THE INGATHERING OF THE GENTILES
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.
PRAYER
Dear Father, thank you for your grace for salvation that’s been poured out all over the world. Souls are being worn 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, Matthew 24:14
Romans 11:24-25 AMPC, Romans 11:5
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Timothy 1:1-20, Jeremiah 5-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Hebrews 9:11-28, Ezekiel 17
