Let’s dive into how Paul addresses these questions in Romans 11.
In Romans 11:7-8, Paul points out that the nation of Israel didn’t quite get what it was seeking. He continues in verses 9 and 10, explaining that their eyes were darkened, preventing them from seeing the truth. Then, in verse 11, he reassures us that Israel didn’t stumble just to fall flat on their face. Instead, their stumbling serves a greater purpose: it opens the door for the Gentiles to receive an anointing and become part of the “elect”. But don’t worry—verse 1 reminds us that “God has not rejected His people,” Israel.
Not only did Israel not completely fall, but there’s also a reason behind their stumble. Their disobedience wasn’t in vain; it was meant to bless everyone. And here’s where it gets really exciting! Verse 15 kicks off a section that reveals the true purpose behind Israel’s temporary blindness: it’s all about “reconciling the whole world.”
In verse 12, Paul explains that their rejection leads to the “reconciliation of the world,” and their future acceptance—what he calls their “fullness”—will bring about a time of “life from the dead.” It’s a powerful promise: all of Israel will be saved (verse 26), both in a physical and spiritual sense.
Verses 25-29 are particularly beautiful. They tell us that Israel was “blinded UNTIL the fullness of the Gentiles comes in,” which means until the 144,000 are complete. After that, their blindness and sins will be lifted (verse 27). Verse 28 adds another layer, stating that while they may be seen as enemies for the sake of the Anointed, they are still beloved because of the promises made to their ancestors. God hasn’t forgotten them; they’re still part of His plan.
Romans 11:28 clearly states, “From the standpoint of the gospel, they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice, they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.” It’s hard to interpret this verse as anything other than a reference to the nation of Israel, especially since it explicitly mentions that they are enemies for the Gospel’s sake and beloved for the fathers’ sake.
Now, let’s think about this: Are Christians (like Jehovah’s Witnesses) considered enemies for the sake of the Gospel? I certainly hope not! So, when Paul talks about enemies, he’s referring to natural Israel, who remain “beloved for the fathers’ sake.”
Moses reminded natural Israel in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 that Jehovah loved them: “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you or choose you because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the Lord loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
Romans 11:29 tells us that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” So, what are these gifts and calls that God has given to the natural nation of Israel? Well, for starters, God promises to bless all the nations of the world through them (Genesis 12:3). They will also own the land of Israel forever (Genesis 13:15), and eventually, they will be planted in their land, never to be uprooted again (Amos 9:15).
In Luke 21:24 (NASV), Jesus said, “They (the Jews) will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” It’s interesting to note that the time of Jerusalem’s trampling ended in 1914, marking the close of the Gentile times. World War I, which began that same year, led to the Balfour Declaration, where the British Empire set aside land in Palestine for a Jewish nation, which ultimately became a reality in 1948. So, it seems that early Watchtower teachings (like those of C.T. Russell) were onto something when they connected the reestablishment of Israel with the end of the Gentile Times.
Lastly, let’s look at Jeremiah 31:35-37 (NIV), where the Lord says, “This is what the Lord says: He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is His name: ‘Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,’ declares the Lord, ‘will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,’ declares the Lord.”
In other words, God’s promises to Israel are as steadfast as the sun and the stars. Isn’t that a comforting thought?