It is no accident that the world’s eye is turned towards the Middle East. This part of the world is important, not only for its oil, but also because it is the stage on which the final act of God’s redemptive drama will be played out.

“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 fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25).

In the above passage, Paul summarized God’s dealings with Israel and with the Gentiles.

In order for God to facilitate bringing the gospel to the Gentiles, He had to deal with Israel corporately as enemies. They had rejected the message by His Son, and thus proved themselves His enemies even while they called Him their God. They actively opposed God by preventing people from hearing the gospel. Israel’s corporate stumbling, which is temporary, is called a mystery.

In the Scripture, a mystery is not a truth difficult to understand, but a truth previously unrevealed (and therefore unknown) which is now revealed and publicly proclaimed (Ephesians 3:9).

When Christ returns at the end of the Great Tribulation, a remnant who have turned from their transgression unto God during the Great Tribulation will be saved.

The salvation of anyone is a matter of God’s grace, not of their own merit and it will be the same for Israel. The salvation of anyone is because of God’s kindness and favor.

When God turned His gospel toward all the nations of the world, many believed it and received the righteousness provided by grace. It is important to point out however, that as God rescinded Israel’s relationship with Him as His chosen people, He will do the same to us if we do not “hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

This nullifies and sets aside the doctrine of eternal security which states that once you are saved, you are forever saved. Be constant in Christ therefore, and continue to the end.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It’s a new day, arise and embrace it.

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