The PLOT TWIST in the Bible...did you even know there WAS ONE???

[Christine]

 

The Bible reveals a fascinating plot twist in the New Testament.

In the first event, God cast away Israel.

In the second event, He commissioned Paul (Acts 9) to go to the Gentiles.

 God reconciled the Gentiles to Himself when He cast away Israel (Romans 11:15) God began this reconciliation of the Gentiles through Paul, the Aposlte TO the Gentiles, because God gave Paul (and to his colleagues) "the ministry of reconciliation"" (2 Cor. 5:18)

God reached out, first , to Israel, to bless the nation so that Israel would then bless the world through evangelism. That plan remained in full swing in the book of Acts, AFTER the resurrection of Christ, as the Bible shows. Due to Israel's unbelief however, God "cast away" Israel sometime prior to the close of the acts period and grafted IN the gentiles. Hence, many MISS the plot twist wherein God gave two different sets of rules. One set of His rules was for the Kingdom of ISRAEL and another set is for the Body of Christ. BOTH sets of rules appear within the writings of the New Testament.

Failure to distinguish the two - rules for Israel (such as circumcision) and rules for the Body (such as uncircumcision)- guarantees doctrinal chaos.

 Doctrinal confusion extends to the degree that beleivers mix circumcision instructions with instructions to the UNcircumcised. As long as denominations take doctrines from one set of rules and unwittingly combine them with teachings from the other set, disunity will abound.

We want to learn how to analyze the doctrinal statement of ANY denomination. We need to learn to identify leftover commands meant ONLY for the Kingdom. Doctrinal friction does not only occur between denominations, but groups also have internal theological inconsistencies. Both types of denominational friction, external and internal, result from mixing Gods' rules for Israel with His rules for the Body.

To demonstrate all this biblically, we will look at two points already touched upon, and add a third.

* Christ was sent to Israel.

* The Twelve Apostles went almost exclusively to Israel with a Kingdom message.

* God eventually "cast away" unbelieving Israel sometime AFTER the resurrection.

[Christine]

Interesting info....any discussion?

[MaricoG]

Yes!  Question though...cast away or set aside?

Rom 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

[Christine]

Yes!  Question though...cast away or set aside?

Rom 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Either one will do since both are mentioned in the Scriptures. The point being that it is a "temporary" casting away, and a temporary "setting aside."

In this age of GRACE the "NATION" of Israel is in the "lo ammi" (or NOT my people) status with God. God has also said He has divorced them (remember that they are the ones with the marriage contract with God and He had the right to divorce her for UNFAITHFULNESS.) This is also "temporary."

Israel still has one course of curses left out of the five that she earned under the law contract she entered into with God in Leviticus 26. Then God will fulfil the promises made with "believing Israel" and will consumate the marriage agreement with them, making THEM one with Him as we are.

Whaddaya think, tweedle dee? 

[MaricoG]

Oh oh...If I am Ttweedle Dee...who, my dear is Tweedle Dumb?   

One thing about me, is I like clarity.  I find that in the grace message, so when something is fuzzy, I like to clear it up.  Perhaps I am a stickler for the importance of words.  If God says that they are not cast away, through Paul, then I need clarity when using those terms, because Paul, whom we follow, says "God forbid".

I understand that the prophetic clock stopped...that the mystery was revealed to Paul to give to all, Gentile and individual Jew, and that Israel will not be dealt with as a nation by God, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.  That sounds like a temporary set aside to me.  Though I cannot find set aside in the Scirptures...not cast away or set aside in connection with Israel...except to say that God has not done this...so could you point them out to me please.

Go ahead...get the wihip.  LOL

[Christine]

Oh oh...If I am Ttweedle Dee...who, my dear is Tweedle Dumb?   

Of course, tis I who am tweedle dumb, my dear, tis I

One thing about me, is I like clarity.  I find that in the grace message, so when something is fuzzy, I like to clear it up.  Perhaps I am a stickler for the importance of words.  If God says that they are not cast away, through Paul, then I need clarity when using those terms, because Paul, whom we follow, says "God forbid".

 The casting away would denote a permanent situation. That is not what scripture teaches, as you well know. The scripture does teach a "TEMPORARY" setting aside or "being put OUT of the picture as the distinct NATION thru whom God is working today."

Keep in mind that in many cases the concept is there but the exact words are NOT. Such as in rapture, trinity and others. That doesn't mean its NOT THERE.

Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.Romans 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

Here are the words "cast away."  Read in context, and realizing that Romans 9-11 is speaking of what happened to ISRAEL in times PAST (chapter 9), NOW (chapter 10), and in ages to COME (Chapter 11).  In the future, when God resumes His program with Israel they will realize they have not been permanently pushed out of the picture, but their program merely put ON HOLD. On hold until when?

Romans 11:25 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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Here is the answer to the set aside issue. "Blindness in part is happened to Israel, UNTIL the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

There has been a parenthetical BREAK in Gods program with Israel.  This is the "setting ASIDE" of Israel UNTIL some time in the future when God resumes His program with them.  There are also the scriptures in the OT that speak of God having given Israel a bill of divorcement as well as this one:

Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all (Jew and Gentile) in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

This shows that the distinct status that Israel HAD at one time, is no more a fact in this present dispensation. Something has happened to CHANGE that.

 When God resumes His program with her in ages to COME, that status will be restored.  Thus the "SET ASIDE" status that we refer to. We are now in the UNPROPHESIED program of the GRACE of God and NOT In the PROPHESIED program of Israel leading all other nations to God. ALL hinges on the Parenthetical age of GRACE which God is operating in at the PRESENT, but which the Jew knew nothing about in her prophetic writings.

Does this help?

I understand that the prophetic clock stopped...that the mystery was revealed to Paul to give to all, Gentile and individual Jew, and that Israel will not be dealt with as a nation by God, until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.  That sounds like a temporary set aside to me.  Though I cannot find set aside in the Scirptures...not cast away or set aside in connection with Israel...except to say that God has not done this...so could you point them out to me please.

Go ahead...get the wihip.  LOL

The fact that our Bibles are laid out in such a way to SHOW the "Times PAST, But NOW, and AGES to COME" scenario is our proof.

Eph. 2:11, 13 and verse 7 show us these major breaks, or divisions in Gods Word.


Gen thru Acts  =   God working with the NATION Israel thru the LAW / Times PAST

Romans thru Philemon =  God working with a BODY thru GRACE  / But NOW

Hebrews thru Rev.  = God resumes His unfinished program with Israel /  Ages to COME.

Romans thru Philemon is definitely INTERUPTING something. IT is a break in an ongoing program that God had with a NATION.

That NATION has been temporarily SET ASIDE in this present dispensation, so that God can unfold His plan that was KEPT SECRET since the world began, but that is NOW revealed.