In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul expounds the gospel of God (1:1), which had been entrusted to him by the resurrected Christ and which he would proclaim among the nations (1:5). His ministry as an apostle, which is also reflected in his new name (Saul became Paul), concerns the pause in God’s dealings with Israel. The Jewish people have been temporarily set aside, and in the future, God will resume and complete His work with the people of Israel. In this interim, God is gathering a people for Himself from all nations: the ecclesia, the body of Christ.
God’s Promises
It is also in the same Epistle to the Romans that Paul addresses this issue at length (Rom. 9-11). Now salvation has gone to the nations (Acts 28:28; Rom. 11:11). But what about God’s promises to Israel? Have they ceased (9:6)? No, God has not cast off His people; their unbelief is neither final (11:1-2) nor complete. As a nation, they are indeed hardened and blinded (11:7, 8, 10), but even now, in this time, there is a small portion of that nation that believes, a remnant (11:5). And God, in His unparalleled wisdom, has so ordained all this (11:33). Because of the fall of the Jewish people, salvation went to all nations, without distinction (11:11).
Israel’s Restoration
But in the future, Israel will still believe as a nation and accept their Messiah. Paul expresses this in this way: they will come to fullness (>completion). Israel will come to fullness (11:12) when all of Israel will be saved (11:26). Israel’s fullness, therefore, speaks here of the Jewish people reaching their destiny. But the nations are also spoken of as fullness.
Romans 11
25 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of this secret (so that you will not be self-willed): that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved…
Secret
The mysteries or secrets that Paul was allowed to reveal, speak of the current period in which Israel as a nation is unbelieving and God is gathering a people for Himself from the Gentiles (Acts 15:14). This is also the case here in this verse. Paul explains that Israel’s hardening has a time limit. Afterward, they will repent as a nation, and all Israel will be saved. The Jewish people will revive (11:15) and come to their destiny, their fullness.
Firstfruits
But first there will be another “people” that will come to their destiny: the fullness of the Gentiles will come in. What else would Paul be talking about if not the ecclesia that will enter its heavenly destiny at the snatching away? When the ecclesia, the male child (Rev. 12:5), is complete, he will be caught up to God and His throne and, with the Head, will establish dominion over heaven and earth. We are a people of firstfruits (2 Thess. 2:13) and will precede Israel. Then God will fulfill his promises to Israel, for his word is sure and certain!