The mystery revealed in Romans 11:25 is that a partial blindness has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in.
Paul calls this condition a mystery because it had been a secret kept in the mind of God and never revealed anywhere else in Scripture. Les Feldick teaches that Israel has been sovereignly, judicially blinded by God for a long period of time, but the blindness is only partial and temporary. It will last only until the fullness of the Gentiles—the body of Christ—has been brought in, after which God will lift the blindness from Israel.
Romans 11:25 — This verse directly reveals the mystery: blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
Romans 11:26 — Shows what follows the mystery: all Israel shall be saved after the fullness of the Gentiles is reached.
Romans 11:25 states: '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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in.' The verse identifies a mystery, defines it as a partial blindness on Israel, and sets a time limit: until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in. Romans 11:26 continues: 'And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.'
Les Feldick explains that the word 'mystery' in Paul's writings refers to a secret that had been kept in the mind of God and never revealed before. The mystery in Romans 11:25 is that the nation of Israel would be sovereignly, judicially blinded by God for a long period of time—now over 1,900 years. The Old Testament warned Israel that disobedience would bring chastisement, but it never revealed that Israel would be spiritually blinded or associated that blindness with a period when God would turn to the Gentiles. Les emphasizes the word 'until': Israel's blindness is not forever, but will last until the fullness of the Gentiles, which he identifies as the body of Christ, is brought in. Paul also tells believers not to be ignorant of this mystery or wise in their own conceits.
Les Feldick says that 'mystery' is a word unique to Paul's writings and refers to a secret kept in the mind of God, not revealed until God saw fit. He notes that nowhere in the Old Testament had God actually told Israel that a day would come when they would be spiritually blinded. Isaiah spoke of blindness, but it was not associated with a period of time when God would be turning to the Gentiles, which is why Paul calls it a mystery.
Romans 11:25 says the blindness will last 'until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.' Les emphasizes the word 'until' as a time word. It is not a month, day, and year, but a specific point in God's program. The blindness is not forever; it is in part and for a segment of time, and when the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in, the blindness will be lifted.
Les Feldick identifies the fullness of the Gentiles as the body of Christ. As Gentiles are being saved, they are being placed into the body of Christ, filling it up. This is the group of Gentiles God is calling out during Israel's time of blindness.
When God has finished His work with the Gentiles, He will take them out of the way, and the blindness will be lifted from the Jew. God will yet come back and restore the nation of Israel to its original promises and covenant position. Then, as Romans 11:26 says, 'all Israel shall be saved.'
The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began
Now underline that word stewards and the mysteries. Now the first thing you have to do is define. You remember when back in the Old Testament God was telling Abraham that He was going to be the Father of a nation and many people, and what was Abraham's answer? Well how can I be? I don't have a son, and all I have is this steward, Eleazar of Damascus.
Mystery as a Secret Kept in God's Mind
Les defines 'mystery' as a secret kept in the mind of God, hidden until God saw fit to reveal it.
Israel's Sovereign, Judicial Blindness
Les identifies the core of the mystery: God sovereignly and judicially blinded Israel for a long period, now over 1,900 years, something never revealed before.
Blindness Until the Fullness of the Gentiles
Les shows that the 'until' ends when the fullness of the Gentiles—the body of Christ—is brought in.
The Time Word 'Until'
Les stresses that 'until' is a time word showing Israel's blindness is not forever but lasts until a specific point in God's program.
Israel's Restoration After the Gentiles
Les teaches that after God finishes with the Gentiles, the blindness will be lifted from Israel and the nation will be restored, leading to 'all Israel shall be saved.'
Why It Was Never Revealed Before
Les explains that although Isaiah spoke of blindness, it was not connected to a period when God would turn to the Gentiles, which is why Romans 11:25 is called a secret.
Hidden Mystery and Gentile Privilege
Les confirms that Israel's spiritual blindness for almost two thousand years and the Gentiles' privileged position in the body of Christ were aspects of a hidden mystery.
Romans 11:25: 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 fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
This verse names the mystery itself: a partial blindness on Israel lasting until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
Romans 11:26: And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
This is the promised result after Israel's blindness is lifted—all Israel shall be saved.
The mystery is that a partial spiritual blindness has happened to Israel, and it will continue until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in. Les Feldick explains that this was a secret kept in the mind of God and not revealed anywhere else in Scripture.
No. The word 'until' in Romans 11:25 shows that the blindness is temporary. It will last only until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, and then God will lift the blindness from Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that the fullness of the Gentiles is the body of Christ. As Gentiles are saved, they are placed into the body of Christ, and when that fullness has been brought in, God will turn back to Israel.
Watch the Teaching: The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began