The Prophecy
Romans 11:25 ~
For I want to let you know about this secret, brothers, so that you will not claim to be wiser than you are: Stubbornness has come to part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes to faith.
What is meant by 'fullness'? The definition found in the Webster Dictionary is:
: the quality or state of being full.
: at some point : eventually
Apply this to Scripture and understand that at some point, eventually, more Gentiles (non-believers) will repent of their pagan ways, return to Yahweh, abide by His Instructions and have the testimony of His Son, by faith. There are many non-believers in the world and not all of them will come into this 'fullness'.
What is meant by 'Gentiles'? The definition found in the Webster Dictionary is:
: a Christian as distinguished from a Jew
: heathen, pagan
: a non-Mormon
While Webster's definition comes from a 'religious' mindset, he does get it right using "heathen, pagan". Back in the day when Paul was teaching there were no Christians, Mormons or Jews... but the beginnings of Judaism had been planted by the very persons Y'shua called hypocrites and taught against. Scripture defines 'Gentile' in regards to one's spiritual state as a non-believer (aka heathen, pagan). These classifications of Jew or Gentile (or Mormon or Christian etc...) will not exists in the Kingdom to come and no longer apply to anyone who repents and returns to the Creator in this day and age. When we choose to return to our Creator through His Son we become new; old things pass away and we become part of the commonwealth of Israel. Set Apart believers are those whose faith is in YHWH, the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Non-believers are everyone else.
Definition of heathen:
: of or relating to people or nations that do not acknowledge the God of the Bible
: of or relating to heathens, their religions, or their customs
: strange, uncivilized
Definition of pagan:
: a follower of a polytheistic religion
: one who has little or no religion; who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods
: an irreligious or hedonistic person
Also noted in the prophecy is that "Stubbornness" has come to part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes to faith. Romans 11 tells us about this, quoting King David talking about the House of Israel (descendants of Jacob), "Let their table become a snare before them and let their reward be a stumbling block. Let their eyes be darkened that they are blinded; and let their back at all times be bowed down." Paul explains, "Have they so stumbled as to fall entirely? May it never be! Rather by their stumbling life has come to the Gentiles for awakening their jealousy."
Paul was speaking to the Gentiles. It was his ministry to teach them 'The Way' as taught by Y'shua. He says some branches will be plucked off so that others can be grafted in and become heir of the root... oh, those parables! Oh the gladness we have when we realize we've been grafted into the House of Israel!
Perhaps it was by the stumbling of the Israelites that it becomes evident to the non-believers that we are all part of His creation; we have the same emotions; face the same temptations; are prone to make the same mistakes in life and all have the choice to return to the one living Elohim. And when certain descendants of the House of Jacob realized they are not God's only chosen people, then their jealousy was provoked, their stubbornness revealed. This brings me back to the Sheep Parable when Y'shua says he has the lost sheep of the House of Israel and those other sheep (Gentiles) to bring together as one flock.
John 10:11 (Y'shua says) I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the flock. But a hireling who is not the shepherd nor are the sheep his, when he sees a wolf coming he leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf comes and plunders and scatters the flock.
John 10:14 I am the Good Shepherd and I know those who are mine. And those who are mine know me.
John 10:16 And I also have other sheep, those who were not from this sheepfold. And also them, it is necessary for me to bring them and they will hear my voice and all the flocks will become one. And there will be One Shepherd.
YHWH's Chosen People are the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob along with those who have been adopted in.
YHWH does what He says and according to His perfect timing. The fullness of the Gentiles will be fulfilled just as there will be more Set Apart believers killed before He avenges those who have already been killed.
Seal #5
Under the altar are seen the souls of them who were slain on account of the Word of Elohim and on account of the testimony to the Lamb which was with them. They cry out asking YHWH how much longer will it take before He judges and avenges their blood. He tells them to be quiet yet a little while until the consummation of their fellow servants and Brothers who were to be killed as they had been. (Revelation 19)
And we continue to watch, patiently waiting
As we prepare for those days to come
We must be firmly rooted in the Instructions of Yahweh which are affirmed by Yahshua. His Spirit teaches us discernment and shows us The Way as he reveals The Truth wherein we receive our reward - the gift of our soul - Life eternal.
Y'shua has the authority to make us free of sin. Halleluyah! But he doesn't just do this automatically, there's a big IF attached. Take a look at Scriptures and you'll find Romans 10: Verse 9- IF you acknowledge publicly with your mouth (confess, speak out loud) our Master Yahshua and believe with your heart that Yah raised him from the dead, you will live. Verse 10- For the heart that believes in him is made righteous and the mouth that confess him is restored to life. Verse 11- for the Scripture says: Everyone that believes in him will not be ashamed.
