Yes, salvation came to the Gentiles as a direct result of Israel's fall, but this was not God's original plan or a permanent rejection of Israel.
Israel rejected her Messiah and the Old Testament promises, leading to her spiritual blindness and fall from favored nation status. This fall opened the way for salvation to be offered directly to the Gentiles. God's ultimate purpose was to provoke Israel to jealousy and draw them back to Himself, not to permanently cast them aside.
Romans 11:11 — This verse directly states that through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, and that this was intended to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Acts 9:15 — This verse records Jesus telling Saul that he would be sent to the Gentiles, marking the transition of salvation to the Gentile world.
Romans 11:11 declares, "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 indicates that Israel's stumbling was not meant to be final, but that God used it to bring salvation to the Gentiles, with the additional purpose of making Israel jealous. The Bible also shows that even before this, God had planned to reach the Gentiles through Israel, as seen in Isaiah 42:6-7. However, when Israel rejected the Messiah and the gospel as preached by the apostles, God raised up Saul of Tarsus as the apostle to the Gentiles, as recorded in Acts 9:15 and Acts 13:46-47.
Les Feldick teaches that from the beginning, God's plan was to reach the Gentile world through the nation of Israel. The Old Testament shows that every Jew was meant to be a priest to bring the knowledge of God to the pagans. However, Israel rejected her Messiah, the King, and the Kingdom, and continued to reject the gospel preached by Peter and the eleven. This rejection led to Israel's fall from their place of preeminence as the covenant nation and to their dispersion. Instead of abandoning His purpose, God raised up a single Jew, Saul of Tarsus, to carry the gospel to the Gentiles, thereby bringing salvation to us directly, without Israel's mediation. Les emphasizes that this was not God's ideal, but a response to Israel's unbelief, and that God's goal was to provoke Israel to jealousy, causing them to return to Him. He rejects the idea that God is finished with Israel, stressing that their fall is not their final end.
According to Les Feldick, God's original purpose in calling Israel and making them His covenant people was that they would bring the knowledge of the true God to the pagan Gentiles. Every Jew was to be a priest, and by living among them, Israel would evangelize the Gentile nations. However, Israel failed to fulfill this role (Clip 5, Clip 7).
Les explains that because Israel rejected her Messiah and rejected the gospel preached in Acts, God set them aside in spiritual blindness and turned directly to the Gentiles. He raised up Saul of Tarsus as the apostle to the Gentiles, and through his ministry, salvation came to the Gentile world apart from the Jewish nation. This was a mystery kept secret in the mind of God, not revealed until after Israel's continued rejection (Clip 0, Clip 2, Clip 3).
Les teaches that God's purpose in allowing Israel's fall was not to abandon them permanently. Rather, He brought salvation to the Gentiles to provoke Israel to jealousy, so that they would see what they lost and return to Him. God did not cause the fall to destroy Israel, but to awaken them. Those who believe God is finished with Israel are mistaken, as Romans 11:11 clearly indicates God's ongoing purpose for Israel (Clip 4, Clip 7).
Israel's Rejection Opens the Door
Because Israel rejected the Old Testament promises and crucified the Messiah, God sent Saul to the Gentiles, showing that Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles.
Salvation Comes to the Gentiles
The fall of Israel led to salvation for the Gentiles, and God's purpose was to provoke the Jews to jealousy.
God's Secret Turn to the Gentiles
When Israel continued to reject the gospel, God did something kept secret in His mind—turning to the Gentiles directly without the nation of Israel.
Saul's Commission to the Gentiles
God raised up Saul of Tarsus as the apostle to the Gentiles, indicating that Israel's fall was not a reason to remove them completely.
God Not Finished with Israel
Les refutes the idea that God is all through with Israel, explaining that their fall is not permanent.
Israel's Failure and God's Alternative
Even the favored nation Israel failed, prompting God to go to the Gentiles without Israel, yet this was not His original intent.
Dispersion and God's Plan
Because of Israel's rejection, God sent them into dispersion and turned to the whole Gentile world with salvation, fulfilling what He had always intended to do through Israel.
Through Their Fall, Salvation Comes
Les directly explains Romans 11:11, teaching that through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles, and that Israel's fall was not their final destruction.
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 answering the question, showing that God's intent was to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Acts 13:46-47: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
This verse records Paul turning to the Gentiles after the Jews rejected the gospel, showing the direct result of Israel's fall.
Isaiah 42:6-7: I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
This Old Testament passage reveals God's original plan for Israel to be a light to the Gentiles.
Yes, according to Les Feldick, God's original plan was to reach the Gentiles through Israel. Israel was to be a light to the Gentile world, bringing them the knowledge of the true God. However, Israel failed in this role, leading God to turn directly to the Gentiles.
It means that because Israel rejected her Messiah and the gospel, God set her aside in a state of spiritual blindness and opened the door of salvation directly to the Gentiles. This was not God's ideal, but it resulted from Israel's unbelief.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God is not all through with Israel. Their fall was not final; God's purpose in turning to the Gentiles was to provoke Israel to jealousy and eventually bring them back to Himself.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel's Fall Opened Heaven's Door for the Gentiles