Israel's rejection of their Messiah did not end God's program for them; nationally they were set aside and blinded, and through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
The Apostle Paul asked, "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" and answered, "God forbid." Israel's fall was not permanent. Through their rejection, salvation was opened to the Gentile world, and God continues to deal with individual Jews and will restore the nation at the end of the tribulation.
Romans 11:11 — This verse directly answers the question: Israel's fall did not mean permanent rejection; through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:12 — It reveals that if Israel's fall brought riches to the world, their future fullness will bring even more.
Romans 11:10 — It describes the spiritual blindness that came upon the nation of Israel as a result of their unbelief.
The Bible answers this question directly in Romans 11:10-12. After Israel's unbelief, it says, "Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway." That is the spiritual blindness that came upon the nation. Yet the very next verse asks, "I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy." Then verse 12 declares, "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?"
Les Feldick teaches that God deals with the Jew on two levels: national and individual. Nationally, Israel has been set aside and blinded as a result of rejecting their Messiah, King, and kingdom. This is not God's final word, however. Paul's question, "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" is answered by "God forbid." Israel's fall rather opened the door for salvation to come to the Gentiles. That salvation came in a whole different format: the free gospel of grace, faith plus nothing. Les emphasizes that today all one has to do is believe the Gospel, and God does everything else. Meanwhile, individual Jews remain fully able to believe this same gospel of grace even though the nation is under spiritual blindness. Les also looks ahead to the time when the blindness ends: at the return of their Messiah at the end of the tribulation, a remnant of Israel will be saved, and the nation will experience its fullness.
No. The Apostle Paul asks concerning Israel, "Have they stumbled that they should fall?" and answers, "God forbid." Les Feldick points out that although Israel had every opportunity to have the King, the kingdom, their Messiah, and redemption, they rejected it. God has not cast them off permanently. Rather, He dispersed them and took away their temple and country, but they have been brought back to the land and are waiting for the day when they can again have a temple.
Les teaches that God deals with the Jew on two levels—nationally and individually. Nationally, Israel is blinded in this age of grace; that is why their eyes were darkened "that they may not see." But this blindness applies to the nation, not to every individual Jew. An individual Jew today has just as much opportunity to believe the Gospel of God's grace as any Gentile. The national blindness will last until the return of their Messiah at the end of the tribulation, when a remnant of the nation will be saved.
For the past 1900 years, the gospel of grace has gone to the Gentile masses, and they can become children of God by faith alone. Les Feldick explains that through Israel's fall—their rejection and crucifixion of their Messiah—salvation came to the Gentiles under a whole different format. It is a free gospel of grace: faith plus nothing. Believing that gospel is all that God requires. Israel was supposed to be the channel for this, but because they kept rejecting, God sent them into dispersion and turned to the Gentile world.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes that Israel's blindness has already lasted more than 1900 years, but it is not permanent. Paul wrote that if Israel's fall became the riches of the world for the Gentiles, "how much more their fulness?" God is still going to come back to the Jew. At the end of the tribulation, when the Messiah returns, the nation's eyes will be opened and the remnant will be saved.
National Blindness vs. Individual Opportunity
Les explains that nationally Israel is blinded until the Messiah's return, but individual Jews today have the same opportunity to believe the gospel as Gentiles.
1900 Years of Spiritual Blindness
Les notes Israel has spent over 1900 years in spiritual blindness, yet the age of grace allows Gentiles to become children of God through faith alone.
Through Their Fall Salvation Came to Gentiles
Paul's words "God forbid" show Israel's fall is not permanent; through their fall salvation came to the Gentiles under a different format, and Israel is now back in the land awaiting temple.
God Deals With Israel Nationally and Individually
Les uses Romans 11 to show that Israel rejected every opportunity, but the answer to 'Have they stumbled that they should fall?' is clearly 'God forbid.'
Romans 11:11 — Salvation to Gentiles Through Israel's Fall
Using Romans 11:11, Les highlights that Israel's rejection of their Messiah opened the door of salvation to the Gentiles.
Israel Set Aside, But God Will Return
Les says Israel had to be set aside, and God turned to the Gentiles with the free gospel of grace—faith plus nothing—while still planning to come back to the Jew.
Dispersion as a Result of Rejection
Because Israel constantly rejected God's advances, He sent the nation into dispersion and began reaching the Gentile world with salvation.
Age of Grace: Simply Believe the Gospel
After Israel's rejection, God opened the windows of grace, and now in this age of grace salvation is simply by believing the Gospel.
Romans 11:11: I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
This is the key verse showing that Israel's rejection did not cause them to permanently fall; it opened salvation to the Gentiles.
Romans 11:12: Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
This verse reveals that Israel's future fullness will be even greater than the riches that came to the world through their fall.
Romans 11:10: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
This is the spiritual blindness that came upon the nation of Israel as a result of their unbelief.
No. Les Feldick emphasizes Paul's answer in Romans 11:11, "God forbid." Israel was set aside and dispersed, but the nation will again be dealt with, and a remnant will be saved at the end of the tribulation.
Yes. Les teaches God deals with the Jew on two levels: nationally they are blinded, but an individual Jew today has every opportunity to believe the gospel of grace just as a Gentile can.
Through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentile world. God turned from the nation to offer a free gospel of grace to all—faith plus nothing—and simply believing that gospel brings salvation.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel's Fall Opened Heaven's Door for the Gentiles