eschatology, God Has Not Forgotten the Israelites (Rom.11)

Now that we're in the Church Age, what does it mean for "God's people" - the Israelites?  Ironically this nation is still waiting for their Messiah, because Jesus was not what they expected or wanted.  But for those Israelites who "see" and accept Jesus - find what they were seeking - not just their Messiah - but they obtain SALVATION...

(Romans 11:1-16)  I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” 4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.

7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written,

“God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.”

9 And David says,

“Let their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them.
10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs forever.”

11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. 12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! 13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

As for the Church (the Gentiles), we should not gloat or look down on the Jews...

(Romans 11:17-24)  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?

Paul lets the Gentiles in on the fact that there will be an end to the Church Age, and then the last seven years of the Jewish Age will continue until completion, because God has promised the Israelites that their covenants will be fulfilled (in the Millennium)...

(Romans 11:25-32)  For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Today's takeaway:  gloating is not Christian, no matter what the circumstance is.  It is sinful human nature to relish in someone's demise.  Even if warranted, it still is not a gracious act;  be it in reaction to a criminal or someone in our government or a fellow Christian who is acting unbecomingly...  To react in an arrogant manner - is no better than the actions of the other person.

A lot of people expect God to "give them what they deserve" - what they THINK they deserve - - - but what we actually deserve - we would not want.  We tend to compare ourselves with other people, yet we should be comparing ourselves with God, and then be in humble awe of His magnitude...

(Isaiah 64:1-12)  Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence—
2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome things which we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.
4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.  Behold, You were angry, for we sinned, we continued in them a long time;  and shall we be saved?
6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;  and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
7 There is no one who calls on Your name, who arouses himself to take hold of You;  for You have hidden Your face from us and have delivered us into the power of our iniquities.

8 But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter;  and all of us are the work of Your hand.
9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord, nor remember iniquity forever;  behold, look now, all of us are Your people.
10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
11 Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised You, has been burned by fire;  and all our precious things have become a ruin.
12 Will You restrain Yourself at these things, O Lord?  Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?

(Romans 11:33-36)  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.