The Restoration of Israel; after the return of Christ
The Lord knew that restoration of Israel would be necessary. As is often the case, He waits until the last moment to accomplish what he always intended to do. Israel’s restoration will be in the last days. Jesus will return in the clouds when death, famine, and war have reached a climactic level.
The Nation of Israel will face annihilation at the hands of its bitter enemies. Those enemies will appear to be close to their stated goal of eliminating the Jewish people.
Jesus will bring with him an army of angels, but he could accomplish the task of saving Israel all by himself. The angelic warriors will be just for show, as the King of Judah finally returns to claim victory.
God’s greatest restoration project will then begin. The Jewish people will weep, and mourn when they see him. The One they rejected will then be their only hope.
Zechariah 12:10
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
This is the final post in a series of articles covering three chapters in the Book of Romans. (see here and here.) In chapters nine through eleven, the Apostle Paul finishes his doctrinal argument for God’s plan of salvation through grace alone. The works and ceremonies of the Law did not save anyone. And salvation by the law was never God’s intent. Paul makes that clear. He uses these three chapters to explain that God had and still has a purpose for the Jewish people.
Restoration in the last days
The entire nation will experience a final restoration. This is a contentious and hotly debated subject. From about 300 A.D. up to today, theologians have argued about what Paul meant in these chapters.
I believe he meant the actual nation of Israel. The covenant promises, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still apply even though the Israelite people are in rebellion and denial of God’s real purposes for them.
What do the scholars think?
As I have done in a few recent posts, I’m going to limit my own commentary and provide quotes from respected scholars for you to read their thoughts. As usual, they don’t all agree. That’s the norm in biblical studies. We will continue to debate these issues but I expect we will see exactly what the apostle says will happen.
The final restoration of the Nation of Israel will occur in the last days of this present age. Jesus will return as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and set up His throne in Jerusalem, presiding over all the nations from there.
Remember Peter’s admonition
None of us know everything. This debate will continue until Jesus returns and proves that Paul and I were correct all along. 🙂
(Part of that last sentence was a joke…can you guess which part?)
2 Peter 1:20
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
Isaiah 58:8
Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. [Exod. 14:19, 20; Isa. 52:12.] AMP
Romans 11:16 The restoration of the branches
“If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 16. – And if the firstfruit is holy, so also is the lump; and if the root is holy, so also are the branches. By the firstfruit and the root is signified the original stock of Israel, the patriarchs; by the lump and the branches, the subsequent nation through all time. The word ἀπαρχή, being here connected with φύραμα, may be understood as referring to Numbers 15:19-22. The people are there enjoined to take the first dough (φύραμα) kneaded after harvest a cake for a heave offering, called ἀπαρχή φυράματος (LXX.). This consecrated ἀπαρχή sanctified the whole φύραμα.
Romans 11:17 The Gentiles tapped into Jewish roots
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(17-24) The admission of the Gentile to the privileges of the Jew is no ground for boasting on his part. It is merely an admission. The Gentile is, as it were, a branch grafted into a stem. That was none of his planting. Nor is his position absolutely secured to him.
It is held conditionally on the tenure of faith. He ought, therefore, anxiously to guard against any failure in faith. For the moment God has turned towards him the gracious side of His providence, as towards the Jew He has turned the severe side. But this relation may easily be reversed, and the Jew received back into the favor which he once enjoyed.
Romans 11:18 Jewish roots support the Christian Church
“Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(18) Thou bearest not the root. There can be no boasting. For the privileges which the Gentiles possess are derived. And are not original.
Romans 11:19 Broken off–a prelude to restoration
“Then you will say, ‘Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.’”
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 19. – Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Though I might not boast against the original branches that remain. And among whom I have been grafted. Yet I may against those which, for their unworthiness, have been broken off to make room for me. Though not boasting against the faithful Jews. I surely may against the unfaithful and rejected ones.
Romans 11:20 Broken…because of unbelief
“That is true. They were broken off. Because of their unbelief. But you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
20. Well—”Be it so, but remember that”
Because of unbelief, they were broken off. And thou standest, not as a Gentile, but solely
by faith—But as faith cannot live in those “whose soul is lifted up” (Hab 2:4).
Be not high-minded. But fear—(Pr 28:14; Php 2:12):
Romans 11:21 The Lord might not show you mercy
“For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
21. For if God spared not the natural branches—sprung from the parent stem. Take heed lest he also spare not thee—a mere wild graft. The former might, beforehand, have been thought very improbable; but, after that, no one can wonder at the latter.
Romans 11:22 Show mercy to the Jews; their restoration is imminent
“Note then the kindness and the severity of God; severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 22, 23. – The reference here to God’s power to graft them in again may be suggested by the apparent impossibility, from a human point of view, of the Jews as a nation, having rejected Christ in person, and being so inveterately set against the gospel as they were, ever coming into the Church. But “with God all things are possible” (cf. Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27). Nay – so the thought goes on – it would seem in itself more likely, and according to the nature of things, that the Jews should be brought into the Church, which is really their own, and the true fulfilment of their own oracles, then that Gentiles, who had had no similar preparation, should have been so.
Romans 11:23 God, the gracious gardener
“And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. For God has the power to graft them in again.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
for God is able to graft them in again; as many of them were in the times of the apostles, and some since. For nothing is impossible with God. He can remove their unbelief, knock off the shackles and fetters in which they are held, and bring, them out of the prison of infidelity. In which they are shut up. He is able to take away the blindness of their minds.
And the hardness of their hearts, the veil that is over them, and turn them to the Lord. He can by his mighty power work faith in them. And cause them to look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn in an evangelical manner. He can bring them to Christ, and into his churches. And among his people, and fold them with the rest of his sheep. So that there one fold of Jew and Gentile, under one shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Romans 11:24 God’s Chosen Restoration Project
“For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 24. – For if thou wast cut out of that which was by nature a wild olive tree (ἀγριελαίου), and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree (καλλιελαίου): how much rather shall these, which be branches by nature, be grafted into their own olive tree?
In what follows next the eventual coming of the Jewish nation into the Church is not only anticipated as possible or probable but foretold prophetically. St. Paul announces it as a “mystery,” which his readers may be ignorant of, but which he wishes them to know. By the word μυστήριον, as used by St. Paul, is meant something hidden from man in the Divine counsels till made known by revelation (see 1 Corinthians 2:7, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:51;
The Mystery
and, in this Epistle, Romans 16:25, 26 – a passage which expresses clearly the apostle’s meaning in his use of the word). In the LXX. it denotes any Divine secret, which may or may not be made known to man (cf. Daniel 2:18, 19, etc.; Job 11:6; Wisd. 2:22; Ecclus. 22:22 Ecclus. 27:16). So also in the Gospels (Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10) it is said to be given to the disciples to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to others in parables. In classical Greek μυστήρια were Divine secrets (as in the Eleusinian Mysteries) which were revealed to the initiated alone.
Divine Purpose
St. Paul uses the word with the same essential meaning; only he speaks of mysteries which had already been revealed to himself and others by the Spirit, and has ever in view the Divine purposes, previously unknown, for the salvation of mankind. Thus in Ephesians 1:9, seq.; and Ephesians 3:3, seq., he speaks of the Divine purpose to “gather in one all things in Christ,” and that “the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs,” etc.,
Revealed to the Apostles and Prophets
as a mystery, “not made known in other ages unto the sons of men,” but now revealed to the “holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” (The other passages in which St. Paul uses the word are 1 Corinthians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 13:2; Ephesians 5:32; Ephesians 6:19; Colossians 1:26, 27, Colossians 2:2, Colossians 4:3, 1 Timothy 3:9, 16; 2 Thessalonians 2:7.)
Here he announces the Divine purpose to save “all Israel” at last through the calling of the Gentiles as a mystery which has been revealed to himself and others, and which he desires the Gentile Christians to be aware of, lest they should be “wise in their own conceits,” i.e. presume on their present position of privilege through ignorance of what is in store for Israel.
Romans 11:25 They’re only mostly dead
“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers; a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 25-27. – For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that hardness (πώρωσις; see ver. 8) in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles he comes in.
And so all Israel shall be saved. Πᾶς Ισραὴλ here must mean the whole nation; not, as Calvin explains, “com-plebitur salus totius Israel Dei [i.e. of the spiritual Israel, as in Galatians 6:16] quam ex utrisque [i.e. with Jews and Gentiles] colligi oportet;”
for “Israel” must surely be understood in the same sense as in the preceding verse, where it denotes the Jewish nation as opposed to the Gentiles. Σωθήσεται, as seems required by the whole context, means coming into the Church (cf. Acts 2:47, Ὁ δὲ κύριος προσετίθει τοὺς σωζομένους καθ ἡμέραν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ).
Romans 11:26 Israel’s restoration is prophesied
“And in this way, all Israel will be saved. As it is written. The Deliverer will come from Zion. He will banish ungodliness from Jacob;”
Pulpit Commentary
As it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: and this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins. Referring, as throughout the Epistle, to the Old Testament for confirmation, St. Paul here, as in former instances, combines passages, and quotes freely, perhaps from memory.
The main citation is from Isaiah 59:20, 21, with an addition from Isaiah 17:9, the LXX. being followed. The citations are relevant, being specimens of many others that might have been adduced, predicting the final pardon and restitution of the house of Israel itself, notwithstanding judgments, through the Redeemer who was to come. What follows, to ver. 33, is in the way of summary and further comment.
Romans 11:27 The restoration includes the removal of sin
“And this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(27) The second part of the quotation, “For (rather, and), this is my covenant with them,” &c., appears to be taken from the LXX. a version of Isaiah 27:9. The connecting links between the two are the removing of transgression from Jacob, and the form of the phrase, “This is my covenant with them.” (“This is his blessing,” Isaiah 27:9, LXX.)
Romans 11:28 They are still the beloved ones of God
“As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 28, 29. – As touching the gospel indeed (with regard to acceptance of the gospel now) they are enemies for your sakes (for their having become God’s enemies by rejecting and opposing it has been the occasion of your having been now called in): but as touching the election (God’s original choice of Israel to be his people. Ἐκλογὴ here cannot well have a concrete sense, as in ver. 7), they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
For the gifts (χαρίσματα, meaning “free gifts,” or “gifts of grace;” the word used to denote the special gifts of the Holy Ghost showered after Pentecost in the apostolic Church; but expressing generally, as here, whatever God, of his own good will, grants freely) and the calling of God are without repentance (i.e. unrepented of by him and irrevocable; cf. Numbers 23:19, 20; also 1 Samuel 15:29).
Romans 11:29 God’s call on the Jews is irrevocable!
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
29. For the gifts and calling.” And the calling” of God are without repentance. “not to be,” or “cannot be repented of.” By the “calling of God,” in this case, is meant that sovereign act by which God, in the exercise of His free choice, “called” Abraham to be the father of a peculiar people; while “the gifts of God” here denote the articles of the covenant which God made with Abraham, and which constituted the real distinction between his and all other families of the earth.
Romans 11:30 First the Gentiles, now the Jews
“For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For as ye in times past have not believed God,… The times referred to, are the times of ignorance, idolatry, and superstition; when God suffered the Gentiles, for many hundreds of years, to walk in their own ways; while the Jews were his favourite people, were chosen by him above all people, separated from them, and distinguished by his goodness; had his word and oracles, his judgments and his statutes to direct them, and many other valuable blessings: the times before the coming of the Messiah are here meant, when these people sat in darkness, and in the region of the shadow of death; till Christ, who came to lighten the Gentiles, sent his Gospel among them
Romans 11:31 All of Israel is disobedient
“So they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Even so have these also now not believed,… Now is the time of the Jews’ unbelief, blindness has happened to them, the veil is over their hearts; as the Gentiles formerly did not believe God, so the Jews do not now; though they believe there is a God, and that there is but one God, yet they do not believe God in Christ; nor that he is the Father of Christ; or that Christ is the Son of God, the true Messiah, and Saviour of the world:
Romans 11:32 All are given over to disobedience
“For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(32) Unhappy as the fate of the world might seem, first the Gentiles and then the Jews being consigned to a state of disobedience. This has really had a merciful object in the end. It will lead to a happy and complete reunion, “one flock under one shepherd.”
Romans 11:33 The wisdom of God is beyond our capacity to grasp.
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,… These words are the epilogue. Or conclusion of the doctrinal part of this epistle. And relate to what is said throughout the whole of it hitherto; particularly to the doctrines of salvation by Christ, justification by his righteousness, predestination, the calling of the Gentiles, the rejection of the Jews, and their restoration in the latter day;
Romans 11:34 Nobody truly knows the mind of God.
“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor!”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For who hath known the mind of the Lord,… The intentions of his mind. The thoughts of his heart. And the counsels of his will. These could never have been known. If he had not revealed them. Nor can the doctrines relating to them, though externally revealed, be known by the natural man, or by the mere dint of nature. But only by the light of the Spirit of God; who searches them, and makes them known in a spiritual manner to spiritual men, who have a spiritual discerning of them; and yet even by these they are not known perfectl. Only in part, and are seen through a glass darkly:
Romans 11:35 God owes nothing to mankind
“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Or who hath first given to him,…. See Job 41:11; no man can give God anything, which he has not first given him, or which he has not a prior right to, or a claim upon him for; Adam, in innocence, was not able to give God anything, nor are the angels in heaven, much less sinful men on earth; their bodies and souls, and all their enjoyments. All that is good in them, or done by them, are from the Lord; men by all their good works, best duties, and services, give nothing to God, nor lay him under any manner of obligation to them: hence no man can merit anything at the hands of God, if he could,
Romans 11:36 To God be the glory forever
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 36. – For of him; and through him, and unto him, are all things. The view advanced by some, that we have here an intimation of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, cannot fairly be maintained. But it is strikingly significant of the apostle’s view of the essential Deity of Christ, that in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Colossians 1:16, 17, similar language is applied to him. In the first of these texts it is said of the Father, ἐξ οῦ τὰ πάντα, and of the “Lord Jesus Christ,” δἰ οῦ τὰ πάντα; and in the second, of “the Son of the Father’s love,” ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα, and τὰ πάντα δἰ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται and also τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν. To him be the glory forever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. NIV
More from Romans:
Romans Overview Part 2: Church Building & Restoring Israel
Righteousness by grace: An Overview of Romans Part 1
Romans 11: Is The Lord Done with Israel? God Forbid!
Every book purchase helps support this ministry. Thank You!
Let me know what you think.