God’s program with the nation of Israel Is not being fulfilled today, in this Dispensation of Gentile Grace. Israel’s program will not be fulfilled “until the fullness (completion) of the Gentiles be come in” (Rom. 11:25). This will take place at the “catching away” (rapture) of the church (1 Thess. 4:13-18). And then, and only then, will God resume His program with Israel, in the 5th course of punishment and the 5th installment (Hebrews-Revelation; Also see cf. Leviticus 26 Chap. Israel’s history recorded in advance).
Israel has an earthly vocation, citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, being established in them on this earth. And they (Israel) will administer God’s righteous rule on this earth in the “ages to come” (Hebrews-Revelation). But the church, the body of Christ in connection with destroying the usurped dominion of Satan and his principalities in the heavenly places, has a heavenly vocation, citizenship. And we as members of the church the body of Christ, will receive our immortal bodies which will be fit to operate in the heavenly places (1 Cor. 15:51-58). And we will be “caught up” (I Thess. 4:17) in the heavenly places to fulfill the plan and purpose for the church, the body of Christ, in that realm.
Once this dispensation of grace ends, at the rapture of the body of Christ, God will resume His program with Israel on this earth, and those last seven years on Daniel’s time schedule will come to pass. The things spoken about in Matthew 24, when the Lord prepared Peter, James, and John, for the things that they were going to go through at that time, (Jesus) said nothing about the dispensation of grace. The Lord was talking about his second coming, after the tribulation period, in power and great glory, establishing the Kingdom of heaven on this earth. That is all that is left on Israel’s calendar now. And again, God will complete Israel’s program after the church, body of Christ is “caught up” in the rapture (I Thess. 4:13-18).
Romans 11 Chp:
Israel’s program is temporarily in abeyance, suspended, put on hold. And the dispensation of grace is a divine interruption in Israel’s program. This interruption was pre-planned by God before the foundation of the world. This interruption was not spoken about in time past, it was a mystery, a secret, kept hid in God, hid from ages and from generations, not made known; (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:26; Eph. 3:5), until God revealed it to Apostle Paul in Acts 9:1-6; 26:13-18.
In Romans Chapter 11, Paul is dealing with: What has happened to Israel?
- Paul is teaching us how to look at the nation of Israel from the dispensation of grace. 2. How to look at time past from the dispensation of grace. 3. How to look at Israel right now in the dispensation of grace. 4. How to look at what is coming in God’s program with Israel when this present dispensation of grace is concluded. 5. Paul tells us how to look at the Bible from Genesis to Revelation from the
perspective of the dispensation of grace. 6. Paul teaches us this in Romans Chapters 9, 10, and 11, and Paul emphasizes (expands) on that in Ephesian’s chapters 2 and 3, and 1 Timothy 6 Chp.
Romans 11:1-2 1. God has done something with Israel, but He has not cast them (thrown them) away (v.2). 2. Today, Israel’s program has been altered, interrupted, stopped, it ceases to operate in this dispensation of grace. 3. But although God stopped Israel’s operation by setting aside and suspending His dealings with the nation, God “has not cast (discarded) them away.”
Rom. 11:11. Nor, “Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid.” 1. In other words Israel has not fallen to a level where God cannot pick them back up, and put them back in their privileged position, and have them fulfill His plan and purpose He has for them on this earth. 2. Next, Paul deals with all the arguments that people have, who have misunderstood what God was and is doing with Israel. 3. Again, what God has done with Israel is this, God has temporarily suspended, interrupted, put on hold, put in abeyance, His dealings with Israel. 4. It was not something that was prophesied about, but instead God has turned to us Gentiles in the meantime. And God has temporary blinded, set aside, suspended Israel’s program. And this will remain in effect “until the fullness (completion) of the Gentiles become in” (11:25).
But, Israel’s fullness (completion) is coming!
Rom. 11:12, “Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches (wealth) of the world (John 3:16), and the diminishing (gradual less importance) of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more theIr (Israel’s) fullness (completion)? 1. Israel does not have their fullness (completion) yet! And they are not going to get their fullness (completion) in this dispensation of grace, but it is coming. 2. NO! God has not cast Israel away, God forbid. But they (Israel) have not fallen to a level where God, in His Jehovah-ness and grace, cannot pick them back up, and reconcile them back unto himself, restoring Israel back to their original possession and position.
The result of Rom. 11: 1-24:
Rom. 11:25, “For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery,” 1. Today so many believers are ignorant of this truth, and you can “mark them.” 2. They think that they are spiritual Israel. They think they can bring in the Kingdom, in the dispensation of grace. 3.They think their program is out of the gospel of accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the opening chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. 4. They think that prophecy is being fulfilled today. They are ignorant of the things Paul says a believer cannot afford to be ignorant of today! Yes, some may be saved, but they do not “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). That’s why confusion abounds in religion.
11:25b, “lest you should be wise in your own conceits (proud, puffed up, knowing nothing); that the blindness in part is happened to Israel,” (1 Tim. 6:3-6) 1. Salvation has come to the Gentiles through Israel’s fall. 2. Israel stumbled at the cross (because of their unbelief) and they fell in the opening chapters of the book of Acts (7:51-60) when the Jews stoned Stephen to death, and he (Steph) looked up into heaven & saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God ready to execute wrath, but instead, God withheld His wrath (temporarily), and ushered in through Paul, the disp. of grace which we now enjoy) 3. And salvation has come to Gentiles (Acts 28:28), because of Israel’s fall, & in keeping with “the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25).
11:25c, “until the fullness (completion) of the Gentiles be come in.” 1. That blindness (veil) in part (partial blindness) is going to stay over Israel’s (spiritual) eyes “ until the fullness (completion) of the Gentiles be come in.” 2. This is an expression that refers to the end of the dispensation of grace, and we, the body of Christ will be “caught up” into the heavenly places (rapture) 1 Thess: 4:13-18. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ will come back in the rapture BEFORE He begins to administer His Day of Wrath, in the 5th installment of Israel’s program (Ages To Come/ Hebrews-Revelation) . The rapture will occur BEFORE the tribulation period comes, in the 5th installment. 4. The Lord Jesus comes back from heaven with the shout, with the voice of an Archangel, and the trump of God, as He gathers the body of Christ, the one new man, the new creation, that He is forming in this dispensation of grace. Jew & Gentile will be gathered to be with the Lord in the heavenly places. 5. The rapture is the “marker” (in scripture) for the church, the body of Christ. And when the rapture is complete, the Lord Jesus Christ will turn back to the earth and resume his program with Israel once again. The suspension of Israel’s program will now be lifted.
Rom.11:26-27, “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). For this is my covenant (Law contract) unto them, then I shall take away their sins.” It will come to pass, and they will receive it. 1. Remember the Five Mandates of the Davidic Covenant (a) Redeemer, (b) Deliverer, (c)
Avenger, (d) King and (e) Blesser? The Lord Jesus Christ acts in all five capacities during Israel’s program. 2. God’s word says that “all Israel shall be saved” and “God cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). 3. It is sinful men that come along & spiritualize (remove the sacred meaning) of this verse with the stupidity of their human wisdom. (We hold to the literal translation of the KJB text).
Rom.11:28. ” As concerning the gospel, they (Israel) are enemies for your sakes: (that’s their status during this dispensation of grace = enemies of God) “but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sake. God chose them (Israel-elect) in His plan and purpose, to establish the kingdom of heaven on this earth, they are God’s “beloved.”
Vs 29. “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (change of mind).” 1. God has not changed his mind concerning the nation of Israel. 2. God’s program with Israel will resume, but not until the dispensation of grace is over. 3. God’s purpose during the dispensation of grace is not to fulfill Israel’s program. A study of Roman Chps. 9, 10, & 11, makes this perfectly clear. 4. Today, we are members of the church, the body of Christ, the” one new man” (Rom.2:15). We are not spiritual Israel! Matter of fact, there is no such thing in God’s word, “rightly divided”. And if you think you are spiritual Israel, you are out of line with what God is doing today in the dispensation of Gentile grace now in effect. 5. We are to study the word rightly divided to understand and appreciate God’s program with Israel. God wants us edified, (educated) in everything that He is doing today and live in line with the doctrine. That is why right division is so important, it is like your body’s blood. There is life in the blood, & if we honor right division, we will be functionally alive. Without rightly dividing the word of truth, your spiritual life will be functionally dead, and you cannot please God. 6. Romans-Philemon is our mail to the church the body of Christ today. It is God’s message to us today in the dispensation of grace. These 13 epistles of Paul teach us our duty, destiny, and walk as members of the church the body of Christ today. These books teach us what God is doing today. To be ignorant of this is not only shameful (2 Tim. 2:15), but also disastrous.
Therefore, so many believers today, are depressed, hopeless, weak, and crash and burn at life’s trials & tribulations. They are trying to make God do something in scripture that He is not doing today. “Ye are not under the law” (Gen-Acts chp 8 & Hebrew-Revelation)” but under grace (Romans-Philemon)” today (Rom. 6:19). God is not dealing in miracles, wonders, and signs today, that was Israel’s program under the law contract. Israel walked by sight “we walk by faith” in the dispensation of grace! Stop praying Israel’s prayers for healing, miracles & signs. God is not intervening in the affairs of men today in the dispensation of grace. Amen.
- Satan wants to keep believers ignorant of what God is doing. “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:11).
A. “Satan is the author of (doctrinal) confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33) and his goal is to keep you ignorant of what God is doing today, and keep you “under the law,” following Israel’s program. All you must do is look around your city, every denomination you can think of, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, COGIC, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Christian Reformed, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah witnesses, Mormons, non-denominational, etc., they all are following Israel’s program, they all are “under the law.” “The Blind leading the blind!”
B. Our Apostle Paul told us: “But if our gospel (grace of God) he hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god (Satan) of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not. Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Cor.2:1-7). C. Israel’s program is not in effect today in the dispensation of Gentile grace. Again, Israel’s program has been suspended by God. Israel is not cast away. Israel’s program has been interrupted, put in abeyance, on hold, by God today as we have studied. Israel’s fullness (completion) will happen. When? In the 5th course of punishment and the 5th installment. (We will be looking at that soon).
1 Thess. 4:13-18: OUR BLESSED HOPE
The mechanics of this dispensation of grace & the resumption of God’s program with Israel are described by Apostle Paul. Therefore, Satan fights 24/7 to keep believers” children (immature), tossed to and fro,” & blind to Paul’s “my gospel (Rom. 16:25).” Satan has put a veil, covering, over the spiritual eyes of organized religion. Satan does not want believers to see and honor Pauline authority and godly edification. (Eph. 4:14).
Vss. 13-18, “But I would not have you ignorant, brethren concerning them which are asleep…” Six times in Paul’s epistles, he stated, “I would not have you ignorant brethren.” And all 6 were warnings of a particular doctrine that Satan wants to keep the Saints ignorant of. This was the sixth warning recorded in 1 Thess. 4 :13. - Paul does not want the believers to be ignorant concerning them which have fallen asleep (died in the Lord), that they sorrow not, even as others (do) which have no hope.” Paul is teaching concerning the rapture, the “catching up” of the church (body of Christ).
- The Lord himself shall descend from heaven for the church, body of Christ at the (rapture), conclusion of the dispensation of grace. (This is the only place God mentions the rapture of the church, and God was talking to us, this is our mail). No such promise was ever given Peter, James, and John or the other 12 apostles (Israel, under the law prg). We shall see this in Matthew chapter 24, as God outlines the 5th installment that is to come, in the ages to come.
- And the Lord makes it clear, don’t expect Him to come back until after the tribulation in the ages to come. And when He comes back, He will give Israel that physical Kingdom on this earth. To believing Israel only! The church, the body of Christ won’t be on this earth anymore.
In Chp 5: Paul makes it clear the rapture, the catching away of the body of Christ, will take place BEFORE the Day of the Lord’s Avenging Wrath take place. - This rapture Delivers us from the wrath to come. 1:10 “And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” This is the mechanical (automatic) means by which God delivers the body of Christ from the wrath to come.
- The Day of the Lord’s Wrath takes place in the 5th installment, AFTER the rapture takes place. And we, the church, body Christ are caught up into heavenly places. The preparations for the wrath to come takes place at the same time as the rapture of the church.
1 Thess.4:16-17: We will “meet the Lord in the air” where Satan and his principalities still exist {Eph. 6: 12). But the plan and purpose of God is for the church the body of Christ to reconcile (repossess) Satan’s principalities and powers back unto Himself (replace Satan). Our destiny, the body of Christ is to occupy the heavenly places, and put the body of Christ in its fullness (completeness) into those reconciled, repossessed, heavenly positions. And so we meet the Lord in that very realm. - But at the exact same time God ends the dispensation of grace, He prepares to resume His program with Israel. And so the Lord comes with a “shout,” with the “voice of an archangel,” and with “the trump of God.”
a. The “SHOUT” is the Lord arising off His seat once again (cf. Acts 7:55-56) & shouting to begin to have “His Day.” It is a military command mustering His army and His host in heavenly places. He is getting them ready for His Day of wrath in the heavenly places and on the earth.
b. The “VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL” is Michael, the head of the heavenly hosts. Michael’s voice will call to Arms and put them (heavenly hosts) in battle equipment. And gets them ready to execute the Day of the Lord’s Wrath, especially on this earth. (Aren’t you glad we won’t be on this earth?)
c. The “TRUMP OF GOD” announces this and prepares for the Lord to have His Day. This ends the dispensation of grace, and the resumption of Israel program starts at the same time. - In this dispensation of grace God is long-suffering, holding back the wrath that this world so richly deserves, and that the 5th installment calls for in Israel program. Notice: the dispensation of grace may end at any time, today, because God has not given us a time schedule like the prophets Jeremiah and Daniel. If God is long-suffering the dispensation of grace will continue. But as soon as “the fullness of the Gentiles become in” (Rom. 11:25; 1 Thess. 4:13-18), we will be taken to heavenly places and Israel’s program will resume.
- What is left on Israel’s program is the 5th installment, of the 5th course of punishment. The last seven years on Daniels time schedule, and the establishment of the Kingdom on the earth.
Matthew 24 Chp. - The 4th installment began with John the Baptist, and he outlines the rest of Israel’s program. The other side of the interruption, or The Dispensation of Grace. John talks about the prescription for
cleansing of the nation. Beginning with the baptism of water for repentance that was being administered by John. The Messiah, Jesus Christ is going to function as the atoning sacrifice on the cross. He is going to baptize them with the Holy Ghost in Acts chapter 2. - The members of the nation of Israel that were participants of the cleansing process would constitute the clean remnant of Israel. They would be spared from the wrath. They would be the little flock or the little ones {Zech 13}, that God’s protective hand would bring through the fire (wrath). The fire of the Lord’s wrath would baptize the nation and purge, clean, and destroy, the various elements amongst it
- And John outlined the fullness of the 4th and 5th installments for the nation of Israel. Before the Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross, He looked out in the (future) the ages to come and saw the 5th installment and outlined it for his disciples in detail. The outline is only recorded in the prophets, Isaac through Malachi & they especially talk about the 5th installment.
Now the Lord in Matt. 24, picks up where Israel is historically, in Daniel Chp. 11. And then He follows the rest of the outline in chp 11 & 12. Peter, James, & John will pass this information on to the believing remnant. Telling them what to expect out there in the 5th installment.
Matt. 24:1-3: - The Lord just left the temple at the end of chp. 23:38-39, referring to the 118th Psalm which talks about the 5th installment, the result of the tribulation period. The fact that they will say “blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (23:39).
- The Lord is announcing the 5th course of punishment. Israel won’t see Him again until the end of that 5th installment.
- In Matthew 24 chp.
Jesus goes out of the temple and goes up into the mountain. Jesus talks about an event that’s going to take place during the 5th installment. The temple is going to be destroyed. What Jesus is referring to is, an event at the midpoint of the 5th installment, produced by “the man of sin” commonly referred to as “the Antichrist.” He had described him in graphic detail in Daniel 8 and 11 and Luke 21. That’s what’s coming.
a. That destruction of the temple by “the man of sin” is at the midpoint of the seven-year time schedule & is a marker in the 5th installment for the remnant. When they see it, God’s people are to flee out of the land & flee into the wilderness. We see John the Baptist speaking comfortably to God’s people (after 400 years of silence). God will provide for them in the wilderness, in the 5th installment.
Vss. 4-8: “all these are the beginning of sorrows” “Sorrows” is the terminology describing the 5th installment, the time of Jacob’s trouble, birth pangs, the sorrows of the nation. Verses 1 through 8 describe the beginning of “sorrows.” The 5th installment starts with things recorded in chapter, 24. It starts with the implementation of the satanic policy of evil to produce the “Antichrist,” by the “spirit of the Antichrist.” And it produces political turmoil among the nations around Israel to put that 10 nation confederation together by the political genius of that individual spoken about in Daniel.
Matt. 24: 9-14: Jesus gives the remnant, Peter, James, & John a quick overview of what they are going to experience throughout the entire 5th installment.
Vs. 15: Since the disciples asked the question “when shall these things be, and what shall the signs of thy coming at the end of the world? (vs 3). (By the way, we will never see the desolation because of the dispensation of grace). Jesus expects the disciples to go back and read Daniel 8th and 11th chapter. Jesus is going through Daniel the 12th chapter.
Vss. 21-28: “The Great Tribulation” and Jesus says in the 23rd verse “if any man tells you I’m going to come before the great tribulation, don’t believe them!
Vs. 24: False Christs and false prophets shall rise and shall show great signs and wonders and if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Vss. 25-28: the Son of Man won’t come until He is ready to deal with the carcasses. Until the Eagles are eating the carcasses at the end of the tribulation period.
Vss. 29-30: this is when the Son of man shall come at the end of the 5th installment. This will be the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord when everything comes to its climax. It describes the end of the 5th installment.
a. The entire Book of Revelation deals with the 5th installment and the Kingdom. b. John was in the Spirit in the Day of the Lord, and he sees the things going on in the Day of the Lord (Rev. 1:10). c. The Book of Revelation will be used by “the small remnant” in the 5th installment. When the program with Israel resumes, it’s going to be used like a daily newspaper. d. The Book of Daniel, chapter 11, is going to be used like a map, showing the structure of the units of events as they transpire. e. Matthew chp. 24 will be used with the Book of Daniel to give insight of the activities that the remnant needs to be performing, and what it is to expect. The Book of Revelation will go over that in detail.
Vs. 31: What does the Lord do for that remnant which was told to flee to the wilderness and hide? Answer: The Lord will gather His elect out and give them that Kingdom.
Luke 12:24: illustrates the provision God made for the remnant of Israel. In verse 31, Jesus tells Israel to “seek ye the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Jesus wasn’t talking to us members of the body of Christ, He was talking to the small remnant of Israel). Jesus was talking to the small remnant. Jesus wanted the small remnant to keep their eyes on the things God promised to them. And He will provide for them. They will need God in His Jehovah-ness and grace, to provide for them. Why? Because the satanic policy of evil, through the “man of sin,” is going to be working against them, killing them through starvation.
Vss. 32-33: “Fear not, little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Flee to your hiding place and don’t come out. When the Lord comes, He will send His angels to bring you out Matt. 24:31), and will give His elect the Kingdom. Amen. (Notes From: K. Blades, Short History of Israel # 20) 10/28/22.
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Colman J. Gilliland 