God’s Ultimate Plan
Romans 11 is one of the most important eschatological passages in all of scripture. Eschatology is the study of the end times. One’s understanding of scripture, identity, and worldview, along with any impetus toward ministry, is ultimately driven by our view of the end. For example, those holding to a pretribulation rapture view may be provoked to evangelize but they are unlikely to be driven to prepare to endure to the end. Mat 24:13 The expectation is an escape from suffering. Those with a Postmillennial view or what some call Victorious Eschatolgy work frantically to transform society according to some version of The Seven Mountains Mandate in preparation for Jesus’s return. The expectation is increasing influence and prosperity for the Body of Christ. On the other hand, those with a post-tribulation view of the Harpazo, 1 Thess 4:17 will hear the
Call for the endurance and faith of the saints.
Rev 13:10
The expectation is that we will endure persecution and suffering. Things will get harder before the perfect comes. One thing is certain. Our view of the end times will become more or less coherent as time goes on.
As Bereans, we endeavor to follow the method of the earliest church fathers like Polycarp who was discipled by John. Hence, we assume the most literal interpretation of scripture leads to truth. We allow scripture to interpret scripture instead of our imagination. We apply the laws of coherence and noncontradiction and assume that Jesus meant exactly what He said in the Olivet Discourse.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mathew 24:29-31
What is the ultimate purpose of the call to endurance and faith? I contend that it is the same purpose given by Paul in Ephesians 1:3-10 and Romans 11.
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In as much then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
Romans 11:13-14
Many gentile Christians, whom Paul describes as wild olive branches, errantly view themselves as superior to the cultivated ones (The chosen Jews) because the Jews rejected their savior and demanded His crucifixion. Some believe the church has replaced the Jews. But the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable. Rom 11:29 Paul makes clear that we Gentiles would never have had the opportunity to be saved were it not for the transgression of His chosen people. Hence we are warned
do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Romans 11:18
Some Historical Background
The geographical nation of Israel begins In approximately 1250 BC at the end of the 40-year Jewish Exodus from Egypt when Joshua took the nation of Israel across the Jordan River into the promised land. Joshua 1-24 At that time it was occupied by Canaanites, the descendants of Cain who murdered Able. Genesis 4 Wars and turmoil continued as the Israelites gradually gained more control over the land. Ezekiel 48 explains that the total area God gave Abraham includes Lebanon, part of Jordan, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia.
The nation of Israel has yet to occupy all of it.
The Israelites’ history has been an ongoing and repeated cycle of receiving a blessing from God, followed by disobedience and entitlement, resulting in God’s discipline. God’s discipline produced repentance, which led to restoration, and renewed blessing. The ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to the Jewish people is not based upon their being better than the rest of the world. Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:1-20 Rather as we are learning in our study of Romans chapters nine through eleven, it is based on the irrevocable calling of God and His purpose of election.
God chose Jacob over Esau
though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls
Romans 9:11
Interestingly, Muslims today refer to Jesus as Esau. At the end of the day we must keep in mind that God does what He does, and chooses whom He chooses based on who He is, not who we are.
Fast forward…
Jesus was born and rejected by a majority of His people, the Jews. He was crucified, and resurrected, thereby conquering sin and death. The Gospel of Salvation was fulfilled. This is the foundation, not the completion of God’s redemptive plan. (See all four Gospels). Jesus ascends to the Father, the Holy Spirit is given and the Christian church is born. Acts 1-2.
The Origins of Palestine
The name Palestine is derived from Roman Emperor Hadrian changing the name of Judea to Syria-Palestinia following the 132-135 AD Bar Kokhba revolt. Simon Barcoba was a Jewish Zealot, a leader in a political movement that attempted to overthrow the Roman rule over Israel and make Israel great again. After Bar Koba was defeated, Hadrian wanted to eliminate any trace of a Jewish presence in Judah. The geographical area known as Gaza, Palestine today is the original home of the Philistines. The first mention of the Philistines is found in Genesis 20 in 1897 BC. Abimelech was king of Gerar in the plain of Philistia.
The first battle between the nation of Israel and the Philistines is mentioned in Judges 3:31 and occurred sometime between 1400 and 1000 BC. Joshua conquered Jerricho Judges 6 in 1405 BC and began taking the land that became the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel continued until 70 AD when the Roman Emperor Titus sacked Jerusalem, the 2nd Jewish Temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were dispersed around the globe as Jesus prophesied in Mathew 24:2.
Israel did not exist as a nation again until “The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel” by the UN on May 14, 1948. This was prophetically alluded to by Jesus in Mathew 24:32-33. The people displaced by the UN charter in 1948 are contemporary Palestinians. These are a melting pot of Arabic people, and Roma (gypsies).
In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:1-12
The current geographical boundaries that included Israeli control of Jerusalem were established during the Six-Day War, June 5-10, 1967.
Muslims believe Israel and especially Jerusalem belong to the descendants of Ishmael. If you are Jewish or Christian, then there is no disputing that the land of Israel is Jacob, over whom Jesus reigns. It belongs to God’s chosen people, the Jews, into whom we Christians are grafted. Of course, many Jews and some Christians, do not realize this…
yet…
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Romans 11:17-18
As for Hamas and the rest of Ishmael’s descendants, they have never validated the existence of Israel, and in their own words, they never will.
There is an ever-growing pressure in the world to align with Esau and Ishmael against Jacob and Issac. Therefore, all Christians should carefully read and understand Romans chapter 11 regarding God’s plan for Israel and Israel’s relationship with the church. Or should I say the church’s relationship with Israel? As I will show, it includes a dire warning concerning God’s judgment at the end of the age.
Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. Romans 11:22-23
The people known as Hamas today are, in fact, Nazis and are supported by those who have sought the eradication of the Jewish people since Hamann in the book of Esther Chapter 3. Both Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood have the same roots.
What should we do?
We must destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God 2 Cor 10:5-6 We must take captive any thought that would dare turn anything in God’s word into a pejorative. Zionism is once again becoming a pejorative. Zion has everything to do with both Judaism and Christianity. Zion was first mentioned when David captured Mount Zion 2 Samuel 5:7 in the 10th century BC. Zion is the City of David from which Jews know their Messiah will rule. Christians already know that the Messiah is Jesus. Mount Zion is Mount Moriah, where Abraham offered Issac, and God provided a sacrifice in a foreshadowing of Jesus. Mount Zion is the site of the 1st-century Jewish Temple. Today it is the site of the Alasque mosque commonly known as the Dome of the Rock. It is the most contentious piece of real estate in the world over which and upon which the most significant end times events will play out.
There is a lot of left-leaning and supersessionist propaganda that has changed the definition of Zionist to mean secular and political Jews who want to dominate the world. True Zionists are those who rejoice that Jesus will eventually rule from Zion. One thing is certain. At some future point, Jesus will descend upon the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem to set up His millennial Kingdom. Zechariah 14, Revelation 20. This is also declared in Psalm 2 written in 1044 BC.
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree… Psalm 2:1-7
So where are we on the time line?
For starters, it looks like what Zephaniah prophesied in 620 BC is taking place in Gaza now.
For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the Lord is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left. Zeph 2:4-5
If that is the case then Islamists, Antisemites, and confused supersessionists can take a deep breath. Contemporary political Israel is not the same Israel from which Jesus will reign. Those in Israel and all other nations (people groups) who continue to reject Jesus as savior are not off the hook. If my interpretation of scripture is correct, God’s judgment falls on them next.
Or should I say, “falls on us”?
“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,
Zephaniah 3:8
“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.
For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger;
for in the fire of my jealousy, all the earth shall be consumed.”
My exegetical analysis of scripture leads me to the Ezekiel 38-39 war. Barring a rise in American antisemitism that turns the USA from Israel entirely, it seems to me that NATO must become so tied up with its own crises e.g. wars, that it is unable or unwìlling to come to Israel’s aid.
God began returning the Jews to Israel in 1948 in fulfillment of His promise declared in Ezekiel 36. Not because Israel deserved it. They did not. God did it for the sake of His Holy name.
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
Ezekiel 36:22
The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 is none other than the restored Nation of Israel that we see today.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
Ezekiel 37:11-14
Still, Israel is anything but righteous. Hence, we see the greatest chastisement of the Jewish people coming in Ezekiel 38. The map above shows the nations or elements from within nations that will descend upon Israel.
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say to Gog, Thus says the Lord God: On that day when my people Israel are dwelling securely, will you not know it? You will come from your place out of the uttermost parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great host, a mighty army. You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
Ezekiel 38:14-16
Yet Israel will prevail. Not because of their army or the Iron Dome, etc., but because God will intervene on Israel’s behalf with an earthquake, torrential rains, fire and sulfur…
So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Ezekiel 38:23
Having observed the shifting Arab geopolitical alignments since the AL Aqsa Flood on October 7th, 2023. One thing seems certain: those who believe righteousness is rooted in Esau, not Jacob and Ishmael, not Issac, will never back down. Those who hold the reverse to be true will also never back down. Neither side is correct regarding righteousness apart from Jesus. Hence these wars that were foreknown rather than caused by God must take place because they are the trajectory of original sin that will only be rectified by surrender to Christ Jesus.
I continue to watch the lead-up to Ezekiel 38 in real time as Israel continues to prepare for an all-out war with Iran. Meanwhile, the entire Arab world just united over Palestine on November 11th in a Resolution of the Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
On November 11, an urgent Arab-Islamic summit was held in Riyadh, addressing the issue of Palestine. This was an extremely significant event. Noteworthy was the simultaneous participation of Assad and Erdogan, a convergence that would have been impossible until recently. Additionally, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke not only about Palestine but also about the need to support Iran and Hezbollah — a sensational shift, as Saudi Arabia and Iran have traditionally been considered adversaries. The same applies to Hezbollah...Muslims can only unite through a common war against a common enemy.
Alexander Dugin
It is at the doorstep.
Among other things, this conglomeration of Arab / Islamist states that includes every territory named in Ezekiel 38 and more, agreed that Jerusalem, what Islamists call East Al-Quds, is the Palestinian capital.
Recently Turkey, who is a NATO member, severed all diplomatic ties with Israel. Previous to that Russia and Iran signed a mutual defense treaty. Does this mean the prophesied conflict is imminent? Not necessarily.
We need a catalyst that kicks the whole thing off.
An oracle concerning Damascus.Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city
Isaiah 17:1
and will become a heap of ruins.
Damascus, Syria, is the oldest, most consistently populated city on earth. It has never been destroyed. For quite some time, I have felt that the fulfillment of this prophecy would be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back and unleashes the fury of the Arab world against Israel. Again, this is my interpretation of scripture. I am a Watchman, not a prophet. Recently, Israel said, that they are going to deal with Syria when they finish with Hezbollah. Previously Damascus and Aleppo, Syria, were the primary venues through which Iran supplied its proxies with weapons. Now Assad’s pro-Shia government in Syria has been overthrown by Sunni Al Queda and ISIS. Some are breathing a sigh of relief. However, these Western and Turkish-backed rebels are claiming they will take Al Quds.
Stay tuned…
After God, not Israel, subdues Israel’s Ezekiel 38 assailants; I will be looking for a man or an entity of peace to come on the scene, resulting in the return of the Jewish worship on Mount Moriah, including the restoration of daily sacrifice. The contemporary Sanhedrin had a portable altar ready when we were in Israel in 2018. I am told they now have a tabernacle ready to be assembled within days. That said,
While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
1 Thess 5:3
At some point after that the daily sacrifice will be taken away and the abomination that causes desolation will be set up. Mat 24:15, Dan 12:11 This will be followed by 3.5 years or 1290 days or 42 months Revelation 13:5 of tribulation.
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be
Mat 24:21
The great tribulation is the wrath of the dragon who knows his time is short Rev 12:12, not the wrath of God. I am noting this because pretribulation rapture proponents quote 1 Thess 5:9 God has not destined us for wrath, as proof that the Church will not be here. While I will be happy if I am wrong, I believe the church will be here and God will preserve it as he preserved Israel in the wilderness during Exodus.
And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12:6
Jesus (the son of man) will return the way he left Acts 1:9-11, and was prophesied in Dan 7:13-14, and finally confirmed by The Son of Man Himself in Mat 24:29-31. No one knows the day or the hour, but we do know the season. It will mark the fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets followed by the Feast of Atonement and The Feast of Tabernacles.
The true purpose of God’s plan is to reconcile all the children of Abraham. It is spelled out in verses like Zephania 3:9-20, Isaiah 19:16-24 and Romans 11. So often man makes divisions that God does not see. Can we fully comprehend God’s plan in the context of our limited human cognition? Probably not. Hence Isaiah 55:8-9, and Paul’s similar conclusion to Romans 11.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 11:33-36
“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
But don’t take my word for it. I’m just a guy with a Bible. Be a Berean and search the scriptures yourself to see if what I am saying is true. Even if I am wrong regarding exactly how end-time events play out God’s ultimate plan of reconciliation is the goal. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Passages like Romans 11 foster greater depths of reverence and awe.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Paul’s warning regarding the broken branches which are the Jewish people, is connected to a more dire warning concerning God’s judgment at the end of the age. As you may know, Mathew 24-25, the Olivet Discourse, contains an outline regarding events leading up to the end of the age and Jesus’ return. Verses 3-31 tell us in near bullet point form what we will see taking place and what may happen to us if we are alive at the time. Verses 32-52 are allegorical descriptions of what those days will be like. Mathew 25 contains instructions on how believers should respond. Mat 25:31-46 is the final judgment marked by the all-familiar parable of the sheep and the goats. Verse 40 is the most oft-quoted.
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
While Jesus loves the poor and downtrodden, the least of His brothers is not the starving child in a third-world dump. In fact, He said these are the greatest. Mat 18:1-5. Consider that Jesus was a Jewish Messiah who came first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles. The least of Jesus’ brethren when He spoke to His Jewsish disciples, were the Jews who rejected Him and were about to have him tortured and crucified. Given the legal right under a Sanhedrin their descendants would persecute and kill His followers today. Hence Paul wrote,
As regards the gospel, they (The Jews) are enemies of the gospel for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Rom 11:28-29
Be careful. Arrogance toward the broken branches, a.k.a. “Zionists” could result in your hearing,
‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. May 25:41
Righteousness will only be found in Jesus. A righteous government and society will not exist until He returns to rule from Mount Zion.
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Acts 10:34-35
