Because 'all Israel' in Romans 11:26 refers to the spiritual remnant of believing Israel, not the entire nation.
Les Feldick teaches that Scripture distinguishes between Jacob, the whole nation, and Israel, the believing spiritual element. When Paul says 'all Israel shall be saved,' he means every believer in Israel will be saved, not the whole nation. Unbelieving Israel is not in view, as God has always worked through a faithful remnant.
Romans 11:26 — This verse directly states 'all Israel shall be saved' and is the verse under question.
Zechariah 13:8-9 — This passage shows God refining and saving only a third of the people, not the whole nation.
Romans 11:11 — This verse shows Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles, setting the context for their future fullness.
Romans 11:26 (KJV): "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." In the same chapter, verse 11 says, "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." Verse 12 adds, "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?" Zechariah 13:8-9 (KJV) declares, "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God."
Les teaches that Romans 11:26 does not promise the salvation of every ethnic Jew. Instead, the phrase 'all Israel' refers to the believing remnant within the nation. He emphasizes a biblical distinction between 'Jacob' and 'Israel': Jacob represents the whole nation, while Israel represents the spiritual element of true believers. Paul, writing as the apostle to the Gentiles, confirms that Israel's fall brought salvation to the Gentiles, but God is not done with the nation. Their future fullness is coming, and in that day, all believing Israel will be saved. Les grounds this in the Old Testament pattern: the word went out to the whole nation of Jacob, but only a small remnant (Israel) responded. Even at the flood, only eight were saved. God has always worked through a remnant. Zechariah 13:8-9 confirms that two-thirds of Israel will be cut off and one-third refined — not the whole nation. Therefore, 'all Israel' means all true believers.
Les Feldick teaches that Scripture distinguishes between Jacob and Israel. Jacob refers to the whole nation, while Israel refers to the spiritual believing element. When Paul says 'all Israel shall be saved,' he is not promising salvation to every ethnic Jew but to every true believer within Israel. The word went out to Jacob, but only the Israel remnant responded in faith.
Zechariah 13:8-9 says two parts of the land will be cut off and die, and the third part will be brought through the fire, refined as silver and gold. Les connects this directly to Romans 11:26, showing that 'all Israel' refers to a refined remnant, not the entire population. This is why Paul's promise is consistent with a remnant pattern.
Through Israel's fall, salvation came to the Gentiles (Romans 11:11). Les explains that God set Israel aside temporarily and grafted the Gentiles into the root of Abraham, but the majority of Israelites under the Old Testament were not true believers either. Israel still has a future fullness, but the Gentiles were brought in to provoke Israel to jealousy.
No. Les explicitly states that 'all Israel shall be saved' refers to believers. Unbelieving Israel is not saved. The promise is for all believing Israel, not for the nation as a whole.
Israel's Future Fullness
Les sets Romans 11 in context: Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, but he defends Israel's future. Israel has not been completely destroyed; their fall brought salvation to the Gentiles, and their future fullness is coming.
All Israel Means Believing Israel
Les directly explains Romans 11:26: 'all Israel shall be saved' means all believing Israel, not every Jewish person. Unbelieving Israel is excluded from this promise.
Jacob vs. Israel Distinction
Les introduces the Jacob/Israel distinction: Israel is the spiritual element of true believers. 'All Israel will be saved' means every believer in Israel, not the entire nation.
Zechariah 13 Confirms the Remnant
Les connects Zechariah 13:8-9 to Romans 11:26, showing that only a third of Israel will be refined and survive, confirming that 'all Israel' refers to a remnant.
Word to Jacob, Response from Israel
Les explains that the word went to the whole nation (Jacob), but only the believing element (Israel) responded — a small remnant then and now.
God Always Works Through a Remnant
Les shows that God has always worked with a remnant — from the flood (eight people) to Israel — and only a few out of Jacob respond.
Most Israelites Were Not True Believers
Les reminds that most Israelites in the Old Testament were not true believers, and God grafted in the Gentiles while Israel was set aside.
Israel's Stumble Brought Salvation to Gentiles
Les connects Romans 11:11: Israel's stumble brought salvation to the Gentiles; God did not do away with them.
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 key verse under discussion, often used to suggest all ethnic Jews will be saved.
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.
Paul clarifies that Israel's failure was not final; their fall opened the door for Gentile salvation.
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 points to Israel's future restoration and fullness, which will be even greater.
Zechariah 13:8-9: And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
This Old Testament prophecy indicates God will purge Israel, saving only a refined remnant, not the whole nation.
Genesis 32:28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
The name change from Jacob to Israel shows the spiritual transformation that distinguishes the believing element within the nation.
No. Les teaches that 'all Israel' means all believing Israel. Every believer in Israel will be saved, but unbelieving Israel is not included in this promise.
Jacob refers to the whole nation, while Israel refers to the spiritual element of true believers. The word went out to Jacob, but only Israel responded in faith.
It will happen in Israel's future restoration, after God finishes His work with the Gentiles. The believing remnant of Israel will be saved, as Zechariah 13 confirms.
Watch the Teaching: Why Has Israel Suffered So Much? The Bible's Answer