God’s End-Time Plan: Three Essential Parts
I. UNDERSTANDING GOD’S MYSTERY (HIDDEN PLAN) CONCERNING ISRAEL
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery (hidden plan)…that blindness
in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 So all Israel will be saved, as
it is written: "The Deliverer (Jesus) will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob."
(Romans 11:25-26)
11 Have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to
jealousy, salvation (primary leadership in the responsibility to bring His salvation to the nations) has come
to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much
more their fullness! 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance
be but life from the dead (the Millennium)? (Romans 11:11-12, 15)
A. Paul was urgent that the Gentile believers in his day understand God’s plans to bring salvation to the nations.
Therefore, in Romans 9-11, he gave them details about the timing and means that God would use to release His
worldwide salvation purposes. God's plan for Israel is dynamically related to His plan to release a great End-Time revival
and to purify the Church.
B. Salvation coming to the Gentiles (v. 11) speaks of much more than individual Gentiles experiencing the new
birth. It speaks of God giving the “primary leadership mantle” for the spreading of the gospel to the Gentiles for the last
2,000 years.
C. In Rom. 11, Paul proclaimed three vital parts of God’s mystery (hidden plan) that all believers must understand in
order to fully cooperate with His End-Time purposes for the Church, Israel and the Great Harvest. God’s mystery refers to
the secret plan hidden in His heart (Ephesians 3:5-10).
D. First, all Israel will be saved (v.26) and brought to fullness (v.12) in context to the Great Tribulation, the Second
Coming and the Millennial Kingdom (life from the dead for the whole world, v. 15). All Israel being saved means that 100%
of the Jewish people who survive the Great Tribulation will be born again believers in Jesus. Jewish people are being
saved today in record numbers. The full number will not be saved until the Second Coming. Israel’s fullness refers to the
fullness of her national blessing because of the outpouring of the Spirit (v. 12).
E. Second, the Jewish people have a temporary spiritual blindness (v.25) related to seeing Jesus as their Messiah.
This blindness includes their unique hostility against Jesus. Yet, it does not mean that Israel has “fallen” from her original
national calling to have the primary leadership role in the nations in establishing God’s Kingdom on earth in the
Millennium (v. 11).
F. Rom. 11 was written to assure us of Israel’s primary leadership role in the future. Israel's rejection of Jesus is not
total (Romans 11:1-10) nor final (Romans 11:11-32). If the Church is ignorant of the “supernatural blindness” on Israel
then we will wrongly conclude that God is finished with them instead of preparing them for a worldwide mantle of leadership.
G. Third, the fullness of the Gentiles (v.25) will provoke Israel to seek Jesus (v. 11). The fullness of the Gentiles
refers to the Gentiles being effectively used as God’s primary instrument of bringing His salvation to the nations during
the last 2,000 years. Inherent in this concept is God’s promise that a “full number” of Gentile will be saved from every
nation (Revelation 7:9) and then walk in the fullness of the Spirit (experiencing His gifts, fruit, wisdom; Ephesians 4:11-13;
5:27).
H. The fullness of the Gentiles will be the result of the greatest revival in history being released before Jesus returns.
This revival will bring forth over one billion radical Gentile believers who will also be dynamically used by God in Israel’s
salvation (v. 25-26) which will in turn result in the glory of God filling the earth in the Millennium (Hab. 2:14). The great
revival will release untold millions of anointed intercessors who live in the grace of fasting and prayer as Jesus’ lovesick
Bride. They will operate in the power of the Holy Spirit working miracles and prophesying to bring many to salvation. This
mighty army will fearlessly count it a privilege to face martyrdom as they embrace Jesus which includes His love for Israel.
I. Summary: The fullness of the Gentiles (v.25) will lead to the fullness of Israel (v.12) which will lead to God’s glory
filling the Millennial earth (life from the dead, v.15; Habakkuk 2:14).
II. SETTING THE STAGE FOR ALL ISRAEL BEING SAVED: GREAT TRIBULATION
A. Something drastic will need to happen to change Israel's hostile view of Jesus and His Church. The unique reality
of the Great Tribulation will create the necessary context to radically change Israel's views. It will be the most severe time
in history for all (Israel, Church and unbelievers).
1 At that time (Antichrist: Dan. 11:36-45)...there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was...7 He (angel)...swore...
that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time (3½ years); and when the power of the holy people (Israel) has been
completely shattered …. (Daniel 12:1, 6-7)
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor
ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)
7 Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
(Jeremiah 30:7)
B. Satan's strategy is to exploit a “loophole” in God’s prophetic plan. Jesus “bound” Himself by His prophecy to only
come back to Israel after being invited by Israel’s leadership.
39 You shall see Me no more till you say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” (Matthew 23:39)
C. Satan wants to exterminate the Jewish people so that a believing remnant cannot invite Jesus to rule Israel as
her Messiah. Satan seeks to complete destroy Israel (Revelation 12:13-17) and the Church that stands with her
(Daniel 7:21, 25; 8:24; 11:33-35; 12:7, 10; Revelation 6:9-11; 7:9, 14; 9:21; 11:7; 13:7, 15; 16:5-7; 17:6; 18:24; 19:2;
Matthew 10:21-22, 28; 24:9; Luke 12:4-7; 21:16-19; John 15:18- 16:4).
7 It was granted to him (Antichrist) to make war with the saints and to overcome them. Authority was given (by God)
him (Antichrist) over every tribe, tongue, and nation. (Revelation 13:7)
D. The context will be parallel to the 1940s when the Nazis hunted for Jewish people to kill them.
16 Afterward, I will send for many hunters (Antichrist’s regime), and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every
hill, and out of the holes of the rocks… (Jeremiah 16:16).
E. Satan's attack on Israel will kill 2/3 of Israel and bring the remaining 1/3 to salvation.
8 In all the land….2/3...shall be cut off and die...1/3 shall be left (saved) in it. (Zechariah 13:8)
F. God requires the Church to stand together with Israel in the pressures of the Great Tribulation.
G. The Scripture outlines seven different ways in which He will minister grace in Israel's salvation: Gentiles provoking
Israel to jealousy and showing them mercy (Romans 11:11, 30); the ministry of the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11) and
the 144,000 Jewish believers (Revelation 7); Israel's experience of grace in the wilderness (Jeremiah 31:2); insight gained
from God’s judgments (Isaiah 26:9) and Jesus’ Coming (Zechariah 12:10). Paul focused on the two avenues of grace
(provocation and mercy) that emphasized the responsibility that Gentile believers have to Israel (Romans 10:19; 11:11,
14, 31).
11 Have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! Through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation
(leadership in the gospel) has come to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:11)
31 These also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy (from God
and the Church). (Romans 11:31)
H. For Israel to be provoked to jealousy by Gentiles is one of the most surprising and remarkable dimensions of God’s
End-Time plan. To be provoked to godly jealousy means that Israel will deeply desire what Gentile believers have
spiritually. Israel has been repulsed by the Church for 2,000 years and not provoked by it. What will cause this drastic
and great change?
I. Israel will receive mercy directly from God but also from the grateful Gentile believers who give the mercy to Israel
that they freely received from Jesus (Romans 11:31).
J. The kindness (mercy) shown by the Church to Jewish people in context to the Great Tribulation will be God’s gift
of love to Israel and one of His means of unifying the Jews and Gentiles as One New Man (Ephesians 2:14-16; 3:1-10).
This unity will be fully manifest in the Millennium. God is the great social architect in leading history to fulfill His purposes
of Jews and Gentiles being unified. He will create the necessary social dynamics of this without violating man's free will.
15 To create in Himself One New Man from the two (Jews and Gentiles)… (Ephesians 2:15)
21 They all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me…that the world may believe… (John 17:21)
K. The Church will be brought to maturity and evaluated based on our responses to Jesus’ leadership in requiring
us to stand with Israel (Matthew 25:31-46). This will purify the Church. Some who profess faith in Jesus will fall away at this
time (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:3).
26 That He might cleanse her…27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle…
but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:26-27)
III. PROVOKING ISRAEL TO JEALOUSY: FIVE PRACTICAL WAYS
A. Providing refuge: Jewish people will be in flight as they are hunted by the nations. Those who provide refuge to
Jews in flight will risk their life (and the life of their loved ones) as Corrie Ten Boom’s family did. The Antichrist’s laws will
require (as did the Nazis) the reporting of Jewish people in flight. Refusal to do so will be viewed as being an accomplice
to a state crime.
B. Performing Miracles like Elijah: multiplication of food, healing the sick and prophesying (receiving prophetic
direction by visions and dreams as promised in Acts 2:17; Jeremiah 31:9)
C. Godly living: by living in “bright righteousness and humility” as the world is filled with deep darkness as it
embraces immorality and the occult, etc. (Revelation 9:21; Isaiah 60:1)
D. Proclaiming God’s purpose for Israel: our response is best outlined in Jeremiah 31:7-10 as prophetic
declaration, intercession (Isaiah 62:6; Psalm 122:6), celebration, and comforting Israel (Isaiah 40:1-2).
E. Transcendent lifestyle: to walk fearless in the face of death with the revelation of eternity
IV. PAUL’S URGENCY THAT ALL UNDERSTAND AND NOT BE IGNORANT (ROMANS 11:25)
18 Do not boast against the branches…20 Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural
branches (Israel), He may not spare you either. 22 Consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell,
severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Romans 11:18,
20-22)
25 You should (not) be ignorant of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own opinion… (Romans 11:25)
A. The challenge facing the Church today is passive indifference. It is based on lack of information. Ignorance often
leads to arrogance against God. The arrogant will refuse to stand with Israel in pressure. This can be dangerous because
by this some will deny their faith and be cut off by God.
B. The progression of ignorance: ignorance can become arrogance, which can become passive resistance (being
silent in refusing to help Israel), then active resistance (helping those who persecute Israel) which will then lead to being
cut off by God (Rom. 11:22). Paul’s urgency that we not be ignorant of this mystery was so that Gentile believers would
be equipped with revelation so as to stand firm in the unique End-Time pressures. The Church will be a people with
“anointed action” or “ignorant arrogance.”
C. To boast against Israel is to be arrogant against God and His plan for Israel instead of being awestruck by it
(v. 33). It is arrogant to see our personal ministries as superior in importance to God's bigger purposes. There is a
special blessing in standing with Israel. (Psalm 122:6; Genesis 12:3).
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and
His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)