Blindness Until?

“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.”     Romans 11:25. NKJV

Many rightly understand this passage as referring to the coming rapture of the Church, and it’s revealing of a certain number of believers God is waiting for before He gives Jesus permission to call us home.  Yet I think the focus on the rapture might hide another important point God is trying to make here and that is the nation of Israel finally coming to the realization that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed the prophesied Messiah. Why does this passage use the word “until”?  My guess it’s because it takes the rapture of the Church to open their eyes.

As I read with dismay the path that this world is on, especially this country as our current situation has become so dire, I often have to remind myself that while the coming tribulation is certainly a well deserved judgment on the whole world, it’s main purpose is to turn the nation of Israel back to God.  As revealed to the prophet Daniel, God’s timeline for the nation of Israel consists of seventy “weeks” of seven years, of which only sixty-nine have been served.  The last seven years we know as the tribulation is the seventieth week and is the time that Israel will finally come to understand God’s plan for them.

“Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of[ sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.  Daniel 9:24. NKJV

At the same time, of course, the world will also be given a lesson concerning who it is who actually rules, and that Israel is indeed His chosen people.

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.“Surely it is coming, and it shall be done,” says the Lord GOD. “This is the day of which I have spoken.”    Ezekiel 39:7-8. NKJV. 

The current rise of rampant anti-semitism throughout the world is simply the preparation for what will occur when the rapture takes place and the Church is removed from this world.  At that time Israel will have no one to defend them other than God, which I believe is the whole purpose behind what will happen when the Church is removed.  When Israel has no one to turn to other than God Himself, the realization of Jesus being their true Messiah will finally occur.

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn."  Zechariah 12:10. NKJV

While so many peoples and nations wish to destroy Israel’s existence, their ignorance of prophecy condemns them.  Israel will never be destroyed because the God of the universe is their defender.  There is no reason to question the futility of those who would attack Israel as who indeed can succeed when it is God who is in control?

“He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.He takes away the understanding[ of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.They grope in the dark without light, And He makes them stagger like a drunken man.”  Job 12:23-25  NKJV

It was this passage that made me think of the situation we find ourselves in right now in this country.  The debate this past week between the two who desire to be President only served, in my mind, to illustrate how it is God who orchestrates the path we are on.  When the subject of the economy came up I could not help but remember this passage from Genesis.

"I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”  Genesis 12:3. NKJV

President Trump was probably one of the most supportive presidents in recent time towards the nation of Israel, while the attitude of the current administration has been quite the opposite.  Am I the only one who sees this passage describing the difference between the economy under former President Trump and what we have had to deal with under the Biden administration?  We can take God at His Word when He reveals in the Bible exactly how events in this world are going to play out.

I want you to consider this, and then wonder as I do if what we are seeing is the earth warning us that Christ is nearer than many of us think.  If you have never made the decision to accept the free gift of eternal life God has provided through His Son, Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so today.  Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him.  You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

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https://harbingersdaily.com/the-jewish-nation-lives-the-futility-of-attempts-to-annihilate-israel/

Fret Not

Like many in this particular time in our country, it seems I am going out of my way to avoid discussing politics unless it is with a few of my friends who I know agree with me.  I hear and know of all too many stories of the anger and hostility directed towards those who hold conservative values.  Yet when I considered this topic, it occurred to me that when speaking of the end of this age, the Bible makes it clear that politics plays a major role in most of what we are told will happen as we approach, and enter the tribulation period.  That made me wonder if the current political landscape is a strong sign pointing to the rapture of the Church.

This train of thought was brought on by my recent daily devotions as I am reading  through the book of Psalms, one of my most favorite books of the Bible.  If anyone in the Bible found himself in need of God’s help over the course of his lifetime, it would have to be David.  Yet one could certainly make the point that no matter the situation he found himself in, his faith in God never wavered and he knew he could go to God with his prayers and expect an answer.  I thought today that instead of rambling on about the times we are living in, I would let the Bible address it through this Psalm of David.

[[A Psalm of David.]] Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.

The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.

Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.  Psalm 37:1-40  KJV

Like David, it personally gives me comfort to know that God will deal with the wicked and that we will be delivered because of our faith in Him.  If you have never taken the step of accepting the gift of eternal life offered to us all and thus becoming a child of God, I urge you to do it right now.  Simply pray a prayer like this one and confess to God your need for salvation, and accept the gift He provided for you by the death and resurrection of His own Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus I know I am a sinner. I have sinned against you, but I know you loved me enough to send your Son, Jesus Christ to die for my sins and then rise from the dead so that I may live forever with You. Lord forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to begin to live for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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