SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024
THE INGATHERING OF THE GENTILES – Pastor Chris
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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25).
In Romans 11:22-25, Paul speaks about the Jews and Gentiles in a broad sense and how God’s plan of salvation unfolds for both groups. In verse 24 (NKJV), he uses the metaphor of an olive tree to describe this process: “For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?”
Israel, as a nation, is currently experiencing “blindness in part” concerning salvation. This doesn’t mean that every individual Jew is blind to the Gospel. In fact, many Jews have believed in Jesus Christ since the day of Pentecost, including all the apostles, who were Jews themselves. The book of Acts records that multitudes of Jews—multitudes of men and women—accepted Jesus as their Saviour but not yet as a nation. That, however, will eventually happen.
Back to what we read in our opening verse; observe that it says “…blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.” What does this mean? The Amplified Classic provides further clarity: “Lest you be self-opinionated [wise in your own conceits], I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: A HARDENING [INSENSIBILITY] HAS [TEMPORARILY] BEFALLEN A PART OF ISRAEL [TO LAST] UNTIL THE FULL NUMBER OF THE INGATHERING OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN.”
Sequel to our study yesterday, again we see that there’s a full, definite number of sinners all over the world that God is waiting for us to reach with the Gospel—those who must believe and come to Jesus Christ. That’s what He’s waiting for. Once that full number is attained, the Trumpet will sound; the Rapture will take place.
This understanding should get you excited and to be diligent in winning souls, knowing that every soul that comes to Christ brings us closer to the fulfilment of God’s plan and the Rapture of the Church.
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PRAYERDear Father, thank you for your grace for salvation that’s been poured out all over the world. Souls are being won to Christ in large numbers as your children preach the Gospel in their world and in regions beyond. The veil of darkness is removed, and a full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles is coming in, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
1 Timothy 2:1-4
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 11:24-25 AMPC
For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these natural [branches] back on [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree. 25 Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in,
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: 1 Timothy 1:1-20 & Jeremiah 5-6
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Hebrews 9:11-28 & Ezekiel 17
