The Daily Word of Righteousness

The Whole House of Israel, #5

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (Romans 11:25-27—NIV)

The Deliverer

A specific number of Gentiles, all known to God, have been appointed to eternal life. As soon as the whole group has been grafted into the Olive Tree, into Christ, the Lord will return. Christ will return with His Body, His saints, and save the physical Jews.

First, the Jews will be saved from Antichrist and the wicked nations, as we have seen in Zechariah.

Next, the Jews will be saved from sin. Godlessness will be removed from the physical Jews. Their sins shall be taken away.

God at any time can remove the guilt and the compulsion of sin from whomever He chooses. Why, then, do we have to go through this terrific struggle to overcome worldliness and lust when God could remove our bondages with the Word of His power?

It is because He is preparing rulers. The rulers are strengthened and trained in obedience and faith as they seek to overcome the evil that comes against them. When this army of disciplined warriors has been fully prepared they will return with the Lord Jesus and, by the power of the Spirit of God, bring salvation to the physical Jews.

The Redeemer will come from Zion. Every true Christian has already come to Mount Zion, to an innumerable company of angels, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect. They compose the Church of the Firstborn.

We see this group in the following passage:

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1—NIV)

These are the firstfruits of the earth and always are with the Lamb, just as it says in First Thessalonians, the fourth chapter. They are "ever with the Lord."

But first, they must be prepared.

The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins, declares the LORD. (Isaiah 59:20—NIV)

The Lord Jesus will come to Zion, to those who repent of their sins, and build the members into oaks of righteousness, before the Deliverer comes from Zion. The Lord is coming to us today, to receive each one who is willing to repent of his or her sins. If we do not now repent of our sins we have no hope of being in the vast army of the Lord that is being prepared.

And provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:3—NIV)

To be continued.