There are many different places in The Holy Bible that are directed to a special group,
or individual. For example, the eleventh chapter of the Book of Romans, in The New
Testament, is for the most part, to help Gentile-Christians, understand and appreciate how much The Almighty GOD loves them! We also find certain warnings and responsibilities,
specifically given for the Gentile-Believers. And lastly, we will look into the FULNESS OF THE GENTILES
, and its relationship to the JERUSALEM OF GOD!
I. GOD LOVES THE GENTILES:
GOD's love for the Gentiles (non-Jewish people), is not conditioned upon how good
they are, or how kind they are, or how loving they are; although, there are some
that indeed are replenished with, goodness, kindness, and love. But nevertheless,
can they be as good as GOD, or as kind as GOD, or even as loving as GOD? The answer
would always have to be, a resounding, NO!!! Interestingly enough, what The LORD
GOD wants in a Gentile individual, is not how righteous they can be, but rather, that they
will recognize their short comings, while at the same time confess with their mouth,
and believe in their heart that GOD has provided The Way of Righteousness by FAITH
in JESUS CHRIST, THE LORD!!! This of course is not only true of Gentiles, but also, Jewish
individuals as well. "...For 'ALL' have sinned, and come short of The Glory of GOD".
Therefore, God loves the Gentiles, because, He is Love, and it pleases Him to demonstrate His grace, mercy, and kindness upon whom He will. Amen!
Now the question remains; how did the Gentiles merit such favour at The Hand of GOD?
The answer is found in Romans 11, where we are told of two trees; the good olive tree
, which is Israel, and the wild olive tree
, which are the Gentiles! Now, as you follow the narrative, one can readily understand
that 'belief'
, that is, 'faith', is the essential ingredient required by The Almighty GOD, for
either, standing or falling before His
very PRESENCE!
We are told that 'SOME'
of the natural branches of the good olive tree were broken off, because of unbelief;
and, that 'SOME'
of the wild branches, from the wild olive tree, were grafted into the good olive
tree, even though, this is contrary to nature itself What this means, is that in
the grafting process which we are knowledgeable of, at least in nature; one always
grafts a branch of the best, into a tree that is not as pure in essence, so that the tree will
be better off for having received, a better and stronger branch. Not so, as we read
in Romans, chapter 11, the wild, or least in favour, is grafted, contrary to all
principles, but GOD, desires it to be this way, as a reminder that, His thoughts are not
our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. One thing that needs to be remembered,
especially by Gentile-Christians, is not 'ALL'
of the natural branches were broken off, after all, think of all the saints recorded
in both The Old and New Testament, almost in totality, they were Jewish, and they
are branches from the good olive tree.
In fact, if we reason as to the numbers of Jewish branches that 'remained'
on the good olive tree, it will excite us to know, that just as an example, the Church
or 'Congregation'
of Jerusalem, made up in it's entirety of Jewish believers, numbered over 25,000 souls
that followed, THE MESSIAH OF ISRAEL, within 'ONE'
year after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth! On the other
hand, The Apostle Saul-Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was instrumental in turning
the Gentile world, right side up
for our LORD Jesus, and he was but the first of many that, our LORD used in bringing
The Gentiles (wild olive branches), into the good olive tree! Truly, our LORD has
done a marvellous thing for the Gentile people, that they might know, and understand
and belong to the Spiritual body of our MESSIAH, along with the natural branches, the
Jewish believers!
II. RELATIONSHIP ALWAYS DEMANDS RESPONSIBILITY:
Relationship always demands responsibility; therefore, as the Gentiles have been loved
and brought into the commonwealth of Israel, in a Spiritual plane, so also, the Gentiles
are admonished not to be 'high-minded'
, nor are they to, 'boast'
against the natural branches! How could any Gentile, that has been redeemed by the
blood of The Lamb, Who is The Messiah of Israel
, ever, under GOD's heaven mistreat
, malign
or misuse
a Jewish person, or even be malicious towards the Nation of Israel
? Truly, a Gentile-believer, who understands, according to The Scripture, "...to the
Jew first, and also to the Gentile", would never mistreat, malign, or misuse a Jewish
individual, whether a believer or not. For you see, as a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they are protected by the Abrahamic Covenant, which in part reads, "...I
will bless them (you)
that bless thee (any Jewish individual)
, and curse him (you)
, that curseth thee (any Jewish individual)
"!
As a Jewish believer in The LORD Jesus Christ, and ministering to the lost sheep of
the House of Israel, and also, to the Gentiles; I could tell you of multiplied times,
that I have been personally, blessed by Gentile Christians, as well as many times
that I have personally been cursed by Gentile Christians! All of this has transpired
over a period of many years! Since I accept what GOD has to say on the blessing and
cursing aspect I would much rather leave it at the feet of Jesus My MESSIAH! ENOUGH SAID
! One thing is sure and true, and that is, GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE!!!
Highmindedness and boasting can appear in different forms. Let me give you just a
few examples.
THE PARTICULAR CHURCH
or Fellowship that you belong to, does it SUPPORT
or allow 'you'
to support, an outreach to bring in some of the broken off branches from the good
olive tree (the unsaved Jewish people), unto our LORD and Saviour?
WHEN JEWISH MISSIONS
or activities to reach Jewish people with The Gospel is presented to you; do you
shy away from it, or even go as far as to turn your back on it?
PERHAPS YOU EVEN HAVE A NEIGHBOR
that is of the Seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: Do you go out of your way in order
to have contact with them?
DO YOU PERCHANCE SPEAK
unkindly of Jewish people, especially, if they are in some sort of business that
you have had dealings with, and for one reason or another, you were not satisfied
with their mannerisms or methods, and you lump 'ALL' Jews in a generalization basket
?
OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY
is the showing of mercy on your part towards Jewish people, in the realm of THE GOSPEL.
In Romans 11: 30-31, we read, "...For as ye (Gentile-believers) in times past have
not believed GOD, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have
these (Jewish people) also now not believed, that through 'your mercy'
they also may obtain mercy."
My dear Gentile-Christian friend, time is running out for you to demonstrate unto
the Jewish people, the 'mercy'
that is needed through Jesus Christ our LORD, in order for them to understand that,
GOD loves them also!
"HOW ODD OF GOD TO CHOOSE THE JEWS, BUT NOT SO ODD AS THOSE WHO CHOOSE THE JEWISH GOD, AND HATE THE JEWS"
(Disraeli)
III. THE FULNESS OF THE GENTILES IS ALMOST UPON US:
There are several factors connected with this event:
(1) The 'part' blindness that has been upon the Nation of Israel is about to be lifted.
Since June 6, 1967, many more Jewish people have trusted
in Yeshua (Jesus) as LORD and Saviour, that is, since the unification of the City
of Jerusalem (above date). Yes, most of the believers within the Jewish community
(approximately 90%) have done so since 1967.
(2) The return of our MESSIAH
Jesus is at hand.
(3) GOD's dealings with the Gentile people in Grace
and Mercy
is coming to an end.
(4) Israel, as a people are about to be restored to their rightful position as, 'head
of the Nations' (Gentiles).
(1) THE 'PART' BLINDNESS
An event that has been taking place since the days of our LORD Jesus Christ, is described
for us in II Corinthians 3:12-17, "...Seeing then that we have such hope, we use
great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that
the Children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for unto this day remaineth the same veil untaken away
in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ
. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless,
when it (the heart
) shall turn to The LORD, the veil shall be taken away
. Now The LORD is that Spirit: and where The Spirit of The LORD is, there is liberty."
The great event that I am writing about, is found in the context of the above verse:
that is, when a Jewish heart 'turns to The LORD', the 'part blindness' is taken away,
and that Jewish soul is born again of The Spirit of God. This wonderful great event
has transpired countless of thousands of times over the centuries. I have personally
had the privilege of this Marvellous, Wonderful,
great event happen to me, as well as, witnessing the Salvation of countless Jewish
people! Therefore, as we approach the fullness of the Gentiles, we will witness the
Salvation of many, many more Jewish dear ones, unto our LORD and SAVIOUR, Jesus of
Nazareth.
(2) THE RETURN OF MESSIAH
In I Thessalonians, chapter three
and four
, we find the 'two'
aspects of our Messiah's return. I Thessalonians 4:16-18, we read, "...For The LORD
Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with The Voice of the Archangel,
and with the trump of GOD: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first; Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet The LORD in the air
: and so shall we ever be with The LORD, wherefore comfort one another with these
words."
This of course is what is commonly referred to as 'the rapture of believers': Please
notice, that, those who have died 'in Christ shall rise first, then we 'which are
alive', shall with them
that have died in Christ, 'meet The LORD in the air'. At this point, The LORD Jesus
Christ does not touch earth, but seven
years later (known as, The Tribulation
years), we read in I Thessalonians 3:13 "...To the end He may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before GOD, even our Father, at the coming of our LORD Jesus
Christ with all
His saints.
This is the second aspect of our MESSIAH's return. As we read in Zechariah 14:4, "...And
His feet
shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem."
Therefore, at the first aspect of the second coming of MESSIAH Jesus, it will be to
gather us unto HIMSELF, then seven years transpire, which ushers in the second aspect
of our LORD's return to earth, and He will bring us with Him. "...EVEN SO, COME,
LORD JESUS."
(3) THE GENTILE PERIOD OF GRACE AND MERCY COMES TO AN END
Since the days of King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C., The Almighty has extended to the
Gentiles, His kindness and mercy. The LORD has even withheld, at times, His wrath
and fury, especially, for their mistreatment of His people Israel. The Almighty declared
in Zechariah 2:8, "...For he that toucheth you (ISRAEL) toucheth the apple of His
eye." Zechariah 1:14-16, "...I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great
jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the Heathen (theGentiles
) that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased
(at Israel
), and they (the Gentiles
) helped forward
the affliction
." As in the days of Abraham, when The LORD SAID, when 'the iniquity of the Amorites'
would fill the cup, then, The LORD would pour out His fierce anger and judgement
upon them. As we know historically, approximately, five-hundred (500) years transpired from the days of Abraham
(when GOD made this utterance), until the days of Moses, when it was brought to pass;
the plagues upon the Egyptians, was the beginning, and ultimately concluding with
the conquest over the Amorites, which were, one of the seven Nations, that GOD through
Israel brought forth His anger
and punishment
in the Land of Canaan!
So it will be with the Gentiles that have turned their back upon GOD. All Nations
(Gentiles) that have rebelled at The Almighty will be judged, and fierce anger shall
be poured upon each of these Nations. It has now been approximately, over twenty-five
hundred (2,500) years, since the count down started, but be assured that, "...The LORD
is not slack concerning His promise as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering."
There is an answer, one of The Almighty's qualities, is that, He is very, very patient,
and even today, He is extending the opportunity to the Gentiles, to repent and turn
to Mm; but time is running out, and the fulness (the completion and consummation)
of the Gentiles, is at hand! The moment that this takes place; "...ALL ISRAEL SHALL BE SAVED"
(Romans 11:26).
(4) ISRAEL RESTORED
In Act 1:6, the Jewish disciples asked The Resurrected LORD JESUS, ...Wilt Thou at
this time restore again The Kingdom to Israel?" The answer is given by the Apostle
Saul-Paul in Romans 11:26-27, "...For I would not, brethren, that 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. And so all Israel
shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion The Deliverer, and
shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Israel)."
These two verses are primarily directed to Gentile-Christians, so that they would
not become conceited, in the fact that they were brought unto GOD through Jesus our
LORD as some
of the natural (Jewish people) branches were broken off, because The LORD has also
been taking away the 'part'
blindness in some of the Jewish people, through Jesus, The MESSIAH; but ultimately,
at the second coming of our MESSIAH, 'all Israel'
that is alive
at the time of Israel's restoration shall be saved.
"...In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the House of David (the Nation
of Israel) and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zechariah
13:1) Also, Israel shall be "the head, and not the tail" (see: Deuteronomy 28:10-13).
You as a Gentile-Believer in The Jewish Messiah, have the responsibility today, to
love and to witness of GOD's Grace freely given to you
, through the Jewish prophets and apostles; I urge you to give back to them (the Jewish
people), GOD's plan of peace
and Eternal Life
, thusly you 'will be blessed'.
May The LORD grant you WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE in so doing.
