"Who Blinded The Jews?...

[GRACE ambassador]

...“Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the​

election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Rom. 11:7).​

To purposely blind someone physically is a serious offense, for it leads to a
difficult life for the one who has been blinded. To purposely blind someone
spiritually, however, is an infinitely more serious matter, for it leads to an
eternity in the lake of fire.

So when Paul speaks here of some in Israel who were spiritually blinded, it is
important that we determine who it is that blinded the Jews of whom he spoke.

In light of the serious nature of this issue, it is surprising to hear the Lord Jesus
Christ lay the blame for Israel’s blindness squarely at the feet of God the Father.
Speaking of the Jews who refused to believe on Him, the Lord explained,

“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He ​

hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not ​

see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, ​

and I should heal them” (John 12:39,40).​

These verses have been the cause of much concern for believers down through
the centuries. What kind of God would do such a thing? It hardly seems fair
that God would deliberately blind someone so that they could not believe the
gospel, and then condemn them to hell for not believing the gospel.

Wouldn’t that give these unbelievers an excuse on Judgment Day? Wouldn’t they
be able to say to God on that day, “You can’t condemn me to Hell for not believing!
The reason I couldn’t believe is because You blinded me!”

What answer could a just God possibly give to such a charge?

As you can see, it is important to come to a proper understanding of this
verse. The Character and Justice of God are at stake here!...
"
(R Kurth)

FULL study:


'link'
--------------------
Precious friends:

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

I Jesus day The real worthy Jews were blinded by their religion, that was Jesus disciples ? for they did have faith that they thought that Jesus was the one ? but they did not truly know until Jesus went to Heaven that he was the Christ Jesus ! Big difference and form then on their eyes were opened ! They them Jews created the Church for they were the first Christians ! Period !

The Rest of the Jews were not worthy of Moses ! so they are not worthy of God ! period ! they had cut themselves off from God in fact, for they were mislead by the ones who crept in unawares ?
So then we have the worthy Jews who became Christians and the outcast ?

John 12 : 39-40 Faith is a gift of God ? such could not be received because of the obstacle which Man puts in it's way.
The obstacle here is their obstinacy. Now Esaias had foretold this, Es 6:9-10
And regarding John 12 ;40-43 this means, For they preferred rather the approval of Man than to render due to God.
Not to mention 44-50 makes it all clear.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

...“Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the​

election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Rom. 11:7).​

To purposely blind someone physically is a serious offense, for it leads to a
difficult life for the one who has been blinded. To purposely blind someone
spiritually, however, is an infinitely more serious matter, for it leads to an
eternity in the lake of fire.

So when Paul speaks here of some in Israel who were spiritually blinded, it is
important that we determine who it is that blinded the Jews of whom he spoke.

In light of the serious nature of this issue, it is surprising to hear the Lord Jesus
Christ lay the blame for Israel’s blindness squarely at the feet of God the Father.
Speaking of the Jews who refused to believe on Him, the Lord explained,

“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He ​

hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not ​

see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, ​

and I should heal them” (John 12:39,40).​

These verses have been the cause of much concern for believers down through
the centuries. What kind of God would do such a thing? It hardly seems fair
that God would deliberately blind someone so that they could not believe the
gospel, and then condemn them to hell for not believing the gospel.

Wouldn’t that give these unbelievers an excuse on Judgment Day? Wouldn’t they
be able to say to God on that day, “You can’t condemn me to Hell for not believing!
The reason I couldn’t believe is because You blinded me!”

What answer could a just God possibly give to such a charge?

As you can see, it is important to come to a proper understanding of this
verse. The Character and Justice of God are at stake here!...
"
(R Kurth)

FULL study:

View attachment 28110
'link'
--------------------
Precious friends:

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

Israel hath not obtained that which she seeketh for; ? that means she was striving for on religious grounds ?

But the election hath obtained it ? see that ! they became Christians in fact.

And the rest were blinded = because of that they seek approval of Man than God !

So they had not the Holy Spirit ? so they are the blind, but they can come in just as anyone can come in Spirit willing but not regarding religion, for such does not Save ! Only Christ Jesus Saves.

The Jews leadership back in the days were rejecting this Salvation as rubbish ! and as they were only peddling their own works ! they need not Salvation was the claim of the bastard Jew leadership, that only worked against the Holy Spirit, because they were the ones who Jesus said of time and time again warning all about them. Just as Moses was warning of such to let his People go ! and for them to come out from them.
Just as we see with Stephen in Acts he totally expose the bastard works of such Jews who were working against God ! So they killed him ! It's true of what Jesus said about such as them being of their Father of lies who was a murderer from the beginning, they killed Jesus as well ?
Now Saul was blind but when he became Paul his eyes were opened in fact and he came to God ! for he was changed ! so it is with everyone regardless be Jew or other in fact. One must be born again = Saved ! Bingo. If one is not serving Christ Jesus your not Saved in fact.

 

[Robert Gwin]

...“Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the​

election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Rom. 11:7).​

To purposely blind someone physically is a serious offense, for it leads to a
difficult life for the one who has been blinded. To purposely blind someone
spiritually, however, is an infinitely more serious matter, for it leads to an
eternity in the lake of fire.

So when Paul speaks here of some in Israel who were spiritually blinded, it is
important that we determine who it is that blinded the Jews of whom he spoke.

In light of the serious nature of this issue, it is surprising to hear the Lord Jesus
Christ lay the blame for Israel’s blindness squarely at the feet of God the Father.
Speaking of the Jews who refused to believe on Him, the Lord explained,

“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He ​

hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not ​

see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, ​

and I should heal them” (John 12:39,40).​

These verses have been the cause of much concern for believers down through
the centuries. What kind of God would do such a thing? It hardly seems fair
that God would deliberately blind someone so that they could not believe the
gospel, and then condemn them to hell for not believing the gospel.

Wouldn’t that give these unbelievers an excuse on Judgment Day? Wouldn’t they
be able to say to God on that day, “You can’t condemn me to Hell for not believing!
The reason I couldn’t believe is because You blinded me!”

What answer could a just God possibly give to such a charge?

As you can see, it is important to come to a proper understanding of this
verse. The Character and Justice of God are at stake here!...
"
(R Kurth)

FULL study:

View attachment 28110
'link'
--------------------
Precious friends:

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

Easy answer Grace:
(2 Corinthians 4:4) . . .among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.

 

[Davy]

....​

These verses have been the cause of much concern for believers down through
the centuries. What kind of God would do such a thing? It hardly seems fair
that God would deliberately blind someone so that they could not believe the
gospel, and then condemn them to hell for not believing the gospel.

Wouldn’t that give these unbelievers an excuse on Judgment Day? Wouldn’t they
be able to say to God on that day, “You can’t condemn me to Hell for not believing!
The reason I couldn’t believe is because You blinded me!”

What answer could a just God possibly give to such a charge?

As you can see, it is important to come to a proper understanding of this
verse. The Character and Justice of God are at stake here!...
"
(R Kurth)

Wrong approach about it. God did not blind certain ones of the Jews so He could prevent them from accepting Lord Jesus Christ and then condemn them to the lake of fire. If you had KEPT READING THERE IN ROMANS 11, you should... have understood what Paul said about those in Christ should not be conceited about our belief in The Gospel vs. the Jew's unbelief, because the day will come when God is going to REMOVE their blindness away from The Gospel.

So just like with many brethren, they don't CONTINUE in study of all of God's Word enough to get the WHOLE MESSAGE. They only get PARTS and then go off on tangents with long philosophical tirades thinking they have understood those portions of God's written Word, when actually, they bypass the 'punch line' in The Word all too often! What a shame!

I see it all too often; it's as if God intentionally hid the 'punch line' in a Bible Chapter all the way at the end of the Chapter, just to see who is paying attention, and who is not. An example? In Luke 17, Lord Jesus speaks of the two in the field, one taken and the other one left. And in the very last verse His disciples ask Him 'where' to about those ones taken, and Jesus shows those are taken to where the fowls will be eating on a dead carcase. Deceived Churches actually do not finish reading that last verse, but create a whole Rapture Theory doctrine on being the 1st one TAKEN! You don't want to be 'left-behind' they say, showing they NEVER even finished reading what Lord Jesus said in that last verse of Luke 17!

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

Acts 28:27
"For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

The Jews closed their own eyes. Paul taught the gospel to the Jews and they rejected it, they of their own free will closed their eyes to it.....Acts 13:46 "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

One commentator (Dunagan) accurately put it: (my emp)
"....how the Jews in Isaiah's day had responded to his preaching is exactly how many of the Jews had responded to the gospel - they had rejected it. A willful blindness was virtually a national characteristic. Isaiah was right, he had predicted that many of the Jews would not believe. Notice where God places the blame when it comes to unbelief. The problem is not in a lack of evidence or a poor presentation of the gospel, rather it is in the heart of the unbeliever (Acts 28:27). No one is born with a bad heart, rather the heart of this people has become dull. These people were not born sinners, rather they have closed their eyes. Yet, this situation can change, for at any given moment the sinner can repent if they so decide. God is still willing for offer salvation to such stubborn individuals."

=============

Romans 11:7-8
7- What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8 - (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
9- And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:


Paul said their was a "remnant" (Rom 11:5) that did see and hear, who did accept the gospel. Therefore God does not hardened or blind men against their will. The remaining majority of Jews hardened their own hearts and closed their own eyes. God hardened them or blinded them in the sense of Christ giving those Jews instructions/commands they did not like nor want to obey.

This hardening/blinding has nothing to do with the Calvinistic idea of God hardening/blinding men against their own will nor the false idea of total depravity.
In Acts 7, those Jews understood the message preached to them by Stephen but did not like what he preached, hence when "they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth" (Acts 7:54) for those Jews of their own will 'resisted' the preaching (v51).

Therefore when Rom 11:8 says "God hath given them" it must be understood in the sense that God allows men to reject His will, reject His word (Romans 1:24-26). They brought this hardening/blindness upon themseves (Matt 13:14-15). Again, Jesus did not teach nor offer those Jews what they wanted or thought they should have, so in that sense God hardened them by telling them what they did not want to hear. As God hardened Pharaoh's heart, not against his will, but by commanding Pharaoh to let the people go, something God knew Pharaoh did not want to do. 'God hath given them the spirit of slumber' by giving them what they did not want to hear and they of thier own free will closed their eyes to it.

God is not willing any should perish (2 Pet 3:9). God has "no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Eze 33:11). So God would not cause them to be blind and lost against their will. But Christ's teaching was a stumblingblock for Christ's words were not what they wanted to hear (Jn 5:46-47; Jn 6:40-42,52; Jn 8:58-59; Jn 10:30-31)

 

[Ronald Nolette]

...“Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the​

election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Rom. 11:7).​

To purposely blind someone physically is a serious offense, for it leads to a
difficult life for the one who has been blinded. To purposely blind someone
spiritually, however, is an infinitely more serious matter, for it leads to an
eternity in the lake of fire.

So when Paul speaks here of some in Israel who were spiritually blinded, it is
important that we determine who it is that blinded the Jews of whom he spoke.

In light of the serious nature of this issue, it is surprising to hear the Lord Jesus
Christ lay the blame for Israel’s blindness squarely at the feet of God the Father.
Speaking of the Jews who refused to believe on Him, the Lord explained,

“Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, “He ​

hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not ​

see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, ​

and I should heal them” (John 12:39,40).​

These verses have been the cause of much concern for believers down through
the centuries. What kind of God would do such a thing? It hardly seems fair
that God would deliberately blind someone so that they could not believe the
gospel, and then condemn them to hell for not believing the gospel.

Wouldn’t that give these unbelievers an excuse on Judgment Day? Wouldn’t they
be able to say to God on that day, “You can’t condemn me to Hell for not believing!
The reason I couldn’t believe is because You blinded me!”

What answer could a just God possibly give to such a charge?

As you can see, it is important to come to a proper understanding of this
verse. The Character and Justice of God are at stake here!...
"
(R Kurth)

FULL study:

View attachment 28110
'link'
--------------------
Precious friends:

Grace, Peace, And JOY In Christ, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly
Divided!

No, that character and justice of God are not at stake here. It is so only for those who seek to find fault with Him to try to not have to submit to Him.

God is sovereign and can do what He wishes. He is incapable of sin for it is not in Him. And He has temproarily blinded the eyes of Israel as a nation (not as individuals) to bring into the kingdom the Gentiles as was prophesied.

 

[Reggie Belafonte]

No, that character and justice of God are not at stake here. It is so only for those who seek to find fault with Him to try to not have to submit to Him.

God is sovereign and can do what He wishes. He is incapable of sin for it is not in Him. And He has temproarily blinded the eyes of Israel as a nation (not as individuals) to bring into the kingdom the Gentiles as was prophesied.

Nonsense !
What Nation of Israel ?
Not to mention temporarily 2000 years ?

The Nation of Israel does not exist ! Just ask the true devout Jews on that point. they hope it will be ! but even they know that the State is not worthy of God in fact.

Nathaniel is a True Israelite in fact, that is if you believe Christ Jesus in fact. So they all have to come up to what Jesus said to Nathaniel and what would Nathaniel see ? They will see ? They will see because they are worthy.

The Nation of Israel exist only in the one that is of God ! for they are as was Jacob who became a Israel.

 

[Aunty Jane]

In Luke 17, Lord Jesus speaks of the two in the field, one taken and the other one left. And in the very last verse His disciples ask Him 'where' to about those ones taken, and Jesus shows those are taken to where the fowls will be eating on a dead carcase. Deceived Churches actually do not finish reading that last verse, but create a whole Rapture Theory doctrine on being the 1st one TAKEN! You don't want to be 'left-behind' they say, showing they NEVER even finished reading what Lord Jesus said in that last verse of Luke 17!

Matt 24 also speaks of this...concerning the sign of the last days and the appearance of false "Christs" (anointed ones) Jesus says....
"For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
The people will not know that they are to become 'carcases' for the birds of heaven to feast on, just like the people of Noah's day failed to believe the warning that he gave to those, who chose to ridicule him rather than to take notice of what he said. (Matthew 24:37-39)

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity."

We are at present on the brink of the world's greatest tribulation, and still the majority are oblivious to its consequences. The gathering of Christ's "chosen ones" (saints) will herald the final curtain being brought down on satan's world rulership.....those who have failed to show God any respect or worship as their Creator and rightful Sovereign, will perish....never to be seen again.

Zeph 1:17-18 foretold that the "great day of Jehovah" would be a fearsome thing....

"I will cause distress to mankind,
And they will walk like blind men,
Because it is against Jehovah they have sinned.
Their blood will be poured out like dust,
And their flesh like the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury;
For by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed,
Because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

This is a global showdown between Jehovah and his arch enemy....there can only be one winner, and those found on the wrong side of this conflict will perish eternally. We need to know where we stand because there are no second chances.

 

[Davy]

Matt 24 also speaks of this...concerning the sign of the last days and the appearance of false "Christs" (anointed ones) Jesus says....
"For just as the lightning comes out of the east and shines over to the west, so the presence of the Son of man will be. 28 Wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together."
The people will not know that they are to become 'carcases' for the birds of heaven to feast on, just like the people of Noah's day failed to believe the warning that he gave to those, who chose to ridicule him rather than to take notice of what he said. (Matthew 24:37-39)

Thing is though, Lord Jesus was not only pointing to the wicked being deceived by those coming events at the end of this world.

Lord Jesus forewarned about the pseudo-Christ (pseudochristos translated as "false Christs" in the KJV, when verses 23-26 is singular in context), and said that false one will work great signs and wonders so deceptive that IF it were possible, it would deceived even His very elect. Christ's very elect means His chosen ones that cannot be deceived, because He already owns them. What does that mean for those 'called' only, and not called and chosen? This is why Jesus is still warning His Church on the 6th Vial of Rev.16 that He comes "as a thief", and for of His to be watching, lest they appear naked spiritually and in shame.

Thus the 1st one TAKEN Message is a Warning to His Church, and not to the wicked. Those who don't listen to Him will think to be the 1st one 'taken', which will be to the false-Messiah that comes first. The opposite of that idea is to stay in the field working for Christ, waiting on His coming.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will beat themselves in grief, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a great trumpet sound, and they will gather his chosen ones together from the four winds, from one extremity of the heavens to their other extremity."

We are at present on the brink of the world's greatest tribulation, and still the majority are oblivious to its consequences. The gathering of Christ's "chosen ones" (saints) will herald the final curtain being brought down on satan's world rulership.....those who have failed to show God any respect or worship as their Creator and rightful Sovereign, will perish....never to be seen again.

Zeph 1:17-18 foretold that the "great day of Jehovah" would be a fearsome thing....

"I will cause distress to mankind,
And they will walk like blind men,
Because it is against Jehovah they have sinned.
Their blood will be poured out like dust,
And their flesh like the dung.
18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them in the day of Jehovah’s fury;
For by the fire of his zeal the whole earth will be consumed,
Because he will make an extermination, indeed a terrible one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.”

This is a global showdown between Jehovah and his arch enemy....there can only be one winner, and those found on the wrong side of this conflict will perish eternally. We need to know where we stand because there are no second chances.

Well, don't cast off the wicked so quickly because God's Word doesn't.

Zechariah 14 reveals that not all of the army out of the northern quarters that is to come up against Jerusalem (on the last day) will be destroyed. There will be leftovers made to come up to Jerusalem from year to year during Christ's Millennial reign and worship Him, and keep the feast of tabernacles. And there will still be 'rebellious' nations then that will refuse to come up during that future 1,000 years reign by Christ and His elect saints.

Even Isaiah 24 reveals that the kings of the earth will be cast into Satan's prison pit with him during Christ's future reign, and be bound for many days and then visited (after the 1,000 years). So even Satan and they are not destroyed yet then. This is why Isaiah 14 points to us looking over at Satan bound in his pit prison and us saying, "Is this the man that...".

The job Christ's elect saints will have in that future Millennial reign by Jesus Christ will be to teach the people the difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and the profane, and of course The Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many souls that have died during this present world that never heard of The Gospel. The future 1,000 years reign by Lord Jesus will be their time to hear, and to bow to Christ. All knees will be made to bow then. And Jesus said even those of the "synagogue of Satan" will be made to come worship at the feet of His elect, which has never happened yet in this present world.

 

[Aunty Jane]

Thing is though, Lord Jesus was not only pointing to the wicked being deceived by those coming events at the end of this world.

Lord Jesus forewarned about the pseudo-Christ (pseudochristos translated as "false Christs" in the KJV, when verses 23-26 is singular in context), and said that false one will work great signs and wonders so deceptive that IF it were possible, it would deceived even His very elect.

This is a concise reply as to who is the antichrist....I am not really good at concise.....

"Does the Bible refer to only one antichrist?
1 John 2:18: “Young children, it is the last hour, and, just as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.”
2 John 7: “Many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (Notice that the “many antichrists” of 1 John 2:18 are here referred to collectively as “the antichrist.”)
Is the coming of the antichrist reserved for some future time?
1 John 4:3: “Every inspired expression that does not confess Jesus does not originate with God. Furthermore, this is the antichrist’s inspired expression which you have heard was coming, and now it is already in the world.” (That was written near the end of the first century C.E.)
1 John 2:18: “Even now there have come to be many antichrists; from which fact we gain the knowledge that it is the last hour.” (By “last hour” John evidently meant the end of the apostolic period. The other apostles had died, and John himself was very old.)
Some of those identified as antichrist—
Persons who deny that Jesus is truly the Messiah
1 John 2:22: “Who is the liar if it is not the one that denies that Jesus is the Christ [or, Messiah, anointed one]? This is the antichrist.”
All who deny that Jesus is the unique Son of God
1 John 2:22: “This is the antichrist, the one that denies the Father and the Son.”
Compare John 10:36; Luke 9:35.

Apostates
1 John 2:18, 19: “There have come to be many antichrists . . . They went out from us, but they were not of our sort.”
Those who oppose Christ’s true followers
John 15:20, 21: “If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you also . . . But they will do all these things against you on account of my name.”
Individuals and nations that oppose Christ as King or that themselves falsely claim the Messianic role
Ps. 2:2: “The kings of earth take their stand and high officials themselves have massed together as one against Jehovah and against his anointed one [Christ, or Messiah].”
See also Revelation 17:3, 12-14; 19:11-21.
Matt. 24:24: “False Christs and false prophets will arise and will give great signs and wonders so as to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.”
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989207

Zechariah 14 reveals that not all of the army out of the northern quarters that is to come up against Jerusalem (on the last day) will be destroyed. There will be leftovers made to come up to Jerusalem from year to year during Christ's Millennial reign and worship Him, and keep the feast of tabernacles. And there will still be 'rebellious' nations then that will refuse to come up during that future 1,000 years reign by Christ and His elect saints.

From my studies, the first eight chapters of Zechariah (chapters 1-8) deal with matters of more present importance to the people of Zechariah’s day.....whereas in Chapters 9-14, the prophet looks forward into a more distant future....the time of the Lord's return...."the time of the end" when Messiah comes to judge mankind.

Even Isaiah 24 reveals that the kings of the earth will be cast into Satan's prison pit with him during Christ's future reign, and be bound for many days and then visited (after the 1,000 years). So even Satan and they are not destroyed yet then. This is why Isaiah 14 points to us looking over at Satan bound in his pit prison and us saying, "Is this the man that...".

When endeavoring to tempt Jesus, the Devil “brought him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in an instant of time; and the Devil said to him: ‘I will give you all this authority and the glory of them, because it has been delivered to me, and to whomever I wish I give it. You, therefore, if you do an act of worship before me, it will all be yours.’” (Luke 4:5-7) You cannot offer what you don't possess.

Revelation13:1-2 reveals that Satan gives ‘power, throne and great authority’ to the global political system of rulership.

Daniel 10:13, 20 discloses that Satan has had demonic 'princes' over principal kingdoms of the earth. Ephesians 6:12 refers to these as "governments, authorities, world rulers of this darkness, wicked spirit forces in heavenly places." Do we never wonder why worldly governments are so corrupt? Who is really in control?

No wonder that 1 John 5:19 says: “The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” But his power is only for a limited period of time and is only by the toleration of Jehovah, who permits this situation for his own purpose. This can only be known in relation to the big picture. I find that most "Christians" have no clue as to the big picture. I know I didn't....I was never taught that there was one.

So who is it that goes into the abyss or bottomless pit?
The provision for relief from Satan’s wicked influence is symbolically described in this way: “I saw an angel coming down out of heaven with the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he seized the dragon, the original serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. And he hurled him into the abyss and shut it and sealed it over him, that he might not mislead the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After these things he must be let loose for a little while.” (Rev 20:1-3) Then what?
“The Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur.” (Rev. 20:10) What does that mean? Rev 21:8....“This means the second death.” He will be gone forever!

Revelation, which is exclusively about "the time of the end", makes no mention of satan being joined by the kings of the earth in the abyss.
Only satan and his angels are in there as Rev 12:7-12 confirms. The kings of the earth will be destroyed at Armageddon (Rev 16:16).....the final battle for them, but not the end for satan.

The job Christ's elect saints will have in that future Millennial reign by Jesus Christ will be to teach the people the difference between the clean and unclean, the holy and the profane, and of course The Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are many souls that have died during this present world that never heard of The Gospel. The future 1,000 years reign by Lord Jesus will be their time to hear, and to bow to Christ. All knees will be made to bow then.

I agree here.....the "new earth" that is spoken of in Isaiah and in Revelation is a place where "righteousness is to dwell". (2 Perter 3:13)
Redeemed mankind will enjoy conditions on earth free from satan's influence and the resurrected ones who died ignorant, will get a thousand years of instruction in order to be ready for one final test at the end of the 1000 years.

And Jesus said even those of the "synagogue of Satan" will be made to come worship at the feet of His elect, which has never happened yet in this present world.

The ones Jesus designates as “the synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9) are liars. These are pseudo "Jews", but not "the Israel of God" (Gal 6:16) Nevertheless, at that time, at least some of those "Jews" are about to realize that what the Christians have been preaching about Jesus is the truth. It was, after all, the whole purpose of their preaching. Their ‘doing obeisance’ will likely be in the manner described by Paul at 1 Cor 14:24-25, so that they actually repent and become Christians, fully appreciating Jesus’ great love in surrendering even his soul in behalf of his disciples. (John 15:12-13)

 

[Jim B]

Acts 28:27
"For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."

The Jews closed their own eyes. Paul taught the gospel to the Jews and they rejected it, they of their own free will closed their eyes to it.....Acts 13:46 "It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

One commentator (Dunagan) accurately put it: (my emp)
"....how the Jews in Isaiah's day had responded to his preaching is exactly how many of the Jews had responded to the gospel - they had rejected it. A willful blindness was virtually a national characteristic. Isaiah was right, he had predicted that many of the Jews would not believe. Notice where God places the blame when it comes to unbelief. The problem is not in a lack of evidence or a poor presentation of the gospel, rather it is in the heart of the unbeliever (Acts 28:27). No one is born with a bad heart, rather the heart of this people has become dull. These people were not born sinners, rather they have closed their eyes. Yet, this situation can change, for at any given moment the sinner can repent if they so decide. God is still willing for offer salvation to such stubborn individuals."

=============

Romans 11:7-8
7- What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8 - (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day.
9- And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:


Paul said their was a "remnant" (Rom 11:5) that did see and hear, who did accept the gospel. Therefore God does not hardened or blind men against their will. The remaining majority of Jews hardened their own hearts and closed their own eyes. God hardened them or blinded them in the sense of Christ giving those Jews instructions/commands they did not like nor want to obey.

This hardening/blinding has nothing to do with the Calvinistic idea of God hardening/blinding men against their own will nor the false idea of total depravity.
In Acts 7, those Jews understood the message preached to them by Stephen but did not like what he preached, hence when "they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth" (Acts 7:54) for those Jews of their own will 'resisted' the preaching (v51).

Therefore when Rom 11:8 says "God hath given them" it must be understood in the sense that God allows men to reject His will, reject His word (Romans 1:24-26). They brought this hardening/blindness upon themseves (Matt 13:14-15). Again, Jesus did not teach nor offer those Jews what they wanted or thought they should have, so in that sense God hardened them by telling them what they did not want to hear. As God hardened Pharaoh's heart, not against his will, but by commanding Pharaoh to let the people go, something God knew Pharaoh did not want to do. 'God hath given them the spirit of slumber' by giving them what they did not want to hear and they of thier own free will closed their eyes to it.

God is not willing any should perish (2 Pet 3:9). God has "no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Eze 33:11). So God would not cause them to be blind and lost against their will. But Christ's teaching was a stumblingblock for Christ's words were not what they wanted to hear (Jn 5:46-47; Jn 6:40-42,52; Jn 8:58-59; Jn 10:30-31)

Why the antisemitism? Saying something as wrong as "The Jews closed their own eyes. Paul taught the gospel to the Jews and they rejected it, they of their own free will closed their eyes to it" shows that you either are bigoted or know nothing. Paul was a Jew as were all of Jesus' disciples, all the authors of the Bible (except for Luke, and all the original members of Christ's body -- His church.

You quoted from Romans 11. Perhaps you should read that chapter again. It says, in part, "So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew!" (11:1-2a), "I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring? (11:11-12), " For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches." 11:15-16 "Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." 11:17-18 "Do not be arrogant, but fear! For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off." 20b-22 "For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree? For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited" 24-25a " And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them,when I take away their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." 26-29

You should read the entire chapter and pay close attention to what it says. The Jews are God's chosen people and dearly loved by Him. You should follow God's example!!!

 

[Aunty Jane]

You should read the entire chapter and pay close attention to what it says. The Jews are God's chosen people and dearly loved by Him. You should follow God's example!!!

It seems to me that God tolerated his wayward people only until his covenant with Abraham was fulfilled. They did not give him any choice. Their relationship with God was solely based on their strict obedience to his commands (Exodus 19:5-6).....unlike their father Abraham, they broke their covenant with him, but he did not break his side of the covenant with them. At times God justly wanted to exterminate them.
Israel provided their Messiah as the scriptures stated they would, but true to Jesus’ words, as a nation, they would lose their place in God’s kingdom.

Matthew 21: 42-43.....
“Jesus said to them: “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone that the builders rejected, this has become the chief cornerstone. This has come from Jehovah, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 This is why I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken from you and be given to a nation producing its fruits.”

John 15:7-9...
“You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said: 8 ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”

Their worship did not ever improve as they accepted no evidence that Jesus was their Messiah and to this day, almost 2000 years hence, they still deny him. There will be no last minute change of heart. Now is the time to demonstrate that the truth matters.....when the judge arrives, it will be too late....all will have shown that they are either “sheep” or “goats”...there is no fence to sit on, and their eternal destiny is set.

Israel’s failure caused God to choose a new nation to serve him, one that began with the selection of Christ’s apostles and those who followed Jesus from that nation, despite all the misinformation that the Pharisees circulated about him. But, it was prophesied that only a “remnant” of fleshly Israel would be “saved”.
Romans 9:27...
“Moreover, Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Although the number of the sons of Israel may be as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved.”
Paul was quoting Isaiah 10:22.

It isn’t anything to do with antisemitism.....but simply what the Bible indicates about why God abandoned the nation of Israel, whilst still accepting individuals from that nation who came to Christ.

When Jesus passed sentence on the Jewish nation and their corrupt leaders, he said.....
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. 38 Look! Your house is abandoned to you”.
It wasn’t God’s “house” that was abandoned, but theirs.

God chose a new “nation” to serve him when it became apparent that the majority of the Jews were not going to respond to the apostle’s preaching. (Acts 15:14) The ”Israel of God” came into existence when the first Gentile was baptised. (Gal 6:16) This “Israel” was not of the flesh, but of the spirit, made up of both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

It was understood when God made his promise to Abraham that “all the nations” were going to benefit from Christ’s sacrifice (Gen 22:19).....having rebelliously stuck to the teachings of their corrupt leaders they refused to acknowledge that Jesus was the one who came in the name of his Father....a name that was in their scripture almost 7,000 times, but one they no longer uttered.

Jesus finished by quoting Psalm 118:26 where the divine name is clearly stated....

“For I say to you, you will by no means see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name!’”

No nationality is denied entry into God’s kingdom. (Acts 10:34-35) It is the actions and beliefs of individuals who have accepted Jesus, and who are willing to serve his God as faithfully as he did. We have to be a member of his “nation”....a global brotherhood who all share the same beliefs, and who obey Jesus in all things....not just the convenient things. (Matthew 28:19-20)

 

[Ernest T. Bass]

Why the antisemitism? Saying something as wrong as "The Jews closed their own eyes. Paul taught the gospel to the Jews and they rejected it, they of their own free will closed their eyes to it" shows that you either are bigoted or know nothing. Paul was a Jew as were all of Jesus' disciples, all the authors of the Bible (except for Luke, and all the original members of Christ's body -- His church.

You quoted from Romans 11. Perhaps you should read that chapter again. It says, in part, "So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew!" (11:1-2a), "I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring? (11:11-12), " For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches." 11:15-16 "Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." 11:17-18 "Do not be arrogant, but fear! For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off." 20b-22 "For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree? For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited" 24-25a " And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them,when I take away their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." 26-29

You should read the entire chapter and pay close attention to what it says. The Jews are God's chosen people and dearly loved by Him. You should follow God's example!!!

HOLD ON THERE!!!!! Don't accuse me of racism simply because I do not believe in heretical teachings as premillennialism.

Acts 28:27
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Jesus said "For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Matt 13:15

Matt 23:37
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

Acts 13:46
"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

1 Thess 2:14ff
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: "


Clearly Israel's blindness was self-induced.

Rom 11:26
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:

Israel here refers to the true Israel, spiritual Israel the church. All Christians will be saved yet all fleshly Isrealites will not be saved for most were lost (Rom 10:1-3) other than a remnant who obeyed (Acts 2:38 cf Rom 11:5). One must believe to be saved (Rom 11:23) and for fleshly Israel to be saved they must quit their unbelief in Christ and believe Him. To have Christ save all future generation of Jews in their unbelief goes against everything the NT teaches. Jews and Gentiles are saved in a like manner way (Acts 15:11) by faith. Those lost Jews who would not believe (Rom 10:3) prove they were not "His People" Rom 11:2, they were not the true Jew per Rom 2:28-29.

"and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"
"Premillennialists argue that this passage applies to a future conversion of Jews. And yet, Peter uses almost the exact same language in preaching to Jews almost 2000 years ago! ( Acts 3:26 'For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.') Notice: Peter's Jewish emphasis, 'you first'. God was trying to get the Jews to turn from their ungodliness 2000 years ago." ..not some future event only. Dunagan Comm.

Rom 11:27
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
This sounds a lot like Jer 31:33 . The Premillennialists deny that the New Covenant of Jer 31:31ff is now current. In his book the Millennial Kingdom, John Walvoord stresses the yet future establishment of the Jeremiah covenant (pgs. 208-220). And yet the Bible is clear that such a covenant was operational in the first century. ( Heb 8:6-13 ; Heb 9:1-28 ; Heb 10:1-10 )

Again, 'how will all Israel be saved'? By faith (11:23), by turning from ungodliness (Rom 11:26) (repentance-2:4-5), and by obtaining the forgiveness of their sins (11:27) (which demands baptism- Acts 2:38 ). Every one of 'his people' in the Jewish nation, will be saved, for 'his people' are those that trust Him, i.e. those that exercise obedient faith in Him. His people will be those that turn from unbelief, ungodliness, and meet the conditions for forgiveness." Dunagan Comm. Those who turn from unbelief to obedience to Christ are called Christians...His people. God's people is not made up of disobedient unbelievers.

Rom 11:28-29
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

The context of Rom 11 clearly states the unbelieving fleshly Jews were cast off and were lost. But because of God's love for the fathers (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) God did not cast off the fleshly Jew to where salvation would be impossible, for they could still find salvation by faith in Christ.

"they" refers to those unbelieving Jews that were lost (Rom 10:3). Their unbelief, their closing their own eyes made them enemies of the gospel (2 Thess 1:8-9). Their unbelief for the sake of the Gentiles brought the gospel to the Gentiles sooner. Acts 13:46

"touching the election" God's still will welcome those lost unbelieving Jews but for them to be saved it must be by faith in Christ. It is God's will that all come to repentance and be saved.

"for the sake of the fathers" Abraham, Issac and Jacob God still left the door of salvation ajar for the Jews and did not make salvation impossible for them by casting them off.

"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." If casting off the fleshly Jews made salvation impossible for them, then God would have to repent/change His promises..... as the promise He made to Abraham that ALL NATIONS would be blessed in him would have to be changed to EXCLUDE that Hebrew nation. Yet God is not sorry and will not repent/change His calling of the Jews (Rom 9:4), God is not going to change/amend the great commission that is for ALL nations, EVERY creature including fleshly Jews. For fleshly Jews to be saved today they must now have an obedient faith in Christ before they die for after death comes judgment. No future salvation for some lucky Jews who happen to be living in the future. Those Jews who live in the future must obey Christ to be saved just as Jews in the past had to do to be saved.

 

[Davy]

Why the antisemitism? Saying something as wrong as "The Jews closed their own eyes. Paul taught the gospel to the Jews and they rejected it, they of their own free will closed their eyes to it" shows that you either are bigoted or know nothing. Paul was a Jew as were all of Jesus' disciples, all the authors of the Bible (except for Luke, and all the original members of Christ's body -- His church.

You quoted from Romans 11. Perhaps you should read that chapter again. It says, in part, "So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew!" (11:1-2a), "I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous. Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring? (11:11-12), " For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches." 11:15-16 "Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you." 11:17-18 "Do not be arrogant, but fear! For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God—harshness toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off." 20b-22 "For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree? For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited" 24-25a " And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them,when I take away their sins.”

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable." 26-29

You should read the entire chapter and pay close attention to what it says. The Jews are God's chosen people and dearly loved by Him. You should follow God's example!!!

But it sounds like you are trying to take that a little too far...

Apostle Paul presented a CONDITION in order for the Romans 11:26 verse to happen...

Rom 11:23
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
KJV

So that still means those unbelieving Jews which God blinded MUST ALSO BELIEVE and convert to Christ, once God removes their blindness He put upon them. I'm convinced that will happen with the majority of them once Jesus returns. I say only the 'majority' because not all Jews who say... they are Jews, are actually born of bloodline "house of Judah". Many Jews are converts from foreign nations, and are not born of any of the 12 tribes of Israel.

Also, the title of 'Jew' does not refer to ALL of the 12 tribes of Israel. Per the Jewish historian Josephus (100 A.D.), he said that title of 'Jew' is what those of the 3-tribe "house of Judah" that returned from the 70 years Babylon captivity called theirselves, and the strangers that returned with them and also lived in Judea. He said the name came specifically from the tribe of Judah. Biblically and historically, the "house of Judah" kingdom in the south at Jerusalem-Judea was made up of only... the 3 tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, and some small remnants of northern tribes that refused Jeroboam's gold calf idol worship. The larger group of Israelites made up the northern ten tribe "house of Israel", or "kingdom of Israel" with its capital city at Samaria, and under king Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim. (see 1 Kings 11 thru 2 Kings 17).

So per my Bible, and history, the majority of Israelites were not called 'Jews'. ONLY... those of the "house of Judah" were, and that AFTER the split of 1 Kings 11 forward.