January 29, 2015 - A. V. Rauf
The Fullness of the Gentiles…….How Close are We? (Part I)
Romans 11:25—For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
In this chapter of the Bible, the Apostle Paul explains that the origins of the Christian faith, or the “root,” are the patriarchal promises for Israel and the Jews. As read in context this term speaks of the ethnic consistency of the Church viewed eschatologically. This chapter would be better understood studied within the greater context of Romans Chapters 9, 10 & 11, which from the perspectives of both covenant and prophecy reveals the relationship between national Israel and the Church.
One of the central themes of Romans 11 is that, when the Jewish people as a nation rejected Christ, they were temporarily cut off from the blessings of a relationship with God. As a result, the gospel was given to the Gentiles who accepted it.Bear in mined that this has been happening or well over 2,000 years and counting.
Furthermore, this partial hardening of heart for Israel doesn’t preclude individual Jews from being saved, but it prevents the nation from accepting Christ as Messiah until His plans are finished.
Zechariah 9:9— Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
One of the many signs of the advent of the Messiah was this prophecy uttered by the prophet Zechariah in which the Messiah was going to arrive in Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Jesus fulfilled this as mentioned in Luke 19:
Luke 19:29-44—And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, 30 Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. 31 And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. 32 And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. 33 And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? 34 And they said, The Lord hath need of him. 35 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. 41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
Many Bible scholars contend that this was the very day the Archangel Gabriel revealed to the prophet Daniel regarding the coming of the Messiah. This can be found in Daniel Chapter 9.
However, in regards to this article, when the time is right, God will restore the entire nation, and they will come to faith in Him once again. Apart from this understanding it becomes difficult to understand the Rapture of the Church. (I will be soon be writing about the Rapture of the Church in upcoming posts.)
The Age of Church began on the Day of Pentecost and will culminate at the Rapture of the Church. When this takes place, the Holy Spirit will cease to function in His role as the Restrainer, convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
In preparing for the return of Jesus Christ, there are three specific mysteries which must be unveiled to fully comprehend the future events culminating in the end of the age:
1. The mystery of sin or lawlessness:
2 Thessalonins 2:7—For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2. The mystery of Israel and the Church:
Romans 11:25–For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
3. The mystery of the Rapture of the Church:
1 Corinthians 15:51—Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Again, to the faithful believers it is appointed to know and understand the mysteries. We as believers already are familiar with the following “unveiled” mysteries:
1. The mystery of the Gospel:
Ephesians 6:19-20—And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
2. The mystery of Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 3:1-6—For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel
3. The mystery of faith itself:
1 Timothy 3:9—Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
There are other mysteries also mentioned in the Bible which I invite you to study. It is important to mention that through the Word of God, the new nature and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the believer becomes cognizant of God’s mysteries.
So how close we are to the rapture of the church? Certainly, I believe we are deep into the season of the rapture of the church. What does that mean? It means the Lord could come back at anytime. Nothing needs to be fulfilled for the rapture to take place. When Israel became a nation back in 1948 that set the stage for what may very likely be the final generation.
In regards to the mystery of the Israel and the Church, Paul urges us to NOT to be ignorant of this mystery….(To be continued….)