Will "all Israel will be saved"? [Romans 11:26]

[Robert]

First of all my quote of Romans 11:26 ["all Israel will be saved"] is lifted from its context by those who support this heresy that all Israel will be unconditionally saved. If God takes the unbelieving Jew to heaven, but condemns the unbelieving Gentile, God is playing favorites.

We must remember that God can't sin [see 1 Peter 2:22]! According to the NT favoritism is sin. Let's look at that quote:

"If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers." James 2:9 NIV

The only hope for the Jew is Christ, period! Being a Jew, in and of itself, means nothing. Let's look at the issue:

Romans 9:3 For I [Paul] wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel.

If the Jews were unconditionally saved, why would Paul wish to be "cut off from Christ"? No Paul knew of their unbelief and he, out of genuine love, would rather be lost eternally if his unbelieving race could be saved.

Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word had failed.

God has saved "all men", both Jew and Gentile, in Jesus Christ. So God is not at fault. Then why was Israel in trouble? Let's look at Paul's conclusion:

Verse 30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it,a righteousness that is [:"red"]by faith[/]; 31 but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were [:"red"]by works.[/]

This makes it very clear that God had kept His promise. He had saved the human race, both Jew and Gentile, in His Son Jesus Christ! Instead Israel as a nation rejected God's promise through Jesus Christ.

Now back to the last part of verse 6:

"For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel."

What does Paul mean?

Verse 7 -- Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.

This is very clear! Just because the Jew is a descendant of Abraham doesn't mean he/she is a child of "the promise"! What is "the promise"?

Gal 3:16 Now the promises [plural] were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.

The promises to Abraham were based on the promise of Christ!

17 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.

What was the promise to Abraham?

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Back to Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

Clearly the unbelieving Jews rejected their need Christ's doing and dying received by faith.

Later I'll look at what Paul meant by, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be determined.”

Rob

[Robert]

One other quote:

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus [i.e., there's no partiality] 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Did you catch that, "If, then"?

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's children!

Rob

[David Koot]

But consider this passage in Romans 11:

"Ro 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.

26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."

28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers.

29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

That is the issue, then, that the calling of God is "irrevocable," and that when the 'times of the Gentiles' have been fulfilled, God will open the hearts of the Jews, and so "all Israel will be saved." Right now, we are in the times of the Gentiles. When those times have been fulfilled, the Jews will be converted, and will then go out, during the seven years of tribulation, to convert the world. THAT is the popular teaching.

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi David,

You must also consider this:

Rom 9:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Gal 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Paul is simpley stating that there will be some literal Jews saved who are not only the seed of Abraham, but of Isaac, and he goes on to say, Jacob. This, God has promised; but like all promises, they are conditional. The condition is Christ, no Jew will be saved without Christ.

The Jews as a people have had their time and they rejected Jesus, Gal 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

Norman

[olger]

Good topic.

True Israel must be oriented to Jesus, not to a piece of land somewhere. "If you are Christs, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise."

As to Romans 11, Paul sees many Jews responding favorably to the conversion of many Gentiles. This has nothing to do with the futurist ideas that are so prevalent today, but invites all peoples into the Fold of Christ, where there will be one flock and one Shepherd.

Many misguided Christians would make God into a racist, one obligated to save literal Jews come what may. This is not the promise given to Abraham, that in him would ALL NATIONS of the earth be blessed. Spiritual Israel will be saved - all of them.

Thanks for the great topic and good posts,

gcw

[David Koot]

Norman,

Yes, that is clear from the Scriptures you quoted. However, neither you nor Robert have addressed another verse in the Romans passage, that God has hardened the hearts of the Jews UNTIL the times of the Gentiles have been completed. THEN, God will soften their hearts, and all Israel will be saved. (144,000 literal Jews will be sent out by God to convert those who were left behind after the Rapture, during the seven years of tribulation.) Couple that with Paul's statement about the irrevocable calling of Israel, and the belief in eternal security, (which most Christians believe in) and the ducks are very nicely lined up!

[olger]

Hi David. Do you believe the dispensational theory yourself or are you looking for information to address those who do espouse it?

thanks,

gcw

[Robert]

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David Koot said:

...neither you nor Robert have addressed another verse in the Romans passage....

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Okay...good one!

Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,“The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “And this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

I'm thinking out loud here....First this is hard to understand. I know Paul was also prophetic, so it seems that he is writing of future events.

First I need to get an idea of what is meant by "until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in".

Looking that phrase up I find the following:

Luke 21:21 “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the midst of the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter the city; 22 because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 “Woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse babes in those days; for there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people, 24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Hmmm? In the above context it seems that the Gentile nations will have power over Jerusalem UNTIL the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled, but that still doesn't explain that phrase. The time line of the above happened in 70 AD.

Perhaps the Jews, being somewhat independent now, are a sign of future events? So what's the issue? I'll go back to Romans 11...Going back previous to verse 25, I get this clue:

19 You [the members of the Roman Christian church] will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches [the unbelieving Jews], neither will He spare you [the members of Roman].

22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you [the church at Roman], God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off [abandoned]. 23 And they [i.e., the unbelieving Jews of Paul's day] also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in [rejoined]; for God is able to graft them in again.

The Jews in Paul's day who went to their graves in unbelief are lost, but those who are living and who do not continue in unbelief will be grafted in again.

More later (my brain hurts),

Rob

[Robert]

Some more verses to consider:

Acts 13:44 And the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you [Jews] first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 18:5 ....Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 And when they [the Jews] resisted and blasphemed, he [Paul] shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads! I am clean. From now on I shall go to the Gentiles.”

I would venture an educated guess that the majority of the Jews, from the fall of Jerusalem until now, have persistently remained in a state of unbelief. Will there come a time when the gospel is fully restored and preached to the world, that the Gentile nations will reject the gospel? At that time perhaps many Jews will believe?

Just asking questions....

Rob

[David Koot]

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olger said:

Hi David. Do you believe the dispensational theory yourself or are you looking for information to address those who do espouse it?

thanks,

gcw

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Ha! An interesting question to ask. I will simply say that it would seem important to have a clear understanding of someone's position. Too many times, we minimalize different viewpoints, and attempt to dismiss them with a few 'proof texts.' If they do not agree with us, then we tend to dismiss THEM as having closed minds, when, in fact, our presentation may have been woefully inadequate.

Dave

[Norman Byers, N.D.]

Hi David,

it's too late for me to reply now, hopefully tomorrow after prayer meeting.

Take care and God bless.

Norman

[David Koot]

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Robert said:

Will there come a time when the gospel is fully restored and preached to the world, that the Gentile nations will reject the gospel? At that time perhaps many Jews will believe?

Just asking questions....

Rob

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Very interesting questions, indeed. EGW does indicate that before the close of time, there will be a great work among the Jews. Apart from that, I find intriguing the argument which is often made, in support of the belief in predestination, that God hardens the hearts of some, and softens the hearts of others--and that the Jews are still God's covenant people, and that He WILL open their hearts after the times of the Gentiles are past. That is a belief that is not easily addressed, IMO.

[David Koot]

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Robert said:

The time line of the above happened in 70 AD.

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It STARTED at the end of the 70 weeks, in A.D. 34. Judgment was executed upon the Jews in A.D. 70, and for centuries they were scattered over the earth. A popular teaching is that the times of the Gentiles were fulfilled when the Jewish nation again became a State, thanks to Harry Truman in 1948!

[Robert]

Quote:

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David Koot said:

Quote:

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Robert said:

The time line of the above happened in 70 AD.

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It STARTED at the end of the 70 weeks, in A.D. 34. Judgment was executed upon the Jews in A.D. 70, and for centuries they were scattered over the earth.

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True....how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.

[Robert]

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David Koot said:

I find intriguing the argument which is often made, in support of the belief in predestination, that God hardens the hearts of some, and softens the hearts of others....

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We must understand statements, like Romans 9:18, within the sphere of God's love and of course the immediate context.

On God's love:

"If you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." [James 2:9,10]

God cannot sin therefore He cannot show favoritism!

1 Tim 2:3 God our Savior, 4 who wants all men [both Jew/Greek] to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men

1 Tim 4:9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

[olger]

All Spiritual Israel will be saved.

"But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23, 24).

"Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" (1 Cor. 10:18).

Paul speaks of the future restoration of the whole creation (Rom. 8:19-23) in connection with the "redemption of our body." In Galatians 4:26 his brief reference to the heavenly Jerusalem is to explain the difference between literal Israel of the flesh and spiritual Israel of faith. He firmly believes that the Old testament prophecies to Israel apply to the Christian church, for he reiterates the statement that true Israel, to whom belong the covenants and the promises, is not the nation descended literally from Abraham, but the seed of Abraham by faith who are the Christians, both Jewish and Gentile alike. (Romans 9:6-8 / Rom. 2:28,29 / Galatians 4:28-30) So Abraham is plainly the father of Spiritual Israel--those who individually choose to be governed by God. This was the larger, “long-range vision” that clarifies many an otherwise baffling prediction concerning Israel and it's restoration.

gcw

[Robert]

Quote:

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David Koot said:

...God hardens the hearts of some, and softens the hearts of others--and that the Jews are still God's covenant people, and that He WILL open their hearts after the times of the Gentiles are past.

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Perhaps when the gospel is restored and presented to the world at large a portion of the Jews living then will receive the message...i.e., the third angel's message. However I am at odds against those Christians who believe that God will harden some and soften others.

Romans 9:14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!

You see the unbelieving Jews claimed Abraham as their father. Because of that link they considered their election sure...but God says, "No deal"!

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Question: Did God harden Pharaoh's heart?

Answer: But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he [not God] hardened his heart and did not heed them, as the Lord had said . . . But Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also; neither would he let the people go (Exodus 8:14, 32).

Now look at another quote taken from Exodus:

And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart [:"red"]so that he will not let the people go”[/] (Exodus 4:21).

Does that make any sense? The idea was for God to take Israel out of slavery, not keep them in it!

Because God is sovereign, He takes the blame for Pharaoh’s condition. I mean if God had never allowed Lucifer to refine his system of "self" Pharaoh would have never hardened his heart. So God assumes the blame, but in reality Pharaoh’s own sinful disposition caused him to harden his heart.

Again, our God is righteous...He is love. Because He is love He cannot (and will not) "insist on [his] own way".

[Robert]

Paraphased:

Romans 9:6 The fact that the Jewish nation no longer constitutes God’s church today does not mean that God has failed to keep His promise made to Israel through the patriarchs and prophets. For the truth of the matter is that not every one who happens to be a Jew really belongs to God’s true spiritual Israel. 7 Just as not all the descendants of Abraham, the Arabs for example, belong to the nation of Israel, but the promise made to Abraham was, “Only those who are in the line of Isaac, that is, born of God, are qualified to bc part of Israel.”

8 In other words, it is not the natural descendants of Abraham, or Isaac for that matter, who comprise God’s people, but it is those who have experienced the new birth through faith in His promised Son that constitute true Israel in God’s sight. 9 For according to Scripture, this is how God fulfilled His promise of a son to Abraham: Eirst, God waited almost twenty-five years until Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Then, when it was impossible for Abraham to produce a child through Sarah, God said to him, after He had entered into a faith-covenant with Abraham through circumcision, “About this time next year I will bless Sarah with a Son” [Gen. 17]. Thus Isaac, the promised son, represents, or is the prototype of all who, like him, are born of God through faith in Christ. 10 But this is not all; even Isaac’s wife, Rebecca, who had conceived twins, had an experience that reveals a vital truth.

11 Even before the twins, Esau and Jacob, were born, while they were still in her womb and therefore had not yet done anything good or bad, in order that it might be clearly established that it is by God’s grace and calling we are saved and not our performance, 12 God said to Rebecca: “The elder [i.e., first-born] will serve the younger” [Gen. 25:19-23]. This was in complete contradiction to Jewish tradition; but God did this to show that salvation is based on His sovereign will and not on one’s natural inheritance or human lineage. 13 This all agrees with the statement of Scripture: “Jacob I have accepted, but Esau I have rejected.”

God’s Sovereign Will

14 Does this mean God was playing favorites or that He was being unfair to Esau? Certainly not! God is never unfair in any of His dealings. 15 Actually, no one deserves salvation, but as God declared to Moses: “Who I have mercy and compassion on is my prerogative and not a human right; therefore I can bestow it on whomsoever I want.”

[in reality salvation was offered to both Esau and Jacob, but in God’s foreknowledge He knew Esau would despise his birthright, or salvation in Christ, while Jacob would cherish it. Hence it was not really God who rejected Esau but vice versa and God only complied (Heb. 12:15, 16).]

16 Therefore, salvation is not ours by native right or inheritance, neither is it something we can earn either by choice or effort, but rather an unmerited favor based entirely on God's sovereign mercy and unconditional love [Tit. 3:4, 5]. 17 And to prove His sovereignty, we read in the Old Testament what God said to Pharaoh: “I allowed you to become the most powerful ruler in the ancient world for the express purpose of displaying my own greater power, when I delivered the Jews from Egyptian bondage. By this all mankind would realize there is none like me.” 18 Therefore, man is totally dependent on God’s sovereign will for His eternal hope; and God has the perfect right to have mercy on whomsoever He wants or to reject whomsoever He wills.

God’s Sovereign Will and Man’s Free Choice

19 I know exactly how some of you intellectuals will respond to this; you will say: “If everything depends on God’s sovereign will, He has to be responsible for anyone’s damnation, seeing we humans have no choice in the matter”! 20 Such a remark is preposterous; how can we created beings dare to question our all-wise and all-knowing Creator? 21 For example, does not the potter have absolute sway over his clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for royal use while another for menial or common use?

22 Likewise, God’s authority is absolute. However, in order to show His great displeasure against unbelief and exploitation, He revealed His mighty power against the Egyptians after having shown much patience with these proud, self-assertive people, who by their deliberate rejection of the God of heaven, clearly demonstrated they deserved destruction. 23 But, at the same time, God was merciful and patient with the enslaved Israelites, revealing through them His unconditional and self-emptying agape love, demonstrating to the world that He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins [2 Pet. 3:9].

24 That, in fact, is our situation—all of us who have positively responded to His saving grace in Christ irrespective of whether we are Jews or Gentiles, since salvation is God’s gift to all mankind and not just the Jews. 25 This is not my opinion but God Himself made it clear through the prophet Hosea when He declared: “Those who do not belong to literal Israel will one day be called ‘My people.’ And the Gentile nations that were not considered my covenant people will be called ‘My Beloved’ (Hos. 2:23). 26 And instead of being told: ‘You do not belong,’ they will be called sons and daughters of the living God” [Hos. 1:10].

27 As for the nation of Israel, the prophet Isaiah had this to say: “Even though Israel’s population multiplies bevond human computation, like the sand by the sea, only a few of them [that is, those who believe] will be saved. 28 And, because unbelief is becoming rampant, God will step in and end human probation, executing judgment on all unbelievers” [isa. 10:22, 23]. 29 In fact, as lsaiah prophesied earlier: “If the Lord of eternal rest (sabbath) does not step in, even the Christian church will become like Sodom and Gomorrah, completely depleted of true believers” [isa 1:9].

.... God’s Future Plans for Literal Israel

Rom 11:25 So then, in order to keep you Gentiles from becoming conceited like the Jews, let me share with you a divine secret revealed to me. It is this: the insensibility of the Jews is only temporary; for after God has given the Gentile world every opportunity to accept Christ and all that will believe join the Christian church— 26 once this has happened, God will in a special way confront the Jews with the gospel again so that all the Jews who realize that Christ is the promised Messiah and believe in Him will become Christians; and so, according to His promise, all true lsraelites will be saved. This is exactly what the Old Testament predicted: “From the Jewish capital Christ will be proclaimed; God will remove ungodliness from the descendants of Jacob.

[olger]

Hi Robert. Thanks for your posts. Some good stuff in there.

Pharaoh & the Clay.

PHARAOH The case of Pharaoh is cited by the apostle as an illustration of the statement that "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy." "For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth."

One thing is for certain, it does not teach us, as is sometimes sup¬posed, (ahem) that God brought Pharaoh to the throne for the purpose of wreak¬ing His vengeance upon him. It is astonishing that any professed believer could ever dishonor God by such a charge against Him.

The purpose of God in raising Pharaoh up, or causing him to stand, was that He might show to him , and in him, His power, and that His name might be declared throughout all the earth. This purpose was accomplished in the destruction of Pharaoh because of his own stubborn resistance. But you and I both know that it would have been accomplished just as well, and probably better if Pharaoh had listened to the word of God.

THE POTTER AND THE CLAY This text, too, upon prayerful examination revealed a vast distinction between what it actually taught, and what men occasionally suggest it says.

The potter has power over the clay, and so the Creator has power over His creatures, of natural and unquestionable right. Consider the figure used: the potter has power over the clay to make one vessel to honor and another to dishonor. Very true; but who in the world ever heard of a potter who busied himself making vessels for the sole purpose of destroying them?

The fact that God does not plan the destruction of any one, is shown, in that he hesitates long before allowing any to suffer the destruction which their own evil deeds have earned. He "endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." They fitted themselves for destruc¬tion after their hardness, by treasuring up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath. Romans 2:5 It says that God endured with much long suffering these "vessels of wrath." And we are to "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation." 2 Peter 3:15 He "is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Verse 9

The fact therefore, that God endured with much longsuffering, the ves¬sels of wrath, even after they were fitted to destruction, shows that He longed for their salvation, and would give them every possible chance for it. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou who killest the prophets........How I longed to gather thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chicks, but you were not willing."

gcw