All Israel

All Israel

Let’s consider some Amazing Scripture regarding God’s Will toward Israel in points below:

(i) Firstly does ‘All Israel’ mean ‘All Israel’ or do we need to look at ‘context’ to ‘limit’ its meaning?

A Famous misunderstanding in the book of Romans is that some have quoted the verse below to ‘claim a proof’ that ‘All Israel in these passages in Romans does not necessarily mean All Israel’:

Please consider Romans 9:6 across several translations below:

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;

King James Bible (KJV)
Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.

Are they right? Especially since they quoted the popular NASB, KJV or even HCSB translations?

Nearly right; As the interlinnear in image shows too, the following phrases are mistranslated in the translations above causing a ‘wrong’ deduction based on the ‘translated words’ instead of the ‘actual words used’; please notice the following:

‘from Israel’ (NASB, wrong)
‘of Israel’ (KJV, wrong)
‘are Israel’ (HCSB, wrong)

Then what is the right phrase?

The correct translation should be ‘as image shows too’ (from interlinnear):

‘those Israel’ or ‘these Israel’ (correct)

Because the ‘actual Greek’ words for ‘this phrase’ in Scripture here are:

(i) ‘houtoi’ = ‘those’
(ii) Israel = Israel

Did any other translation to English get it right?
Yes, such as the ones below:

Berean Literal Bible
And it is not as that the word of God has failed. For not all who are of Israel, are these Israel.

Young’s Literal Translation
And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;

So the phrase “all who are of Israel” or equivalently, “all Israel” in the first part of this Romans 9:6 verse is clearly a different phrase than the latter one within this same verse which actually means “those or these Israel”.

So, wrong translations of this phrase as shown in the more popular ones (ironically) cause considerable confusion because they seem to suggest the common false context claim that ‘all Israel does not necessarily mean All Israel’ which is clearly ‘not’ the meaning of this verse at all.

(ii) Then, what does Romans 9:6 mean?

Here it is again:

“And it is not possible that the word of God hath failed; for not all who are of Israel are these Israel;” (Romans 9:6, YLT)

This verse clearly points to a distinction & a definition of a subset defined between these two groups mentioned namely,

(a) ‘all who are of Israel’ (Set) = ‘All Israel’ (in short, will be used henceforth to refer to this)

(b) ‘these Israel’ (a subset of the above)= ‘a particular group’ from among those who are of Israel only about whom specific details are revealed depending on whether the obedient vs disobedient group of Israel is referred to. For example:

Disobedient ones vs Obedient ones among Israel:

“What then? What Israel doth seek after, this it did not obtain, and the chosen did obtain, and the rest were hardened,” (Romans 11:7)

The ‘election’ of the ‘remnant’ (believing or obedient ones) is due to the ‘Grace of God only’:

“So then also in the present time a remnant according to the choice of grace there hath been;” (Romans 11:5)

Apostle Paul gives examples and explanations regarding God’s Sovereignty in determining both obedience and disobedience among Israel & Gentiles too (in analogy) explaining some details relating to these various reasons & aspects in the other verses from Romans 9 leading up to Romans 11 where he is about to conclude a fascinating Mystery or Secret regarding all these.

(iii) Before we look at the wonderful Mystery/Secret which apostle Paul leads up to in the discussion of the chapters above, let us consider the following ‘bad facts’ about ‘some Israelites’ too in order to ‘appreciate & fully understand’ the “Love of God” despite all these through that Mystery or Secret which we will see later.

(1) God made these Israelites to ‘not see, nor able to hear’ (the ‘truth’ of His Word) too:

“according as it hath been written, ‘God gave to them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes not to see, and ears not to hear,’ — unto this very day,” (Romans 11:8)

(2) The faithful king David himself curses such disobedient, unbelieving fellow Israelites as follows:

“and David saith, ‘Let their table become for a snare, and for a trap, and for a stumbling-block, and for a recompense to them;

let their eyes be darkened — not to behold, and their back do Thou always bow down.’” (Romans 11:9 – 10)

(3) They ‘killed the prophets’ who spoke the ‘truth’ of His Word & ‘approved the murderers’

“Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and it was your fathers who killed them. “So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs.” (Luke 11: 47 – 48)

(4) They ‘killed & persecuted the prophets & apostles’ whom God sent too:

“For this reason also the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute,” (Luke 11:49)

(5) The blood of the martyrs will be required of ‘this generation’ (“not” the error of preterism):

“so that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.’” (Luke 11:50 – 51)

*The error of ‘preterism’ assumes that by the words such as ‘this generation’ used in Scripture, the events such as the ‘second coming of Christ is a past event’.

As we can see the phrase ‘this generation’ even used in verses above refers to ‘the both the generation which caused the murder as well as those approving these deeds thereafter’ (collectively spoken of despite the things mentioned spanned a few thousand years!) to be ‘punished or held accountable together’.

Truth is,

‘this generation’ = refers to both the time & people who did these evil deeds to the time including people who continue to approve all such evil including false teachings too = ‘this generation’ referring to the people collectively found practising & endorsing such errors.

(6) Soul Winning?

Soul Winning with false teachings though making converts or proselytes (through ‘missions work’) in the name of YHWH due to not teaching the ‘truth’ (key of knowledge) of Scripture thereby actually making ‘twice the sons of hell’ & ‘hindering those entering the kingdom of God’ instead:

“Woe to you lawyers (teachers of the Law)! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.” (Luke 11:52)

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one convert (proselyte); and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)

(7) Some are condemned to (Gehenna) Hell even:

“You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33)

(8) How about the ‘unpardonable sin’?

Even committing the ‘unpardonable sin’ of the ‘blashphemy of the Holy Spirit’ who are certain to be punished for a minimum of ‘two subsequent ages’, (the current one & next one) as Scripture clearly defines this punishment using this ‘time period definition of two ages’ as follows:

“Because of this I say to you, all sin and evil speaking shall be forgiven to men, but the evil speaking of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.

And whoever may speak a word against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven to him, but whoever may speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is coming.” (Matthew 12:31 – 32)

What is the ‘blasphemy of the Holy Spirit’?

An example is seen in the verses below (verse 30):

“‘Verily I say to you, that all the sins shall be forgiven to the sons of men, and evil speakings with which they might speak evil,

but whoever may speak evil in regard to the Holy Spirit hath not forgiveness — to the age, but is in danger of age-during judgment;’

because they said, ‘He hath an unclean spirit.’” (Mark 3:28 – 30)

*Unpardonable here means punished for at least two ages as the verses reveal.

(iv) Enemies of God

Now we understand that some in Israel have been among the worst enemies of God. But are these verses speaking of ‘no hope at all’ or ‘appropriate Judgment (punishment)’?

The latter is true as the verse below clearly wants us to recognise that these ‘enemies’ of God are for the sake of the Gospel but are still ‘loved’ by God (please note the word ‘beloved’ in verse below):

“As regards, indeed, the Gospel (good tidings), [they are] enemies on your account; and as regards the choice — beloved on account of the fathers;” (Romans 11:28)

Amazing, isn’t it?
It gets perfect next as apostle Paul reveals the Mystery/Secret as He concludes these discussion in Romans 11 so that we don’t interpret or misunderstand Scripture especially with regards to His Judgment upon them & us ‘wrongly’.

(v) Hate & Love

So, “hate” vs “Love”?
Yes, but both are Justified by Him (nothing wrong when He does it Perfectly with all the right Reasons).

A man’s hate in the form of ‘anger’ “cannot” produce ‘righteousness’ but God’s Hate in His “Wrath” produces Righteousness (—> so, God’s Anger is Holy and “cannot” be understood by the perspective of the unrighteous ‘anger of man’; these are “different”):

“because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:20)

(vi) All Israel will be saved (it is written)

Next, let’s consider a Biblical case study for this: The Israelites.

Now, the “Israelites” contain some of the greatest “enemies” of the Gospel (plenty of “unbelievers”, “Jesus rejecting”, “Jesus & Christian hating murderers” etc. among them too):

“From the standpoint of the gospel they (the “unbelieving Israel”) are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;” (Romans 11:28)

The question:

“I ask then, Has God cast off His People (the “Israelites”)? No, indeed…” (part of Romans 11:1 emphasized)

The explanation (foreknowledge of God):

“God has not cast off His People (the “Israelites”) whom He knew beforehand…” (part of Romans 11:2)

Don’t be ‘ignorant’ of the “Mystery” (Secret, of Christ) below that He Will eventually “Save all Israel” (yes “all”, especially refers to these unrepentant enemies of the Gospel among them —> in any context of this verse/chapter) with the Deliverer (Saviour, Lord Jesus Christ) somewhere out of Zion (indicating in the “spiritual realm of God”) after ‘all Gentiles’ (non-Israelites) are “Saved” (“all Gentiles” = “fullness of the Gentiles”):

“For I do not wish you to be ignorant, brethren, of this secret — that ye may not be wise in your own conceits — that hardness in part to Israel hath happened till the fullness of the Gentiles may come in;

and so all Israel shall be saved, according as it hath been written, ‘There shall come forth out of Zion He who is delivering, and He shall turn away impiety from Jacob,

and this to them [is] the covenant from Me, when I may take away their sins.’ (Romans 11:25 – 27)

Note the warning in the verse above that those who don’t accept (being ignorant of) this “secret” (or mystery) that “all Israel will be saved” (including all those enemies of the Gospel) will be “wise in their own opinions & conceits, but ‘not’ in God” (read carefully again and again —> let’s learn Scripture correctly).

(vii) Can God save via ‘Hate/Anger’? Verses please?

Lastly, here is the literal proof that God’s Wrath (or Anger) produces “righteousness” (salvation) in the ‘end’ (as its result; the intended outcome of “His Will”).

Firstly, Here is the ‘Hate’ (note the words such as wrath, all anger, fire, jealousy etc):

“Therefore wait for Me,”

declares the Lord,

“for the day I will stand up to testify.

I have decided to assemble the nations,

to gather the kingdoms

and to pour out My wrath on them—

all My fierce anger.

The whole world will be consumed

by the fire of My jealous anger.” (Zephaniah 3:8)

Finally, do note that the ‘result’ is “universal Salvation” (mysteriously described here) for “those” (upon whom the ‘fiercest all anger’ of God was poured) end up having “clean lips” and most importantly, “all” of them will “call upon the name of the Lord” (and will be saved) and serve Him “shoulder to shoulder” (sounds like they’re all ‘saved in the end’):

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples,

that all of them may call on the Name of the Lord

and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)

P/S:

Here are two ‘summary’ verses from the New Testament that prophesy this “same ending”:

“To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:32)

And, that’s how ‘love the sinner but hate the sin’ makes ‘sense’.

‘Blessed Saviour of the World’