THE FULL NUMBER

THE FULL NUMBER

Romans 11.25
25. "So that you (Gentiles) may not claim to be wiser that you are brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery, a *hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in."

*Hardening means the same thing when GOD hardened the heart of pharaoh and pharaoh refused to let Israel go. In the same way GOD purposely put veil on the eyes of Israel so they would not understand and would not accept to a certain time their Messiah.

~ Hardening of Hearts: (Exodus 4.21, 7.3-5, 9.12.16, 10.1, 11.10, 14.4.17) (Deuteronomy 2.30, 15.7) (Joshua 11.20) (John 12.40) (Romans 9.17-18, 11.7.25).

But despite this act of GOD for the sake of Gentiles, GOD does not blind every Jew and many Jews today as before believing in Christ and worship Him, but majority of the Jews are still Spiritually blind, only until full number of Gentiles will turn to Christ.

In other places of the Bible fullness of something sometimes referred to sins, "until cup of sins is full." GOD acts according to a certain level of fullness no matter what it is. Concerning the word "number," it is not specified but only GOD knows then this "number" will reach its full potential.

For some people it seems a little bit odd that GOD sometimes purposely hardening people's minds and then punishes them, but GOD hardening minds of those who deserve it and if they change their minds for their benefit, they may escape justice for a time being.

GOD knows appropriate time for everything on Earth and in Heaven and then it comes, GOD immediately acting.

Then a full number of Gentiles will join the Christ, all Israel will see their Messiah and will worship Him and service Him. GOD will banish ungodliness from Jacob (Israel) forever (26-27).

The mentioning of the Covenant in verse 27 means a New Covenant, the Covenant of the Spiritual Statutes of the Law of Moses, also called as the Good News, the Gospel, and Evangeline, which is all mean the same thing - the New Spiritual Covenant. This New Covenant was already issued to Israel by Jesus Christ in His first coming, and from Israel it spread over the world.

Covenants of GOD with Israel has been established number of times in the past when Israel in certain times fail their GOD, and then Israel turned back to GOD, the Covenant with GOD must be renewed every time, in order to keep Israel under GOD'S control. This was the Old Covenant.

But the Lord and the prophets of Israel also revealed a different Covenant, the Spiritual Covenant of Jesus Christ that derived from the Old Covenant. This New Covenant is the Covenant indicated in the Bible as a New Testament.

~ New Covenant: (Isaiah 54.10, 59.20-21, 61.1) (Jeremiah 31.31-34, 32.37-41) (Ezekiel 16.59-60.62) (Malachi 3.1) (Hebrews 4.6, 8.6-13).

Under word "gifts" in verse 29 Paul meant Promises and Oaths of GOD to His people Israel which are irrevocable. And the word "calling" means GOD'S choices in selection of those who will worship and service Him.

Verses 30-32 very much echoing the subject about "hardening the hearts" but in slightly different variation. These verses show that even when GOD do hardening people's minds and make them suffer, He also give and relief to those whom He gave hard times. GOD test people in many different ways, but never to a point above the limit and gives enough power to endure the hardship He has imposed on some people (1Corinthians 10.12-13).