2:16; 3:10-28). They went about to establish their own righteousness by works. They attained not to the Abrahamic covenant, which stands alone on the principle of grace through faith (4:1-25; Gen. 15:6). They set all their efforts upon the law of works and imagined they were justified by outward observance of a few rituals. When the gospel came along offering free salvation to Gentiles as well as Jews on the basis of grace and faith without works, they were offended and rejected it.

‘Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believe on him shall not be ashamed’ this is the 7th Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Romans (9:33; Isa. 8:14; 28:16).

‘Stumblingstone and rock of offence’ – I will send the Messiah, not as a mighty prince and a conqueror whom everyone will be willing to trust in, but as a man of sorrows, humiliation, and death. Many will think it disgraceful to trust in such a person for salvation. In spite of this, whoever trusts in Him will not be ashamed of Him or be confused.

The Parable of the Marriage Feast

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And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Mat 22:1-14 KJV

This parable is not to be confused with the parable of the great supper in Luke 14:16-24. Neither of these stories is an illustration of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb of Revelation 19:1-10. These passages are illustrations of the kingdom of Heaven in this age. The certain king making a marriage (marriage feast) for his son illustrates God, who has made possible the blessings of the kingdom and the Gospel to all. Jn. 3:16; Rom. 8:32; 1 Cor. 2:9  The Jews were the first ones invited, but they would not come. Mt. 10:5-7; 15:21-28; Jn. 1:11-13 The occasion for this parable was the rejection of Christ by the Jews. Mt. 21:42-46  The servants sent out were Christ, the apostles, the seventy, and the early ministers of the Church. All went first to Israel, but met with no response, as far as the nation was concerned. They were persecuted and killed until the city was destroyed and Israel was scattered. Mt. 24:2; Lk. 21:20-24; Acts 2:22-24; 7:54-60; 8:1-8; 13:44-49; Rom. 11

“All things are ready” 22:4 illustrates the time for the Jews to accept their Messiah and the time for the fulfillment of the promise made to their fathers concerning the kingdom.  “But they made light of it” 22:5; Acts 13:45-49; 18:6; Mt. 23:37-39 The rejection of Jesus by Israel freed God from all responsibility to them in fulfilling His covenants with them, so His program became a worldwide one for all men. Jn. 3:16; Rom. 1:16; 2Cor. 12:13

At the rejection of the Jews by God, because they would not accept the invitation to partake of the blessings, God began to invite all kinds of people, as in the parables in Matthew 13.  The man without the wedding garment illustrates the ones in the kingdom of Heaven in this age, or during their lifetime, who fail to prepare for eternity, or for their place in the literal kingdom of Heaven, when it is set up at the return of Christ. Mt. 18:1-4; Jn. 3:3-8; Rev. 19:7-8 This life is the only time men have to put on that righteousness of the saints in order to get into the real, literal kingdom.  This negligent man was commanded to be put in the same furnace of fire in which the tares, bad fish, and all the wicked were commanded to be put at the end of this age. Mt. 13:37-43, 49-50; 24:51; 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15

The central truth which the story illustrates is stated in verse 14.  It is the same truth the parable of the laborers in the vineyard illustrates. “For many are called, but few are chosen,” or “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted”. Lk. 14:11; 18:14  The difference in the two parables is that the one story illustrates the importance of humility in service, while this one illustrates the importance of preparation in this life to be chosen of God and accepted when we shall see Him. All are called to salvation, Mt. 11:28; Jn. 3:16; Rev. 22:17 but few will finally be saved. Mt. 7:13-14; Lk. 13:23-30

Jesus was teaching these Jews who desired His life and who rejected Him as their Messiah that they were not worthy of the blessings that He had in store for them, that the Gentiles and individual Jews who accepted the invitation would be blessed with the things that the Jewish nation rejected, and that there must be a preparation made before they would be admitted into the presence of God. The necessary preparation was to put on the wedding garment or change their raiment. It was the custom in the East for royal guests to put on garments provided, else they would be excluded from the feasts. A rejection of the garment provided was taken as an insult and a total disregard for the one who provided the garment. It was an avowal that the guest denied the authority and despised the power of the one providing the raiment. This was exactly true of the Jews who refused the teaching of Christ, which was able to make them wise unto salvation.

I will answer the call by choosing God’s salvation through Jesus Christ; I will not deny the authority or despise the power that is provided, so that I can be prepared and be admitted into the presence of God.