Dispensational Proof 15
15. Romans 9-11
Romans 9-11 is probably the premier passage in the New Testament that explains that God is not finished with Israel. God will complete his great harvest of souls in the “times of the Gentiles” and the church. He will then ramp up an intense focus on Israel in a very dramatic manner in “the time of Jacob’s trouble”. Israel is given the prophets and the promises which proclaim their literal future kingdom. Roman 11 matches perfectly with the messianic kingdom promises of the Old Testament. Ezekiel 36 and 37 give the larger context of what will happen to Israel one day in the future as seen in Romans 11:26-27 which also quotes Psalm 14:7 and Isaiah 59:20 (read verse 21 also).
“And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (NKJV).
Paul directly relates the salvation of Israel yet future with a direct reference in this verse to an Old Testament prophecy regarding His covenant with them. If Israel here means the church or the church has swallowed up their national identity why would he be speaking of Israel’s future salvation. Every use of Israel in the New Testament demands we recognize their national ethnic identity, either as a national people or as a saved ethnic remnant within the national people. I have challenged people over the years to actually study the word “Israel” in both the Old and New Testament to see that it actually always means Israel (the nation) or a remnant of Jewish believers God has preserved. I doubt I have been taken up on this challenge very often. Even though the remnant of truly saved Jews is in the church this still does not negate the purpose God has in glorifying himself in the future with all the Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenant promises. There is so much more that can be said about Romans 9-11 but one verse must be believed or else abuse and denial of the Word of God takes place.
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, …. Romans 11:25-26 (NKJV)”. It truly amazes me that people read these three chapters and do not see that Paul clearly maintains and sees two different purposes for Gentile believers (Church with a remnant of Jewish believers) and Israel’s national OT promises.
CAM
