Romans 11 and the real Replacement Theology

[PinSeeker]

What Scripture do you use to back up the claim there was a seperate nation of Israel from all your Christians on earth prior to the birth of Christ?

Excellent question. Especially in view of the passages from Paul's letters about all those, Jew and Gentile alike, who are in Christ, and the Hebrews 1 passage in my signature:

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world" (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Grace and peace to you.

 

[Ziggy]

The tree of knowledge of good and evil vs. the tree of life ​

I don't know if it's a vs. thing.

I believe if they had asked for wisdom and knowledge as Solomon had done, God would not have refrained them from it, but would of had the opportunity as Jesus did to explain the differences.
They took upon themselves the authority to judge between good and evil and to be like God.
This "being like God" to usurp him or replace him with their own understanding.. is what Satan had tried to do.
Or in this case Eve ( the church) ... trying to change times and laws to fit their own ways.

Hos 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

It's not the knowledge of good and evil that caused them to die, but as this thread is titled, more like replacement theory.

I see Lucifer as Adam in the garden contemplating what Eve is giving to him.

Isa 14:12
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

The serpent in the garden didn't say this about himself, this is what he told Eve they could do if they took of the fruit.

You will be like God is what he said to them.
And they ate.

I think about all these biblical scholars believing they have all the answer and they can understand all languages and linguistics.
They have knowledge but very rarely do they have understanding.

None of this is complicated but they complicate it by believing only they themselves can understand it.
They are too high minded for the simplicity of the truth.

We lost power for a couple hours here in Maine this afternoon. I'm a little distracted getting everything back to "normal" .
Later tonight I will start a new thread and we can have some fun going down some deep rabbit holes.

I got my shovel and my pick and I'm ready to go digging


Hugs

 

[Peterlag]

Does Hebrews 1:8 stick?

Just copy/paste or link to your explanation of it.

Do you really want my take on Hebrews 1:8?

 

[Peterlag]

All Jews and Gentiles who belong to Christ are Christians, so your above argument is a nothing-burger, and the argument below is simply false (patently false) - as anyone who has ever read Romans 11 can see:

All Jews and Gentiles who belong to Christ are Christians. Just because Paul does not call the Jews and the Gentiles in Christ "Christians", i.e "Jewish Christians" in Romans 11:5, and "Gentile Christians" in Romans 11:17 & 25,

does not mean Paul has "stopped talking about Christians" in Romans 11. It's a most ridiculous argument, and one of the most ridiculous arguments I've ever seen. The common understanding of the word "Christian" ever since Acts 11:26 till today means that everyone except you understands that Paul was talking about Jewish and Gentile CHRISTIANS in Romans 9:24 and Romans 11:5, 17 & 25.

We come right back to the beginning again. The New Testament does not use this language that you use. There's no place in the Epistles that have words like this saying all Jews belong to Christ or that Gentiles are Christian. You make these statements but the Scriptures do not.

 

[Peterlag]

You conveniently side-stepped the fact that everlasting Father does not mean "Father of the coming Age" and your "translation" (which you do not mention which version of the scriptures it comes from), is a twisting of the scripture in Isaiah 9:6.

God is the King of Israel who sits on David's throne in the person of Jesus Christ. Your twisting of scripture by changing the wording does not change scripture.

God sits on nobody's throne. Everybody else including Jesus sits on God's throne. Now you can call it twisting all day long but God does not take second place to nobody. He does not bow and He does not humble Himself. And trust me nobody can spit on God or nail Him to a tree.

 

[covenantee]

Do you really want my take on Hebrews 1:8?

I already indicated. Why the reluctance? Don't you have a "take"?

 

[covenantee]

The phrase in Isaiah 9:6 that most English versions translate as “Mighty God” is el gibbor in the Hebrew. That very phrase, in the plural form, is used in Ezekiel 32:21 of “heroes” and mighty men. The NIV translates the phrase in Ezekiel as “mighty leaders,” and the KJV and NASB translate it as “the strong among the mighty.” The Hebrew phrase, when used in the singular, can refer to one “mighty leader” just as when used in the plural it can refer to many “mighty leaders.”

Your "plural" claim is irrelevant.

God is not a temporal "hero". He is not a temporal "mighty leader".

There is not one instance in the entirety of KJV Scripture where the singular expression "mighty God" refers to anyone other the One True Mighty God. Nor is there one recognized English version which translates the associated Hebrew of Isaiah 9:6 as "hero" or "mighty leader".

1. Genesis 49:24
   But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2. Deuteronomy 7:21
   Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
3. Psalm 50:1
   The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
4. Psalm 132:2
   How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
5. Psalm 132:5
   Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
6. Isaiah 9:6
   For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
7. Isaiah 10:21
   The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
8. Jeremiah 32:18
   Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
9. Habakkuk 1:12
   Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

 

[Peterlag]

Your "plural" claim is irrelevant.

God is not a temporal "hero". He is not a temporal "mighty leader".

There is not one instance in the entirety of KJV Scripture where the singular expression "mighty God" refers to anyone other the One True Mighty God. Nor is there one recognized English version which renders the associated Hebrew of Isaiah 9:6 as "hero" or "mighty leader".

1. Genesis 49:24
   But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
2. Deuteronomy 7:21
   Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
3. Psalm 50:1
   The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
4. Psalm 132:2
   How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
5. Psalm 132:5
   Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
6. Isaiah 9:6
   For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
7. Isaiah 10:21
   The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
8. Jeremiah 32:18
   Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations
9. Habakkuk 1:12
   Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.
   In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

The following translation also does not use mighty God...

Isaiah 9:6

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.

 

[Peterlag]

I already indicated. Why the reluctance? Don't you have a "take"?

Some Biblical Unitarians believe that Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8 are calling the Messiah “god.” They recognize that this king is not being called “God” with a capital “G” but they think the Messiah is being called “god” and they translate both Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8 as having “god” with a lowercase “g.” It's true that in the biblical languages, including Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, the word “GOD” had a much broader meaning than it does today (Hebrew and Aramaic have only uppercase letters, and all the ancient Greek manuscripts were in capital letters, so the manuscripts all read “GOD”). In the biblical languages “GOD” was a descriptive title applied to a range of authorities, including angels and demons, lesser gods, great people, rulers, and people acting with God’s authority. The word “God” in both Hebrew and Greek could refer to a human being, especially a human being acting under God’s authority. Even Jesus Christ said that (John 10:34-35). So with the understanding that the word “GOD” could refer to a human being, a Biblical Unitarian translation of Hebrews 1:8 could be, “Your throne, O god, is forever and ever.”

 

[covenantee]

The following translation also does not use mighty God...

Isaiah 9:6

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.

One out of 50 is uncompelling.

 

[covenantee]

Some Biblical Unitarians believe that Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8 are calling the Messiah “god.” They recognize that this king is not being called “God” with a capital “G” but they think the Messiah is being called “god” and they translate both Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8 as having “god” with a lowercase “g.” It's true that in the biblical languages, including Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, and Latin, the word “GOD” had a much broader meaning than it does today (Hebrew and Aramaic have only uppercase letters, and all the ancient Greek manuscripts were in capital letters, so the manuscripts all read “GOD”). In the biblical languages “GOD” was a descriptive title applied to a range of authorities, including angels and demons, lesser gods, great people, rulers, and people acting with God’s authority. The word “God” in both Hebrew and Greek could refer to a human being, especially a human being acting under God’s authority. Even Jesus Christ said that (John 10:34-35). So with the understanding that the word “GOD” could refer to a human being, a Biblical Unitarian translation of Hebrews 1:8 could be, “Your throne, O god, is forever and ever.”

What human being possesses a throne forever and ever?

 

[Ziggy]

Phl 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Phl 2:6
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phl 2:7
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Phl 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Phl 2:9
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phl 2:10
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phl 2:11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Let this mind be in you....

Mind...

Num 16:28
And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

Let this mind be in you...

Num 24:13
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

Let this mind be in you...

1Sa 2:35
And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

Let this mind be in you...

Jhn 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Jhn 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Rom 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Phl 2:6
Who, being in the form of God...

Gen 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Gen 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Jhn 14:10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Question....

If the Father dwells in the son, then who is sitting on the throne?

If God's mind was IN Christ Jesus then what is the form sitting on the throne?

If God is Spirit and his Spirit is IN Jesus, then who is sitting on the throne?

Jhn 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jhn 1:36
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Rev 21:22
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 22:1
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:3
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

God sits on nobody's throne. Everybody else including Jesus sits on God's throne.

They are one in the same brother.. they are one in the same.

for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

The lamb is God's glory.

Exo 16:10
And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

Who appeared in the cloud?

Exo 24:16
And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Who spoke upon the mountain?

Exo 33:22
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:

Who passed by Moses?

It was the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, God Almighty.
Amen

Hugs

 

[Peterlag]

What human being possesses a throne forever and ever?

Another easy question: The Resurrected Messiah.

 

[Peterlag]

One out of 50 is uncompelling.

I gave you the way the word is used in many places in the same KJV and you said no that is not true. But again, there's no teaching on this subject and one would think if it was really important and if it was what you needed to understand to be saved. Then there would have been whole chapters clearly teaching it. And there are none anywhere. All you have is scrapes that are scattered around the Bible.

 

[covenantee]

I gave you the way the word is used in many places in the same KJV and you said no that is not true. But again, there's no teaching on this subject and one would think if it was really important and if it was what you needed to understand to be saved. Then there would have been whole chapters clearly teaching it. And there are none anywhere. All you have is scrapes that are scattered around the Bible.

Unlike you, I'm completely confident that the unanimous wisdom and insight of fifty English (not to mention other languages) translators, reflecting the unanimous wisdom and insight of more than 1,500 years of true Christian orthodoxy, is more than sufficient to have got it right.

Only cults deny that reality.

 

[covenantee]

Another easy question: The Resurrected Messiah.

Easy question, wrong answer.

Hebrews 1:8 Greek

2316 [e]
Theos
Θεὸς ,
God
N-NMS

Capital "G" "God".

HELPS Word-studies
2316 theós (of unknown origin) – properly, God, the Creator and owner of all things (Jn 1:3; Gen 1 - 3).
[Long before the NT was written, 2316 (theós) referred to the supreme being who owns and sustains all things.]

I'm confident that the translators' unanimous Greek competence exceeds yours.

I'm confident that they got right.

Only cults deny that reality.

 

[Peterlag]

Easy question, wrong answer.

Hebrews 1:8 Greek

2316 [e]
Theos
Θεὸς ,
God
N-NMS

Capital "G" "God".

HELPS Word-studies
2316 theós (of unknown origin) – properly, God, the Creator and owner of all things (Jn 1:3; Gen 1 - 3).
[Long before the NT was written, 2316 (theós) referred to the supreme being who owns and sustains all things.]

I'm confident that the translators' unanimous Greek competence exceeds yours.

I'm confident that they got right.

Only cults deny that reality.

The renowned Greek scholar and Trinitarian, A. T. Robertson noted that the Greek word theos (God) could be understood as a vocative, “O God” or as a nominative, as in the phrase “God is thy throne” or “Thy throne is God.” He wrote: “Either [translation] makes good sense.” While it is true that from a strictly translational point of view either a vocative or nominative translation is acceptable, all translation is informed by context and scope, and the context strongly argues against the translation “Your throne, O God.”

 

[Peterlag]

Unlike you, I'm completely confident that the unanimous wisdom and insight of fifty English (not to mention other languages) translators, reflecting the unanimous wisdom and insight of more than 1,500 years of true Christian orthodoxy, is more than sufficient to have got it right.

Only cults deny that reality.

There are problems with Hebrews 1:8 if you think Jesus will be sitting on his throne as the big guy because the Bible says the Son will be subject to the Father even in the future “When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him [God] who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). The teaching that the two of them are “co-equal” must be wrong if Jesus is subject to the Father even in the eternal future.

 

[Pierac]

All Israel cannot be an ethnic people since they are ALL saved only by the fulness of the Gentiles being grafted into the same good olive tree of faith with them. That makes ALL Israel people of faith from every nation of the world. The Covenant that is through the seed of Jacob (Christ) is with them, Jews and Gentiles of faith together. The Deliverer that comes out of Zion will take away their sins.

So you agree.... The Deliverer that comes out of Zion will take away their sins...

Here's the question.... Do people that sin... Need to request to want their sins to be taken away? AND... Does it matter ?

If God God takes away sins.... does the benefactor have a say either way?

If so show me in scripture why it matters!

I want you to think on this... Can God forgive a person whom does not want forgiveness?

THINK BEFORE YOU POST!!!

ESV Rom 9:15 For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

So if it does not depend on human will.... How does God choose???

I already showed you!!!

Net Eph 1:11 In Christ28 we too have been claimed as God's own possession,(29) since we were predestined (G4309) according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will

29 tn Grk "we were appointed by lot." The notion of the verb κληρόω (klēroō) in the OT was to "appoint a portion by lot" (the more frequent cognate verb κληρονομέω [klēronomeō] meant "obtain a portion by lot"). In the passive, as here, the idea is that "we were appointed [as a portion] by lot" (BDAG 548 s.v. κληρόω 1). The words "God's own" have been supplied in the translation to clarify this sense of the verb. An alternative interpretation is that believers receive a portion as an inheritance: "In Christ we too have been appointed a portion of the inheritance." See H. W. Hoehner, Ephesians, 226-27, for discussion on this interpretive issue.

Word study

G2820
κληρόω

klēróō; contracted klērṓ, fut. klērṓsō, from klḗros (G2819), a lot. To cast lots, determine by lot, i.e., to determine something, choose someone. In Eph_1:11, it means, "in whom the lot has fallen upon us also, as foreordained thereto . . . to be" (a.t.). The idea expressed here is that Christians have become heirs of God due to the fact that God predestined them according to His purpose. In a manner of speaking, the "lot" fell to believers not by chance but solely because of the gracious and sovereign decision of God- Almighty to select them to be His heirs.

Deriv.: prosklēróō (G4345), to give or assign by lot.

My question is... can a complete idiot from Man's point of view... still be appointed by Lot?

Can this biblical quote apply to someone who care less about God???

"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Know this.... God's Mercy.... depends not on human will or exertion...

This fact..... takes you and me!!!!... and any belief you or I might have, and any good deeds you or I may have done... WORTHLESS!!!!

Read this post several times... it might take a moment... 29 tn Grk "we were appointed by lot."

SO... How do you know if you were "appointed by lot"?

So many questions that lead to so many more questions...

I want you to understand... "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Mercy for Hitler but not you??? It could that be biblical... ??

GOD said it is.... So what's your thoughts on who can be forgiven...... rwb

 

[Gabriel _Arch]

What is the fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25)?​

ANSWER​

In Romans 11 Paul makes a compelling observation—an affirmation he refers to as a mystery—that a partial hardening has happened until “the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25, ESV). The context helps us understand the meaning of the partial hardening and what is the fullness of the Gentiles.

In the first eleven chapters of Romans, Paul catalogs the mercies of God in God’s provision of righteousness through the gospel. First, in Romans 1:1—3:20 Paul considers the universal human need for God’s righteousness, as all are unrighteous and separated from God. Then in Romans 3:21—4:25 Paul lays out how God applied righteousness through faith to all who believe in Jesus, outlining three different and significant types of descendants of Abraham: 1) ethnic Israel (Romans 4:1), 2) believing Gentiles (Romans 4:11), and 3) believing Jews (Romans 4:12). These three sets of descendants of Abraham are especially important for understanding the partial hardening and the fullness of the Gentiles that Paul talks about in Romans 11.

Romans 5—8 discusses the implications of that righteousness applied in freeing believers from the penalty and bondage of sin (Romans 5—7) and assuring them of a present and future of reconciliation and peace with God (Romans 8). At the end of Romans 8 is a powerful affirmation of the believer’s eternal security—God will keep His promises to those who have believed in Jesus Christ, and they will never be separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:35).

While discussing these mercies of God, Paul seems to anticipate that his readers might wonder why, if God is so faithful to restore those who believe in Jesus, God’s promises of restoration to Israel do not seem to be fulfilled yet. Simply put, if God is faithful, and if His promises to believers are trustworthy, then why is He not keeping His promises to Israel? It is to answer this concern that Paul writes Romans 9—11, as he introduces the ideas of a partial hardening of Israel and the fullness of the Gentiles (Romans 11:25).

In Romans 9 Paul expresses his love for his Jewish brethren (Romans 9:1–5) and recognizes that the covenant promises are to be fulfilled to a specific group of Abraham’s descendants. Paul shows the distinct groups by highlighting God’s choosing of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and affirms that God’s blessing would be for those descendants who believe in the Messiah (Romans 9:33). Salvation would not only be for believing Jews, though, as Gentiles could also call upon the name of the Lord for salvation (Romans 10:12–13). While there are believing Jews and Gentiles, Paul explains that the nation of Israel as a whole has not yet received her Messiah (Romans 10:18—11:10), but they will one day be saved through believing in their Messiah (Romans 11:26).

In the meantime, Paul explains that there is a partial hardening of the nation—that many will refuse the Messiah—until the fullness of the Gentiles occurs. Israel’s hardening will continue until the divinely set number of Gentiles are saved: “Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ” (Romans 11:25, NLT).

Paul recognized that Israel’s failure to accept the Messiah when He came offering the kingdom represented blessing for the Gentiles because, instead of setting up that kingdom on earth at that time, Christ died to pay for the sins of all. In so doing, Christ fulfilled the promise God made to Abraham that in Abraham’s seed all the peoples of the earth will be blessed (Genesis 12:3b). That partial hardening of Israel also represented a shift in focus to the announcement of salvation to the Gentiles. Paul acknowledged himself as an apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11:13) and sought that many Gentiles would come to know Christ so those promises could be fulfilled and then the Jewish people might return to their Messiah (Romans 11:14–15). Paul alluded to this in 2 Timothy 4:17 when he expressed gratitude for God’s sustaining him so that Paul might fulfill his ministry and that all the Gentiles might hear.

Even though God’s promises to save the nation of Israel are not presently being fulfilled, Paul recognizes that God will keep those promises after the fullness of the Gentiles. Paul seems to be building on the foundation of Daniel 9, in which is revealed a 490-year prophetic timeline after which God will accomplish His covenant blessings for Israel. After the first 483 years of the timeline, the Messiah was cut off (Daniel 9:26a), signaling a shift in the focus away from Israel as Gentiles (Rome) would dominate, and there would be wars and desolation. But one day in the future, the ruler who would be known as the Antichrist would make a seven-year agreement with Israel. That last seven years of the timeline would begin to return the focus back to Israel and would conclude the times of the Gentiles of which Jesus spoke in Luke 21:24.

The fullness of the Gentiles in Romans 11:25 reminds us of God’s global focus (with the universal proclamation of the gospel of salvation) and chronology (with the times of the Gentiles not yet complete). One day, the fullness of the Gentiles will be complete, and God will deliver the nation of Israel. Anyone who might have doubts about God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises can consider these passages as important reminders that God has a detailed plan that He is fulfilling patiently and carefully.