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Dancing with God Options
catsaregrrrreat
#101 Posted : Monday, May 19, 2008 11:19:44 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Cindiluwho? (sp) should be in here with her opinion. I believe she is a Jewis Scholar.
mkeffer
#102 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:31:38 AM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
dsmdaryl quoting a book written by a man is absolutely pointless. You are one of those Gentiles who wants to be Jewish and you invent ideas to bring it to pass.



I am done with you. I have shaken the sand from my sandals.
lespadesa
#103 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 6:34:16 AM

Rank: Pawn


Joined: 4/20/2008
Posts: 42
Good morning Posters,



God the Father has control of everything. There is nothing that exists that was not made.



It is God’s will that none should perish, but, that ALL should come to repentance. No race, color, creed, ethnic background, political preference, preacher, politician/ political leader, lawyer, physician, teacher, philosopher, weatherman or any other would be excepted from this promise, EXCEPT one, Satan, the former cheribum over the Mercy Seat.



God has a favored nation, Jesus had a favored disciple,Satan has a game plan. Even so, God so loved the world that He made a way for ALL, through Jesus, His Son.



Some play a game to win, some play a game not to lose. The ones that play to win have the faith to run the course AND finish it. Those who play not to lose have a strike against them, they fear the possibility of losing which could cause them to stumble and maybe not get back up.



Faith overcomes fear, fear overcomes faith.



Paul kept the faith, ran the course and FINISHED the race. Jesus said,"It is finished."



Thank God for His many, many blessings!



lespadesa
stevelundgren
#104 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:33:53 AM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by lespadesa on 20 May 2008

Good morning Posters,... or any other would be excepted from this promise, EXCEPT one, Satan, the former cheribum over the Mercy Seat...
Good morning, Les. I have a comment about Satan and the Mercy Seat.



Ezekiel 28:13-15 says of Lucifer, "You were anointed as a guardian cherub". There were cheribum carvings over the Ark of the Covenant (Testimony). The Mercy Seat was part of the furniture in the Tabernacle (Temple). Before the Fall, there was no need for Tabernacle furniture. If I am incorrect please share the scripture to correct me.





dsmdaryl
#105 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:25:15 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Mkeffer, yes I agree, lets just ignore hard archaeological evidence written about by this guy or anyone else. I’ll probly go throw out my concordance today. Hey, why don’t we just ignore english, math, biology, and chemistry also? If you want to ignore truth just because it comes from a man, you are ignorant. There are millions of pages of truth in books of all kinds in the world. To reject that fact is to reject common sense.
nestgotjesus
#106 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 12:48:41 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by dsmdaryl on 20 May 2008

Mkeffer, yes I agree, lets just ignore hard archaeological evidence written about by this guy or anyone else. I’ll probly go throw out my concordance today. Hey, why don’t we just ignore english, math, biology, and chemistry also? If you want to ignore truth just because it comes from a man, you are ignorant. There are millions of pages of truth in books of all kinds in the world. To reject that fact is to reject common sense.

[/QUOTE



The evidence that is brought forth to us has existed for ages and has been written about from day one.

If we did not accept the evidence that God has put in and on this earth to show his power then it really would be a sad day for all.

God gives us all kinds of truth,not only in His word but in man himself. We would not have a Bible if God didn’t put forth His truth and mere men wrote it down.

Other men were also inspired to write down archaeological facts etc.

If we do not read and listen to the truth that has been presented,then we are not only foolish but stuck in a mire of denominations;half truths and lies.

I’m with you Mr. D.
paulwhut
#107 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 5:20:56 PM
Rank: Advanced Member




Joined: 1/17/2008
Posts: 9,412
I’m putting these two refs here to remind us to keep it simple sweeties. (KISS)



Matt 18:1-4

18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,

3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

KJV





Gal 3:26-29

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

KJV





Acts 4:11-12

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

KJV



What I’m trying to say is that there is no such thing as a "favored nation", anyone who enters the kingdom of heaven must access through Christ. Those prior to the cross were walking by faith in the promises they claimed looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, and those of us after the cross by accepting the atoning blood of Jesus...who was the Messiah.



and any Jew or Gentile who doesn’t accept Jesus as their saviour is lost.    Acts 4:11-12



Many wonder today why the Republican party does nothing to defeat the treasonous
schemes of the Democrats. It is because the pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly
infiltrated the Republican party as well as the Democratic party. Many wonder why
the news media lie so much to support and protect the Democrats. It is because the
pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly infiltrated the news media. The news media and
schools and colleges, with their lies and propaganda, have so conditioned the
people of the country that they are unable to recognize what has been done to them.
Victory for the Jesuits seems very near. The Jesuits are like a cancer that has
pervaded nearly every fiber of the society of the United States. We are being
defeated by the enemy within.

For many years the Jesuits have prevented the United States from developing
additional sources of energy within its own territory. Exploiting the vast oilfields on
the Alaskan north slope, that probably contain more oil than the entire middle east,
is forbidden. New nuclear power plants, the safest source of electric energy ever
discovered, are not permitted. There is no end to the lies people have been made to
believe about Nuclear energy. The environment is used as the club to subdue the
people of the country into going along with this idiocy. Modern technology is able to
develop these sources of power without any damage to the environment. France
gets 80% of its power from nuclear power plants without any problems. Needless to
say, without sufficient energy, the United States will not be able to defend itself. All
the papacy has to do is cut off the oil supply from the middle east.

The United States is now starting to feel the pinch of the energy shortage the Jesuits
have created. People have experienced blackouts over large areas as power is shut
off to stay within the limits of generating capacity. Today, instead of constructing
additional nuclear power plants, some of these plants are being dismantled! Will the
people of the United States be able to wake up in time to prevent the coming
national tragedy?

Not only in the United States is this treachery being perpetrated by the papacy, but
they are secretly at work all over the world to subvert all the nations of the world.

"And all the world wondered after the beast." Rev 13:3 last part.
lespadesa
#108 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:12:29 PM

Rank: Pawn


Joined: 4/20/2008
Posts: 42
Paulwhut,



What you have said is basically what I was saying, except, The Jewish nation or Abraham’s seed is still God’s favored people, Jews. Yes, the road to salvation is the same for whosoever will, Jew and Gentile (us) alike. If the Jewish nation had kept its ethnic characteristics, as God wanted, you and I may have never come into existance or we would now be speaking Yiddish.

Sometimes simple is better.



lespadesa
paulwhut
#109 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:04:36 PM
Rank: Advanced Member




Joined: 1/17/2008
Posts: 9,412
les, I don’t understand how the Jews could be a "favored" people when they treated God so badly.



They throughout the ages have stoned the prophets, chased after baal, and killed Jesus and anyone else who poo pooed their stiff-necked ways.



paul
Many wonder today why the Republican party does nothing to defeat the treasonous
schemes of the Democrats. It is because the pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly
infiltrated the Republican party as well as the Democratic party. Many wonder why
the news media lie so much to support and protect the Democrats. It is because the
pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly infiltrated the news media. The news media and
schools and colleges, with their lies and propaganda, have so conditioned the
people of the country that they are unable to recognize what has been done to them.
Victory for the Jesuits seems very near. The Jesuits are like a cancer that has
pervaded nearly every fiber of the society of the United States. We are being
defeated by the enemy within.

For many years the Jesuits have prevented the United States from developing
additional sources of energy within its own territory. Exploiting the vast oilfields on
the Alaskan north slope, that probably contain more oil than the entire middle east,
is forbidden. New nuclear power plants, the safest source of electric energy ever
discovered, are not permitted. There is no end to the lies people have been made to
believe about Nuclear energy. The environment is used as the club to subdue the
people of the country into going along with this idiocy. Modern technology is able to
develop these sources of power without any damage to the environment. France
gets 80% of its power from nuclear power plants without any problems. Needless to
say, without sufficient energy, the United States will not be able to defend itself. All
the papacy has to do is cut off the oil supply from the middle east.

The United States is now starting to feel the pinch of the energy shortage the Jesuits
have created. People have experienced blackouts over large areas as power is shut
off to stay within the limits of generating capacity. Today, instead of constructing
additional nuclear power plants, some of these plants are being dismantled! Will the
people of the United States be able to wake up in time to prevent the coming
national tragedy?

Not only in the United States is this treachery being perpetrated by the papacy, but
they are secretly at work all over the world to subvert all the nations of the world.

"And all the world wondered after the beast." Rev 13:3 last part.
catsaregrrrreat
#110 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:17:04 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by paulwhut on 20 May 2008

les, I don’t understand how the Jews could be a "favored" people when they treated God so badly.



They throughout the ages have stoned the prophets, chased after baal, and killed Jesus and anyone else who poo pooed their stiff-necked ways.



paul




God said they were. How can you argue with that?
stevelundgren
#111 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 8:26:06 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401


Paul,



I shared this earlier. When it comes to the relationship of children to parent, logic does not always apply.



All Israel Will Be Saved



25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

   "The deliverer will come from Zion;

      he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.

27 And this is my covenant with them

      when I take away their sins."

28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.



Romans 11:25-32



dsmdaryl
#112 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:08:50 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Thanks Nest, someone sees it like me atleast.lol I’m not sayin salvation isn’t offered to anyone else, nor am I playing a ’my race is better’ game I’m going on what archaeological fact is telling me about who the nation of Israel was and who the jewish people are. If you want to look at the evidence that I’ve seen and for some reason disagree, thats fine, I have NO problem with that, the problem I have is pretending that knowledge doesn’t exist to protect preconceived ideas or doctrines. My beliefs are formed on what I know to be true, not what I want to be true. Ok, this time I’m really done.lol
mkeffer
#113 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:33:39 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
The abrahamic Covenant in post-biblical history



Many events in history that are labeled peculiar, unusual or impossible to understand, can best be understood if viewed as a result of the outworking of the Abrahamic Covenant. There have been numerous attempts to destroy the Jews, and all have failed.



Essentially, the four methods that were used during the biblical period have been the same ones used ever since, and these methods will always fail in destroying the Jews.



Spain



Because of its great Armada, the Spanish Empire controlled vast parts of the world. In 1492 the Spanish Edict of Expulsion ordering all Jews to leave the country was issued. When she expelled her Jews, she expelled her scholars, doctors, and bankers. The Spanish economy thus began to crumble and collapse. Finally, the source of Spain’s strength, the Armada, sailed against England and was destroyed, not so much by the British navy as by a storm at sea. The Abrahamic Covenant had worked itself out. She, who expelled the Jews, was then expelled from her holdings in the Western Hemisphere until nothing remained.



England



There was a time when England was blessed by God because of her favorable attitude to the Jews. The Balfour Declaration of World War I showed England’s favorable attitude towards establishing a Jewish national home in Palestine, later captured from the Turks. But then she turned against the Jews; England began to limit Jewish immigration. This policy trapped many Jews, preventing their flight from the Nazis. As a result, the British Empire began to crumble.



Germany



When Hitler came to power, anti-Semitism became the official government policy. As the Germans in 1939 drew the world again into war, this policy began to spread to the occupied parts of Europe. As one nation after another fell, the Jews were taken and moved into the slum sections of major cities such as Warsaw. Concrete walls were built around these ghettos, and the Jews were slowly beaten and starved. Six million were finally exterminated.



But after six years Germany was no longer the conqueror, but the conquered. For a generation the Germans, who once built walls around the Jews, had a wall cutting their once proud capital of Berlin in half. To this day, Nazi war criminals are forced to live in hiding as they are sought out by Jews.



Jordan



The fourth example involves the four Arab states of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, all of whom combined their forces in 1967 with the avowed purpose of destroying Israel. The Arabs cursed the Jewish State with war and were defeated during the Six-Day War.



All this provides us with a unique picture of the sub-principle: curse for curse in kind. The philosophy of history involved in the Abrahamic Covenant provides the principles for understanding how the Gentile nations are related to the Jews.



The Abrahamic Covenant in prophecy



After World War II, the main persecutor of the Jews was the former Soviet Union. She troubled the Jews inside her territory and was allied with the Arab States in their stated aim to destroy the State of Israel. Rather quickly, the Communist Empire collapsed. As for Russia, the Scriptures in Ezekiel 38:1-39:16 have already declared how Russia will come to its end. So even in prophecy, what we see working its way out is the principle of the Abrahamic Covenant.



A second example is the Campaign of Armageddon resulting in the second coming of Messiah (Zech. 12:2-3; 14:1-4).The event which brings about Israel’s national regeneration, the return of Yeshua the Messiah, and the dispensing of Israel’s enemies once and for all, is when all nations come against Jerusalem to battle. So even in prophecy, what we see working its way out is the principle of the Abrahamic Covenant.



Conclusion: philosophies of history based on non-biblical presuppositions fail to provide any answer to Jewish survival. This is clear from the very writings of those who tried to explain history by a certain system only to have it crack down in the face of the Jews. Not only have Gentile historians looking at the Jews come to a dead end in trying to explain them, but the Jews themselves have not been able to explain their existence in any consistent way. The Messianic believer, however, has the answer to the secret of Jewish survival. The answer lies in this cry of the last of the Old Testament prophets, Malachi 3:6:



For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.



The Jewish believer, then, can give the proper explanation of the role the Messianic people play in history: Their destruction is impossible.



The believer is the best defender of the Jews against all forms of anti-Semitism, teaching God’s attitude towards it and warning of God’s judgment if it persists. The Messianic believer can provide the one method that will work in destroying the Jews. If you want to destroy the Jews, then you must first destroy the sun, moon, and stars (Jer. 31:35-37).



History always supports what the Bible teaches when it is told accurately. I never said I didn’t read other books as I have more of them than most libraries(I just don’t quote them authoritatively...only the Scriptures have authority)

stevelundgren
#114 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 10:59:40 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by dsmdaryl on 20 May 2008

Mkeffer, yes I agree, lets just ignore hard archaeological evidence written about by this guy or anyone else. I’ll probly go throw out my concordance today. Hey, why don’t we just ignore english, math, biology, and chemistry also? If you want to ignore truth just because it comes from a man, you are ignorant. There are millions of pages of truth in books of all kinds in the world. To reject that fact is to reject common sense.


Sorry to interrupt, but we are best off when we trust the Bible properly interpreted rather than science or any other non-authoritative source. Facts and truth are not the same. This is often the first thing taught in a debate class. There are facts on both sides of any arguement. The opposite of true is false.



If science doesn’t agree with the Bible, then science has come to the wrong conclusion. Typically, because of an incorrect presupposition. We see this sort of thing when folks try to "fit" evolution into the Bible. The plain and simple response is: it doesn’t fit; it never did, it never will. Like a size 14 foot in a size 6 shoe.





mistero
#115 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:33:15 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Mr. A. you really have to stop posting and deleting. It makes me mental.



               Thank you
mistero
#116 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:41:13 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
AAAAAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!! That’s not nice you know!!



I didn’t even get to read that one. You deleted it too fast.
catsaregrrrreat
#117 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:44:09 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by mistero on 20 May 2008

AAAAAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!! That’s not nice you know!!



I didn’t even get to read that one. You deleted it too fast.




Are you feeling onery tonight Mistero?
mistero
#118 Posted : Tuesday, May 20, 2008 11:56:04 PM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
Quote: Originally posted by catsaregrrrreat on 20 May 2008

Quote: Originally posted by mistero on 20 May 2008

AAAAAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!! That’s not nice you know!!



I didn’t even get to read that one. You deleted it too fast.








Are you feeling onery tonight Mistero?






   Mr. A. keeps posting things and I read them and then I take a walk around the block and when I come back they aren’t there anymore. I’m not ornery tonight. He’s done it before and it makes me mental.

paulwhut
#119 Posted : Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:13:47 AM
Rank: Advanced Member




Joined: 1/17/2008
Posts: 9,412
Literal Israel rejected the Christ and crucified Him.



At Pilates judgement hall the Jews clamored for Ceasar. They chose Barrabas.



Then 3 1/2 years later they stoned Stephen, then the Gospel went to the Gentiles.



Now we have a spiritual Israel. Romans 11 tells of natural branches being cut off and new ones being grafted in.



Any Jew who is saved now has to accept Christ.



Can you imagine rebellious Jews, or anyone else for that matter, walking those streets of gold? Avoiding Jesus?



Many wonder today why the Republican party does nothing to defeat the treasonous
schemes of the Democrats. It is because the pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly
infiltrated the Republican party as well as the Democratic party. Many wonder why
the news media lie so much to support and protect the Democrats. It is because the
pope’s Jesuits have thoroughly infiltrated the news media. The news media and
schools and colleges, with their lies and propaganda, have so conditioned the
people of the country that they are unable to recognize what has been done to them.
Victory for the Jesuits seems very near. The Jesuits are like a cancer that has
pervaded nearly every fiber of the society of the United States. We are being
defeated by the enemy within.

For many years the Jesuits have prevented the United States from developing
additional sources of energy within its own territory. Exploiting the vast oilfields on
the Alaskan north slope, that probably contain more oil than the entire middle east,
is forbidden. New nuclear power plants, the safest source of electric energy ever
discovered, are not permitted. There is no end to the lies people have been made to
believe about Nuclear energy. The environment is used as the club to subdue the
people of the country into going along with this idiocy. Modern technology is able to
develop these sources of power without any damage to the environment. France
gets 80% of its power from nuclear power plants without any problems. Needless to
say, without sufficient energy, the United States will not be able to defend itself. All
the papacy has to do is cut off the oil supply from the middle east.

The United States is now starting to feel the pinch of the energy shortage the Jesuits
have created. People have experienced blackouts over large areas as power is shut
off to stay within the limits of generating capacity. Today, instead of constructing
additional nuclear power plants, some of these plants are being dismantled! Will the
people of the United States be able to wake up in time to prevent the coming
national tragedy?

Not only in the United States is this treachery being perpetrated by the papacy, but
they are secretly at work all over the world to subvert all the nations of the world.

"And all the world wondered after the beast." Rev 13:3 last part.
mkeffer
#120 Posted : Wednesday, May 21, 2008 6:43:11 AM
Rank: Advanced Member


Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 220,401
paulwhut has never read the letter to the Romans by Rabbi Paul...



The Rejection Is Not Total: Romans 11:1-10



I say then, did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God did not cast off his people which he foreknew (Romans 11:1-2a). In these verses Paul teaches that Israel’s rejection is not complete or total because, even today, there are Jewish people coming to a saving knowledge of the Messiahship of Yeshua.



To prove it, Paul first cites himself as an example. As he states in verse 2a, God did not cast off his people. If He had, it would mean that no single Jew could ever be saved. The fact that Paul himself was a believer shows two things: First, that Israel’s rejection of the Messiah is not total. Paul was a Jewish person and he believed.



Second, it shows that God has not rejected or cast off His people. Otherwise, Paul would not have been saved. The relationship between God and His people is one of foreknowledge. In His foreknowledge, God chose Israel in spite of His knowledge that Israel would reject the Messiahship of Yeshua. The fact that God foreknew His people and then chose them shows that He has not cast them off.



To show that he was not alone in his Jewish faith in the Messiahship of Jesus, Paul next deals with the calling of the remnant in verses 2b through 10. Paul gives the historical example of Elijah and the point is to show that God has always had a Remnant. Although the Remnant may have been quite small at times (in Elijah’s day it was only seven thousand men), God has always had a Remnant. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (verse 5). By declaring that it is the election of grace, Paul gives a standard according to which the Remnant comes into existence. Paul used the Greek Perfect tense, which shows that the Remnant has existed and still does exist.



But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace (Romans 11:6). Paul gives the explanation and brings up the point that works and grace are mutually exclusive. Salvation cannot be of works. That would make grace no longer grace. No one, not even the Jew, can make any claim on God. God will save men only by grace through faith – among both the Jews and the Gentiles. In verse 7 Paul presents a distinction between Jews who believe in the Messiahship of Yeshua and Jews who do not believe. The distinction is not between Israel and the Church or between Jews and Gentiles. While Israel the whole failed to obtain the righteousness of God, there is a Remnant within Israel that has obtained it. It is the Remnant, the Jewish believers, who are the Israel of God.



The Rejection Is Not Final: Romans 11:11-32



In the second unit of chapter 11, Paul points out that the rejection by Israel of the Messiahship of Jesus is not final. A day will come when the nation, as a nation, will accept Him as Israel’s Messiah. In verses 11-15 Paul deals with the purpose of Israel’s rejection of the Messiahship of Yeshua in God’s divine plan. Verse 11 states: I say then, did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy. Here again, Paul raises a question to be refuted: Did they stumble that they might fall? Was Israel’s stumbling, which he spoke of in Romans 9:30-33, for the purpose of Israel’s falling? Was the purpose so that God could reject and cast off His people?



Here, Paul is looking at the majority that did stumble. Was their stumbling an irrevocable fall? The Greek word Paul used here for fall refers to "a complete and irrevocable fall." Was the stumbling of Israel for the purpose that Israel would fall irrevocably, never to rise again? Paul supplies the answer himself: God forbid. May it never be! In the light of God’s faithfulness, this is unthinkable. They have stumbled, but it was not for the purpose of falling irrevocably. God planned for Israel to stumble for the purpose of Gentile salvation. Gentile salvation is subservient to Jewish salvation.



The point of the question in verse 11 is that Israel’s stumbling was for the purpose of Gentile salvation; and this should lead to some key lessons.



First, Paul spelled out the purpose of Gentile salvation in verses 12-14: to provoke [Jews] to jealousy. The unbelief of Israel was directed toward the restoration of faith; the fall of Israel was directed toward their reclamation. Therefore, Gentile salvation is for the purpose of provoking the Jews to jealousy. Why is God saving Gentiles today? Here is one of many answers: to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Unfortunately, throughout Jewish history since the time of Yeshua, Gentiles have been guilty of provoking the Jews to anger, rather than to jealousy.



In verse 15, the second key lesson to be learned is that all of this will result in blessings for Israel. Paul stated that, if the stumbling and casting away of Israel meant the reconciliation of the world as it says in verses 12-14, then the receiving of Israel would mean nothing short of life from the dead. This is the full statement of Israel’s place in God’s blessing. Their fullness here refers to Israel’s complete restoration.



Paul builds upon Isaiah 49:1-13 where Isaiah taught the same thing: the Messiah would come to Israel; Israel would reject Him; and then He would become the Light of the Gentiles for a while; but, eventually, Israel would return to Him. Paul did not say anything new here; he just pointed out the way Isaiah 49 is being fulfilled in this day.



In verses 16-24 Paul gives an admonition that is a warning to Gentile believers and an argument for the restoration of Israel. Paul begins by giving the principle and the illustration in verse 16. The illustration is of the firstfruit, the lump, the root, and the branches. The firstfruit and the root refer to Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant. They are holy because they were separated and consecrated by God for a divine purpose. Israel, as a nation, is the natural branches. The principle, based on Numbers 15:17-21, is that the holiness or consecration of the firstfruit and the root is passed on to the lump and to the branches. Just as the firstfruit sanctifies the whole harvest or the lump, even so, some day all Israel will also be sanctified. The firstfruit and the root refer to the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the Abrahamic Covenant, which is the basis for the expectation of Israel’s future national salvation. The lump and the natural branches refer to the Jewish people. The wild olive branches are the Gentiles in verse 17. Paul speaks of the grafting of a wild olive branch into a good olive tree. That is an abnormal process, but that is the point. God is doing something that is unnatural; He is bringing Gentiles into the place of blessing based on the Jewish Covenants.



The olive tree in Romans 11:17 does not represent Israel or the Church but the place of blessing. The root of this tree or place of blessing is the Abrahamic Covenant. The point Paul makes here is the same point he made in Ephesians 2:11-16 and 3:5-6. The Gentiles, by their faith, have now become partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings. Gentiles have been made partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings as contained in the Abrahamic Covenant. The Gentiles are not "takers-over," but partakers of Jewish spiritual blessings; they have been made partakers in the place of blessing which this tree represents.



Next, in verses 18-22, Paul gives a warning. The basis of Gentile blessing is faith, not merit. If the Gentiles are to remain in the place of blessing, they must continue in faith. Israel’s failure should be a lesson to them. The Jews were in the place of blessing as a nation, but because of their unbelief they were broken off. Now, Gentiles are to be found in the place of blessing, but if they fail in faith, they will also be broken off from the place of blessing.



For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in; and so all Israel shall be saved: ... (Romans 11:25-26a). The fact that there are Jewish people coming to saving faith proves that the hardening was only partial. The Greek word translated as fulness means "a full number" or "a complete number." In other words, God has a set number of Gentiles that He has destined to come into the Church, the Body of the Messiah. He has set the number of Gentiles who will come into this place of blessing – this olive tree of verses 14-24. Once that set number is reached, at that point the Body of the Messiah will be complete and it will be removed from this earth at the Rapture. After the fulness of the Gentiles [has] come in, after that set number is reached, then all Israel [will be] saved. While there is a Jewish Remnant coming to faith in this age, another key purpose is to take out from among the Gentiles a people for his name (Acts 15:14).



When Paul stated all Israel, he meant all Jews living at that time, not all Jews who have ever lived. In some circles, verse 26 has been misinterpreted to mean that, since all Jews will eventually be saved, Jewish evangelism and Jewish missions are unnecessary. However, that is not what the passage teaches. For example, the Bible speaks of all Israel as the whole congregation of Israel coming out of Egypt at the Exodus. Of course, that did not mean that every Jew who ever lived came out of Egypt, but it does mean that every Jew who lived at that time did come out of Egypt. This is the same way verse 26 should be interpreted.



Paul’s Doxology: Romans 11:33-36



Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor? Or who has first given to him that it might be paid back to him again? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. Paul concludes with this tremendous doxology extolling the wisdom of God and the riches of God in that wisdom. Indeed, if we fully understand God’s dealings with the Jewish people, if we clearly understand God’s plan and program for Israel, and if we appreciate it from God’s standpoint, we, too, will have to say the doxology Paul said: 0h, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!

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