Originally posted by npetreley
According to plain, simple, clear reading of this passage in Romans, Israel isn't the same thing as the church, or else Paul wouldn't be speaking of them separately. And it also seems like there is an unfulfilled prophecy right here.
They certainly were separate, and as for your: "
seems like there is an unfulfilled prophecy right here" -you are correct. What you probably may not have considered is this -it was at
THAT time in the process of being fulfilled -and in His Parousia was.
Rom 11:25-29: 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. 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: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance..
The Church
came in and completed Israel -so all Israel being saved. They were [the Gentiles] not a people, yet when they joined Christ they joined the commonwealth of Israel -inheriting
ALL the promises. Now futurists tend to poo-hoo this as "spiritualising" [yet do all the same themselves, variously], but the epistles are full of this. Abraham waited for a city whose builder is God -this speaks of nothing other than salvation -"
Abraham saw My day and rejoiced" etc etc etc. This
IS the
substance [reality-fulfillment] to the shadows prefigured under the old regime.
When Christ came in His Parousia this was the "
turning away ungodliness from Jacob" -salvation complete i.e.,
RESTORATION. Israel was elected to be the way or mean of salvation in the sense that the Christ was promised through them -they were to be the light to the Gentiles -as Jesus said: "
salvation is of the Jews" -Israel Fulfilled her calling for
the REMNANT which included the Gentiles was saved.
The temporary hardening of Israel's heart was working salvation for the Gentiles which in turn was working jealousy for Israel -prompting many Jews to turn to Christ [just read through Acts and note how many were responding in faith -especially from the hierarchhy]. Jesus had said: "
I have flock from another fold that I must gather that there be one flock and one Shepherd" -
making out of the two ONE NEW MAN.
Christ's Cross worked salvation for Israel which in turn worked salvation for the whole world. The families of the earth are blessed through
BELIEVING [noun] Abraham. While temple sacrifices were being offered [though post cross meaningless] the way into the Holiest of All [
SALVATION] was not yet complete. When the Temple came down this would be
THE sign ["
what will be the sign of thy coming and the end of the age?" -the old covenant age] that so had Christ -filling his Body, the Church with His fulness -God filling all in all.
davo